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It is a precursor to vitamin D and many steroid hormones, including testosterone, estrogen, and cortisol. Cholesterol belongs in the family of steroids because it shares a similar chemical structure. This article discusses cholesterol and its importance and role in the body. It also explores the relationship between cholesterols, steroids, and lipids. A note about sex and gender Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms, “male,” “female,” or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Click here to learn more. What is cholesterol Share on PinterestScience Photo Library – TEK IMAGE/Getty ImagesCholesterol is a type of lipid or fat within the body. The liver makes all the cholesterol the body needs, but a person can also obtain it from animal food sources, such as meat, cheese, and eggs. This waxy substance is a primary component of the cell membrane, a thin layer of tissue that surrounds and protects every living cell. The body uses cholesterol as a precursor to making vitamin D, bile acid, and steroid hormones. Cholesterol present in the bloodstream can have protective effects, as high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or adverse effects, as low-density lipoprotein (LDL), on cardiovascular health, depending on how it moves within lipoproteins. Excess LDL cholesterol in a person’s blood circulation can lead to the development of atherosclerosis and heart disease. Learn more about cholesterol and where it comes from. What are steroids Steroids are a type of lipids with a distinct chemical structure. While they are dissimilar to other lipids in structure, scientists classify them as lipids because they are hydrophobic — meaning they repel water — and insoluble in water. All steroids have four linked carbon rings. From this basic component, various functional groups may attach to form different types of steroids. In the body, steroid hormones all derive from cholesterol. There are different classes of steroids grouped according to which receptors in the body they bind to. These include:Glucocorticoids: This hormone regulates blood glucose levels by preserving plasma glucose for the brain during stress for optimal brain function. Examples include cortisone.Mineralocorticoids: This hormone regulates salt and water imbalances in the body. Examples include aldosterone.Estrogens: This hormone promotes sexual and reproductive development in females.Androgens: This hormone is crucial for reproductive and sexual function in males.Progestagens: These hormones are active during pregnancy and help maintain it. Scientists can also manufacture synthetic steroids, such as anabolic steroids and birth control pills. Is cholesterol a steroid Cholesterol is a steroid because it shares the chemical structure of four fused carbon rings with other steroids. Specifically, it is a sterol, which is a class of lipid with an alcohol (hydroxyl) or -OH group. This makes it a molecule with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic — meaning water-attracting — properties. Learn more about the structure of cholesterol. Sterols are present in animals and plants. Plant sterols are present in:fruitsvegetablesnutsseedslegumeswhole grains What are lipids Lipids are a category of molecules comprising fats and oils. There are a variety of lipids in the body, with different structures and diverse roles. Chemically, lipids comprise chains of carbon and hydrogen atoms. They are not water soluble, meaning they do not mix well in water but are soluble in organic solvents. They play a crucial role in many vital processes in the body and are diverse in their structure. There are four main groups of lipids:fatty acidsglycerides or glycerol-containing lipidsnonglyceride lipidscomplex lipids A steroid is a type of nonglyceride lipid, along with triglycerides, phospholipids, and sterols. Learn more on cholesterol as a lipid here. Why is cholesterol important Cholesterol is an important steroid that the body produces. The body needs a small amount of cholesterol to perform vital body functions, including:forming and maintaining cells and regulating membrane fluiditymaking vitamin D and hormones such as testosterone and estrogenforming fat-dissolving bile acid to help with metabolismfunctioning as regulating and signaling molecules along the cell membrane Cholesterol cannot travel through the blood by itself and needs to attach to proteins to move through the bloodstream. Different types of lipoproteins have different purposes. Two main types include:LDL cholesterol: This type makes up most of the body’s cholesterol. Health professionals sometimes refer to it as “bad” cholesterol because it collects in blood vessels and causes plaque buildup.HDL cholesterol: Health experts also call this type “good cholesterol” because it carries cholesterol to the liver, which removes it from the body. Learn more about the differences between LDL and HDL cholesterol here. Too much “bad” cholesterol or insufficient “good” cholesterol increases the risk of cholesterol building up in the inner walls of arteries. This can narrow and harden arteries, causing atherosclerosis. A stroke or heart attack may occur if a blood clot forms and blocks a blood vessel or dislodges, travels, and blocks other blood vessels. What are healthy levels of cholesterol The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute provides the optimal cholesterol levels for individuals according to their age and gender, in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl).Type of cholesterolAnyone 19 or youngerMales aged 20 or overFemales aged 20 or overTotal cholesterolless than 170 mg/dl125–200 mg/dl125–200 mg/dlnon-HDLless than 120 mg/dlless than 130 mg/dlless than 130 mg/dlLDLless than 100 mg/dlless than 100 mg/dlless than 100 mg/dlHDLmore than 45 mg/dl40 mg/dl or higher50 mg/dl or higher Learn more about cholesterol levels by age here. How to check cholesterol levels Someone with high cholesterol will usually not feel any signs or symptoms. It is crucial to get a cholesterol test or lipid profile to see the levels of each specific cholesterol in a person’s blood. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that:healthy adults undergo testing every 4–6 yearspeople undergo testing more frequently if they have heart disease, a family history of high cholesterol, or risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as obesity and high blood pressureindividuals test at least once between ages 9 and 11 and again between ages 17 and 21 Frequently asked questions Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about steroids and cholesterol. Do steroids derive from cholesterol Cholesterol is the precursor for steroid hormones in the human body. Aside from steroids, cholesterol is also crucial in making vitamin D and bile salts. Is cholesterol a steroid or alcohol Cholesterol belongs to a group called sterols or steroid alcohols. A sterol is a subgroup of steroids. It is a type of lipid with an -OH (alcohol) group. Is cholesterol a protein Cholesterol is a fatty substance and not a protein. However, cholesterol does not mix with water and blood, so the body packages cholesterol with proteins. It then travels across the bloodstream as protein-covered particles called lipoproteins. Summary Cholesterol is a type of steroid the body produces to perform many vital functions. It is the precursor to many steroid hormones, including sex hormones and hormones necessary for glucose metabolism and ion balances in the body. While the body needs cholesterol, excess levels of the substance may put a person at risk of cardiovascular diseases. Last medically reviewed on August 29, 2022CholesterolBlood / Hematology 10 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.3.6: Lipid molecules - Steroids. (2022).https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_and_General_Biology/Book%3A_General_Biology_(Boundless)/03%3A_Biological_Macromolecules/3.06%3A_Lipid_Molecules_-_SteroidsChakraborty, S., et al. (2021). Revisiting steroidogenesis and its role in immune regulation with the advanced tools and technologies.https://www.nature.com/articles/s41435-021-00139-3Cholesterol levels: What you need to know. (2020).https://medlineplus.gov/cholesterollevelswhatyouneedtoknow.htmlGetting your cholesterol checked. (2022).https://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/cholesterol_screening.htmHuff, T., et al. (2022). Physiology, cholesterol.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470561/Jeffcoate, C. R., et al. (2018). Cholesterol signaling in single cells: Lessons from STAR and sm-FISH [Abstract].https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29691317/Kuo, T., et al. (2015). Regulation of glucose homeostasis by glucocorticoids.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26215992/LDL and HDL cholesterol: "Bad" and "good" cholesterol. (2020).https://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/ldl_hdl.htmLipid types and structures. (n.d).https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/nutritionscience/chapter/5b-lipid-types-structures/Photosterols. (2017).https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/dietary-factors/phytochemicals/phytosterolsFEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Adam Bernstein, MD, ScD — By Rachel Ann Tee-Melegrito on August 29, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related CoverageIs cholesterol a type of lipid? Cholesterol is a lipoprotein, which means that it is part lipid and part protein. 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