Cholesterol is a sterol.

Cholesterol is a sterol.

• A. Sterol
• B. Protein
• C. Carbohydrate
• D. Nucleotide

Answer: (A)

Cholesterol is a sterol, a type of lipid in the steroid family. Sterols are steroids that include a hydroxyl group, giving them their alcohol character while maintaining the characteristic four-ring steroid nucleus. This structural feature—a fused ring system with a single hydroxyl group—defines sterols like cholesterol and sets them apart from other biomolecule classes. It is not a protein (made from amino acids), not a carbohydrate (built from sugars), and not a nucleotide (composed of a base, sugar, and phosphate). In the body, cholesterol helps stabilize cell membranes and serves as a precursor for bile acids and steroid hormones, which aligns with its sterol nature.

Cholesterol is a sterol, a type of lipid in the steroid family. Sterols are steroids that include a hydroxyl group, giving them their alcohol character while maintaining the characteristic four-ring steroid nucleus. This structural feature—a fused ring system with a single hydroxyl group—defines sterols like cholesterol and sets them apart from other biomolecule classes. It is not a protein (made from amino acids), not a carbohydrate (built from sugars), and not a nucleotide (composed of a base, sugar, and phosphate). In the body, cholesterol helps stabilize cell membranes and serves as a precursor for bile acids and steroid hormones, which aligns with its sterol nature.