Cholesterol

A substance similar to fat, found in the blood, brain, and all other body tissues. It is produced chiefly by the liver and adrenal glands and is one of the key factors in the body's chemistry. In atherosclerosis, the atheroma that contains large amounts thickens the walls of the arteries contains large amounts of cholesterol. Whether dietary intake of cholesterol-rich foods encourages the development of atherosclerosis is controversial, but it has been found that the disease is more common in people with a raised blood level of cholesterol.