What is the Difference Between Cholesterol and Triglycerides?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Cholesterol and triglycerides are both lipids, or types of fats, found in the blood. They have different functions in the body and are measured together when assessing heart health. However, there are key differences between them:
Functions:
- Cholesterol: It is vital for body functions such as fat absorption, cell building, hormone production, food digestion, and vitamin D generation. The body cannot function without cholesterol, and some of it needs to be in the blood.
- Triglycerides: They store excess energy from your diet and provide your body with energy. Triglycerides are used to store unused calories.
Types:
- Cholesterol: It is a waxy substance called a lipoprotein. The liver produces cholesterol, and it has different functions in the body. There are two main types of cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL).
- Triglycerides: They are a type of fat or lipid in the blood.
Effects on Heart Health:
- Both high triglycerides and high cholesterol levels can harm your heart if they are too high. A high triglyceride level combined with high LDL (bad) cholesterol or low HDL (good) cholesterol is linked with fatty buildups within the artery.
Monitoring and keeping both triglyceride and cholesterol levels within recommended ranges may help maintain good heart health. Lifestyle changes, such as eating heart-healthy foods, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake, maintaining a healthy weight, and increasing exercise, can help reduce cholesterol and triglycerides.
Comparative Table: Cholesterol vs Triglycerides
Cholesterol and triglycerides are two types of lipids, or fats, that circulate in the bloodstream and are essential for various bodily functions. However, there are key differences between them:
| Cholesterol | Triglycerides |
|---|---|
| Produced by the liver and found in food | Not produced by the liver, but mostly stored in fat cells and deposited beneath the skin |
| Has different functions, including hormone production, food digestion, and vitamin D generation | Used for energy |
| There are two main types: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) | Not classified into types like cholesterol |
| Monitored through a blood test, with results displayed in milligrams per deciliter | Monitored through a blood test, with results displayed in milligrams per deciliter |
Elevated levels of both cholesterol and triglycerides can raise the risk of heart disease. It is essential to monitor and maintain both cholesterol and triglyceride levels within recommended ranges to maintain good health.
- Triglycerides vs Phospholipids
- Fat vs Cholesterol
- Fatty Acids vs Triglycerides
- Dietary Cholesterol vs Blood Cholesterol
- HDL vs LDL Cholesterol
- Cholesterol vs Cholesteryl Ester
- Non-HDL Cholesterol vs LDL Cholesterol
- Hyperlipidemia vs Hypercholesterolemia
- Good Cholesterol vs Bad Cholesterol
- LDL vs VLDL Cholesterol
- HDL And LDL
- Hypercholesterolemia vs Dyslipidemia
- Chylomicrons vs VLDL
- Lipids vs Fats
- Saturated vs Unsaturated Triglycerides
- Ergosterol vs Cholesterol
- Carbohydrates vs Lipids
- Glycolipids vs Phospholipids
- Micelles vs Chylomicrons