Vitamin B-6 is a nutrient your body requires to maintain the proper function of your immune and central nervous systems. As an adult, if you don't consume the recommended 1.3 to 2 milligrams of vitamin B-6 daily, you may be at risk of developing a vitamin B-6 deficiency, the Office of Dietary Supplements warns.

Accurate cholesterol test results are an important factor in determining your risk for heart disease. More than 35 million Americans have cholesterol levels high enough to put them at significant risk for cardiovascular disease.

Fish roe is a rare food, considered a delicacy by some, that consists of the ripe ovaries of fish. As with other forms of seafood, fish roe is rich in protein and relatively low in calories.

The total cholesterol in your blood is not a measure of a single value. The number, on its own, is an incomplete picture of your overall risk of heart disease and other complications.

A complete cholesterol test is a collection of blood tests that determine the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides (a type of fat) in your blood. HDL cholesterol is defined as "good" while LDL is considered "bad." Separate blood tests are required to gauge each type of cholesterol.

Red blood cells carry oxygen to all cells in your body. Hemoglobin -- a protein found in red blood cells -- binds to oxygen molecules and delivers oxygen to tissues and cells via your circulatory system. When hemoglobin levels fall below normal levels, your body won't function optimally.

Urine tests commonly measure protein and creatinine to check for the presence of kidney disease or dysfunction. Protein in your urine is abnormal and prompts follow-up testing. If your kidneys do not work properly, your doctor may need to test your urine regularly to monitor kidney function.

A heart-healthy diet emphasizes fruits and vegetables and foods that are low in cholesterol, saturated fat and sodium. Dietary cholesterol can increase your blood levels of cholesterol, particularly LDL cholesterol, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

In a study presented at the Experimental Biology Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 20, 2009, Dr. Kevin C. Maki of Provident Clinical Research announced that eating the popular cereal Cheerios can help to lower serum cholesterol by up to 10 percent in one month.

DHEA is short for dehydroepiandrosterone, a hormone that your adrenal gland produces and secretes. The adrenal glands are small organs that are located above your kidneys; the main function of which s is to manage the release of hormones that in turn affect a variety of vital functions in the body.

Very low density lipoproteins, or VLDL, are responsible for moving cholesterol, triglycerides and other lipids throughout the body. Lipoproteins are made up of cholesterol, triglycerides and proteins.

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that your liver and other body cells produce; however, the animals that humans use as food sources produce it as well, which means that you also obtain it from some of the foods you eat.