The significance of plasma high density lipoprotein cholesterol (hdlc).

High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) transports in plasma, phospholipids, cholesterol, and triacylglycerol. The cholesterol associated with HDL (HDLc) is cholesterol that is scavenged from peripheral tissues back to liver. The liver converts this cholesterol into bile acids, bile salts, and esterifies the rest and secretes them into bile. Low HDLc is a risk factor for atherogenesis. Higher levels of HDLc in plasma are therefore an index of safety from coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis. Regular physical exercise, and changes in life style like cessation of smoking, lowered alcohol consumption, modified dietary fat intake and certain medications can improve the level of HDLc in plasma.