Which statement about cholesterol is NOT true?

• A. LDL is a good form of cholesterol that helps reduce disease.
• B. Cholesterol is needed for cell membranes and production of hormones.
• C. Cholesterol is a form of lipid.
• D. The majority of the cholesterol we need is produced by the liver.

Answer: (A)

Cholesterol has several essential roles and is categorized by how it travels in the blood. It is a lipid that makes up part of cell membranes, helping to keep them flexible and functional, and it serves as a starting point for the production of steroid hormones and bile acids. Most cholesterol in the body is produced by the liver, with a smaller portion obtained from the diet.

In the bloodstream, cholesterol is carried by lipoproteins. LDL delivers cholesterol to tissues and, when levels are high, can contribute to plaque buildup in arteries, increasing cardiovascular risk. HDL, on the other hand, helps remove cholesterol from arteries by carrying it back to the liver for disposal, and higher HDL is generally considered protective.

Therefore, the statement that LDL is a good form of cholesterol that helps reduce disease is not true. The “good” cholesterol is HDL, while LDL is more closely associated with increased disease risk. The other statements are accurate: cholesterol is needed for cell membranes and hormone production, it is a lipid, and most cholesterol is produced by the liver.