Commonwealth Club of California Podcast Understanding Cholesterol
Jun 4, 2025
Join Joshua Knowles, a physician-scientist at Stanford, Ethan Weiss, a cardiologist, and Robert Lustig, an emeritus professor of pediatrics at UCSF, as they delve into the fascinating world of cholesterol. They discuss cholesterol's essential functions, the different types like HDL and LDL, and the evolution of testing methods. The trio also explores the role of triglycerides, the misconceptions surrounding statins, and the complexities of managing cholesterol, shedding light on how diet and genetics influence heart health.
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Essential Role of Cholesterol
- Cholesterol is an essential fatty, waxy substance vital for cell membranes and hormone production.
- When high, it causes heart disease; the body transports cholesterol using lipoprotein particles.
Cholesterol Deficiency in Newborns
- Children with Smith-Lemley syndrome cannot produce cholesterol and become critically ill.
- This syndrome demonstrates how crucial cholesterol is for growth and brain development.
Types of Cholesterol Particles
- Cholesterol travels in different lipoprotein particles like LDL, HDL, and triglyceride-rich lipoproteins.
- LDL is considered "bad cholesterol" and HDL "good cholesterol," though this is more complex than initially thought.