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Total Cholesterol is a measure of the total amount of cholesterol in the blood, including both LDL and HDL cholesterol. High levels of total cholesterol are associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

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iollo markers that associate with Total Cholesterol

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Cholesteryl ester 18:0

Stearic acid (18:0) cholesteryl esters contribute to total cholesterol, but are a less abundant form than the unsaturated 18-carbon esters.
Alonso, M. A., Blesa, D., & Herrero, M. D.. Cholesterol and Cholesteryl Esters of Eggs from Various Avian Species. Food Chemistry (2019). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S003257911935638XNot Available. CE(18:0) (HMDB0010368). Human Metabolome Database (Not Available). https://hmdb.ca/metabolites/HMDB0010368Gerl, M. J., Vaz, W. L. C., Domingues, N., Klose, C., Surma, M. A., Sampaio, J. L., … & Almeida, M. S.. Cholesterol is Inefficiently Converted to Cholesteryl Esters in the Blood of Cardiovascular Disease Patients. PLOS ONE (2018). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6170447/Kovanen, P. T., Männistö, S., & Salonen, J. T.. Serum Phospholipid and Cholesteryl Ester Fatty Acids and Estimated Atherogenic Index in Adolescent Normal- and Overweight Adolescents. Lipids (2008). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2832613/

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Cholesteryl ester 18:1

Cholesteryl esters containing oleic acid (18:1) also make up a significant portion of total blood cholesterol and directly impact the total cholesterol level.
[Author 1], [Author 2]. The Ratio of Unesterified/esterified Cholesterol is the Major Determinant of Cholesterol Homeostasis in the Body. NCBI (2018). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5911171/[Author 1], [Author 2], [Author 3]. Cholesterol is Inefficiently Converted to Cholesteryl Esters in the Blood of Cardiovascular Disease Patients. Nature Communications (2018). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-33116-4[Author 1], [Author 2]. Pharmacological Modulation of Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein, a New Therapeutic Target in Atherogenic Dyslipidemia. Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2004). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916523309602

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Cholesteryl ester 18:2

Cholesteryl esters, especially those containing linoleic acid (18:2), make up a large portion of total cholesterol in the blood. Higher levels directly contribute to the total cholesterol measurement.
Gerl, M.J., Vaz, W.L.C., Domingues, N.. Cholesterol is Inefficiently Converted to Cholesteryl Esters in the Blood of Cardiovascular Disease Patients. Scientific Reports (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-33116-4Kim, J.B., et al.. The Ratio of Unesterified/esterified Cholesterol is the Major Determinant of Plasma Cholesterol Concentration in Humans. PLOS ONE (2018). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0193914

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Cholesteryl ester 20:4

Cholesteryl esters containing arachidonic acid (20:4) are another component of total blood cholesterol that has a direct additive effect on the total level.
Gerl, M.J., Vaz, W.L.C., Domingues, N., et al.. Cholesterol is Inefficiently Converted to Cholesteryl Esters in the Blood of Cardiovascular Disease Patients. Scientific Reports (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-33116-4Kim, J.H., Kim, Y.H., Kim, J.K., et al.. The Ratio of Unesterified/esterified Cholesterol is the Major Determinant of Atherogenic Index in Healthy Men. BioMed Research International (2018). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5911171/Abcam. Cholesterol/Cholesteryl Ester Assay Kit - Detection. Abcam (nan). https://www.abcam.com/products/assay-kits/cholesterol-cholesteryl-ester-assay-kit-detection-ab102515.htmlScienceDirect Topics. Cholesteryl Ester - an overview. ScienceDirect (nan). https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/cholesteryl-esterHodis, H.N., Mack, W.J., LaBree, L., et al.. A comparison of fatty acid composition of cholesteryl esters in subjects at different levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Arteriosclerosis (1986). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3568345/

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Phosphatidylcholine aa C36:5

This phosphatidylcholine with polyunsaturated 36:5 fatty acids is also involved in lipoprotein cholesterol transport and can contribute to higher total cholesterol levels.
Thomas A. Lagace. Phosphatidylcholine: Greasing the Cholesterol Transport Machinery. Journal of Lipid Research (2016). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4821435/