Is cholesterol an energy source?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Only during starvation
• D. It is converted to glucose

Answer: (B)

Cholesterol is not used as an energy source. In metabolism, energy comes from the oxidation of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Cholesterol serves other essential roles—it's a structural component of cell membranes and a precursor for steroid hormones, bile acids, and vitamin D—rather than a fuel. Humans do not have a practical pathway to extract ATP from cholesterol; breaking its ring structure isn’t an efficient or typical way the body generates energy. It also cannot be converted into glucose; gluconeogenesis does not start from cholesterol. So, even in prolonged fasting or starvation, cholesterol isn’t considered an energy source.