Cholesterol: A Friend or Foe?

The review describes recent findings on cholesterol biosynthesis and its fate in the human organism from the medicinal point of view. Biosynthesis of cholesterol is a complex process which also provides the organism with several indispensable compounds. Cholesterol is utilized both as such and in the form of many derivatives. Cholesterol is not only a cellular membrane component, but it also binds covalently to proteins. Cholesterol biosynthesis control and its dietary intake are performed by sophisticated mechanisms including extracellular and intracellular pathways. New findings on these processes allow a more efficient therapy of high cholesterol level in blood plasma.