Which of the following is a main type of cholesterol that includes the largest particles primarily carrying triglycerides from food?

• A. Chylomicrons
• B. Very Low Density Lipoprotein
• C. Intermediate Density Lipoprotein
• D. Low Density Lipoprotein

Answer: (A)

Lipoproteins are particles that transport fats in the blood, and their size and density reflect how much triglyceride versus cholesterol they carry. The biggest particle designed to move dietary fats from what you eat is the chylomicron. These are formed in the intestinal lining after a fat-containing meal and contain the highest triglyceride content, which makes them the largest and least dense. Their main job is to deliver dietary triglycerides from the gut to tissues such as muscle and adipose tissue. In circulation, lipoprotein lipase trims those triglycerides, releasing fatty acids for use by tissues, and what’s left becomes a chylomicron remnant that’s cleared by the liver.

Other lipoproteins serve different purposes and differ in size and composition. VLDL carries triglycerides produced by the liver; IDL is a transitional stage after triglycerides are removed; LDL carries mostly cholesterol to tissues, and HDL scavenges cholesterol back to the liver.