Our body fat does not exist only under the skin. It is also present in the blood. The fats found in the blood are mainly cholesterol and triglycerides. Cholesterol is a major component of cell membranes and is used as a major raw material for sex hormones, corticosteroids, and vitamin D. Most of the triglycerides are stored in fat cells, and when glucose becomes insufficient, it is used as an energy source for our body.
Cholesterol is further divided into good and bad. HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) is called ‘good cholesterol’. It plays a role in removing excessively accumulated cholesterol in the walls of blood vessels. As a result, the higher the HDL cholesterol level, the thicker the blood vessel wall and the narrowing of the inside of the blood vessel can effectively prevent arteriosclerosis.
On the other hand, the higher the level of LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) in the blood, the greater the chance of atherosclerosis. When LDL cholesterol increases, it penetrates into the blood vessel wall and causes a scar on the inside of the blood vessel, causing arteriosclerosis. If it progresses further, the blood vessels may not narrow and eventually become clogged.
Triglycerides do not directly cause arteriosclerosis, but they make the LDL particles smaller, which is a problem. When triglycerides are high, the activity of lipolytic enzymes in the liver increases, resulting in relatively small and dense LDL particles (small dense LDL). Small, dense LDL particles can penetrate deeper into the blood vessel wall than larger LDL cholesterol particles. This increases the risk of developing arteriosclerosis and coronary artery disease. In addition, if triglyceride levels alone are significantly high, the risk of acute pancreatitis is also increased.
A condition in which there is an abnormality in the level of fat in the blood is called ‘dyslipidemia’. If one or more of the following items apply, dyslipidemia may be suspected.
1. If you have high LDL cholesterol
2. When triglycerides are high
3. When total cholesterol (LDL cholesterol + HDL cholesterol + triglycerides) is high
4. Low HDL Cholesterol
Diagnosis criteria for dyslipidemia (if there are no risk factors such as diabetes)
