Clinical Nutrition Exam 1 Practice

Understanding how LDL and HDL differ in cardiovascular risk is essential here. LDL particles carry cholesterol from the liver to tissues, and when levels are high, they can deposit cholesterol in arterial walls, promoting plaque formation and atherosclerosis. This atherogenic behavior is why LDL is labeled “bad cholesterol.” On the other hand, HDL helps remove cholesterol from arteries and return it to the liver for excretion, a protective role often described as “good cholesterol.” The term “neutral cholesterol” isn’t used in this context, and saying there is none isn’t accurate. So LDLs are commonly known as bad cholesterol.