Does plasma HDL-C concentration interact with whole-body cholesterol metabolism?

This review examines the interactions between plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism and whole-body cholesterol economy. More specifically, this review addresses three questions: 1) does plasma HDL-C concentration correlate with the parameters of whole-body cholesterol metabolism? 2) Do variations in cholesterol metabolism interfere with plasma HDL-C concentrations? 3) Are the markers of cholesterol synthesis and intestinal absorption specifically under the control of plasma HDL? The following answers were provided to each question, respectively: 1) plasma HDL influences whole-body cholesterol synthesis rate but the evidence that HDL modifies the total amount of cholesterol absorbed by the intestine is not clearly supported by present investigations; 2) there are suggestions that changes in whole body cholesterol metabolism rates do not interfere with plasma HDL-C concentrations; 3) markers of cholesterol synthesis and absorption may specifically be controlled by plasma HDL-C concentrations regarding the genetic causes of extremely low HDL-C concentrations, although within the general population plasma HDL-C concentration is likely ascribed to insulin resistance or diabetes mellitus.