High plasma cholesterol levels

Cholesterol content in plasma. Cholesterol belongs to the steroid family and is one of blood lipid components. One third of total cholesterol in plasma exists in free form, and two thirds are cholesterol esters that are bound to fatty acids. Human cholesterol comes from both food and body synthesis. Almost all tissues can synthesize cholesterol, but plasma cholesterol is mainly synthesized by the liver and small intestine. The amount of liver synthesis is limited by the cholesterol content of the food. Cholesterol is excreted through the bile.