Steroids are special types of lipids which are used by the body as hormones.  There are several different types of steroids including:

• Cholesterol
• Testosterone
• Estrogen

You are likely familiar with the use of a particular type of steroid hormones (anabolic) by bodybuilders to increase muscle mass.

Steroid Function

Functionally, steroids serve a variety of functions in the body.  Cholesterol, for example, is an essential component of cell membranes and serves to insulate nerve cells.  Cholesterol is only produced by animal cells and serves as a precursor to other types of hormones.

Like all lipids, cholesterol is insoluble in water.  When transported through the bloodstream, cholesterol is often packaged together with a mixture of phospholipids and proteins.  If you have been asked to watch your cholesterol, you are familiar with the concent of ‘good’ vs. ‘bad’ cholesterol.  “Good” cholesterol consists of a higher ratio of protein: cholesterol.  This type of cholesterol is also called ‘HDL’ which stands for ‘high-density lipoprotein’.

In contrast, “Bad” cholesterol contains a higher percentage of cholesterol relative to protein.  This type of cholesterol is called ‘LDL’ which stands for ‘low density lipoprotein’.  LDL is ‘bad’ for the body because it has a tendency to form plaques on the walls of arteries which can then lead to heart disease.