Cholesterol and hormones

Cholesterol is many times mistaken for danger and damage. But it is vital to know that cholesterol is not always harmful. In human beings some cholesterol is required by the body for normal functions. Cholesterol and cholesterol derivatives like bile acids and steroid hormones play a vital role for important functions of the endocrine system, processes of cell membranes and lipid absorption .Cholesterol is helpful in synthesis of vitamin D, steroid hormones and bile alts and thus they are called as precursor of steroid hormones.  Steroid hormones are vital in absorption of fats from the small intestine to the body's circulatory system. It also plays a key role in removal of wastes from the liver. Steroid hormones are the derivatives of cholesterol and this is especially true for animals. Even in men and women, steroid hormones are synthesized with the help of cholesterol. And that’s why cholesterol acts as precursor of sex hormones androgens, estrogens, glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. Further researches on this indicate that there are stereo chemical differences as far as hormones and bile salt synthesis is concerned.