It is a universally known fact that HDL or High-density lipoprotein cholesterol is the good cholesterol as it is responsible for cleansing the arteries from excess of the bad LDL cholesterol thus helps preventing atherosclerosis, heart disease and strokes. But this cleansing function of the HDL cholesterol is not so simple. Understanding exactly how the HDL does its positive work will help realize the great importance as to why the High density Lipoprotein should be above 40 mg/dl among men and above 50 mg/dl among women.

HDL co-works with a scavenger receptor called SR-BI, to help the liver expel excess cholesterol thus significantly lowering the risk of having cardiovascular disease. A study from 2005 shows exactly how the HDL communicates with this scavenger receptor in the effort to help the liver rid of high amounts of cholesterol.

The study of HDL was conducted in the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and had found that HDL had the ability to activate the release of an enzyme called eNOS, which in turn called the SR-BI receptor through cellular communication into action. By calling the SR-BI receptor to operate the cleansing effect of cholesterol takes place in the liver as it is enhanced to expel any excess amounts of cholesterol.

This study clearly shows the importance of the high-density lipoprotein in the battle to lower cholesterol. It is obvious that is not only crucial to reduce the LDL cholesterol levels in the blood but to also raise the HDL cholesterol. Since the source of the LDL cholesterol is the liver, by raising the HDL cholesterol you actually take charge of the production of LDL by your liver and thus reducing the risk of cholesterol build up within the arteries.

Even is you are genetically predisposed to high LDL cholesterol production by your liver, by elevating HDL cholesterol levels you can control LDL levels with statin drugs and their side effects.