What it means
A step in the liver's chain of reactions that builds cholesterol. The enzyme HMG-CoA reductase controls the speed of that chain. Statin drugs, such as lovastatinLOH-vuh-stat-inA statin drug that lowers LDL cholesterol by blocking the liver enzyme that makes cholesterol.Full entry , block this enzyme, so they are called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.
At a glance
| Also written | HMG-CoA reductase |
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Related terms
atherosclerosis
A buildup of fatty deposits (plaque) inside the walls of the arteries.
VLDL
Very low-density lipoprotein: a particle made by the liver that carries fats, mostly triglycerides, in the blood.
lovastatin
A statin drug that lowers LDL cholesterol by blocking the liver enzyme that makes cholesterol.