<unk> s form a class of<unk> s, varying somewhat in their size (8–11 nm in diameter), that carry cholesterol from the body's tissues to the liver. About thirty percent of blood cholesterol is carried by<unk> .
It is hypothesized that<unk>  can remove cholesterol from atheroma within arteries and transport it back to the liver for excretion or re-utilization— which is the main reason why<unk> -bound cholesterol is sometimes called "good cholesterol", or<unk> -C. A<unk>  level of<unk> -C seems to protect against cardiovascular diseases, and low<unk>  cholesterol levels (less than 40 mg/dL for males and less than 50 mg/dL for females) increase the risk for heart disease. When measuring cholesterol, any contained in<unk>  particles is considered as protection to the body's cardiovascular health, in contrast to "bad" LDL cholesterol.
Most clinical trials on prevention of coronary artery disease focus on lowering the levels of LDL cholesterol in the blood using statins and other lipid lowering drugs. These have shown improved clinical outcomes and reduction in mortality.
However, a causal relationship between low<unk>  cholesterol levels and development of significant coronary artery disease has not been established. There is a lack of evidence for proving that raising<unk>  levels can reduce cardiovascular events in those with coronary artery disease. Statins are used in the treatment of patients with low<unk>  levels to reduce the levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol in the blood.
High density lipoprotein
Low density lipoprotein
Apolipoprotein
Diglyceride
Lipoprotein
Cholesterol
Braun's lipoprotein
Lipase