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# Cholesterol Synthesis Pathway **Image Description**: The image is a handwritten diagram and notes on cholesterol synthesis, regulation, and its relationship to cardiovascular disease. ## Overview * **Precursors**: Glucose, fatty acids, and amino acids are the precursors to the cholesterol synth...

# Cholesterol Synthesis Pathway **Image Description**: The image is a handwritten diagram and notes on cholesterol synthesis, regulation, and its relationship to cardiovascular disease. ## Overview * **Precursors**: Glucose, fatty acids, and amino acids are the precursors to the cholesterol synthesis pathway. * **Acetyl-CoA**: Glucose, fatty acids, and amino acids are converted into acetyl-CoA. * **HMG-CoA**: Acetyl-CoA becomes HMG-CoA. * **Mevalonate**: HMG-CoA converts to mevalonate. * **Squalene**: Mevalonate is converted to squalene. * **Cholesterol**: Squalene is converted into Cholesterol ## Cholesterol Synthesis Notes * The liver makes 800 to 1500 mg of cholesterol every day * The liver needs bile acid for absorption if not reabsorbed and passed out in poop. * Gonads make cholesterol for hormones * **Enterohepatic Circulation**: The process by which bile salts are reabsorbed in the gut. * Recycles or exits cholesterol * **Bile from liver**. * **Excretion**: 50% of Choleserol from the liver is Excreted, 3% excreted. * **Jejunum/ilium**: reabsorption * **LDL**: Transports cholesterol * **HDL**: Drops off at liver * **VLDL** ## Regulation of Cholesterol *Cholesterol (negative feedback) on HMG-CoA reductase *Statins: blocks HMG-CoA reductase ## Cholesterol & Disease * **Cholesterolemia** leads to -> **Cardiovascular disease**. * **The "diet-heart hypothesis"** * Saturated fat leads to clogged arteries * Saturated Fat * Poultry/dairy * Correlated saturated fat to CVD * Cherry picked argument