Measuring Cholesterol Levels

Monitoring HDL and LDL Levels

Normal Cholesterol Levels

• LDL: 100 mg/dL to 129 mg/dL
• HDL: greater than 40 mg/dL
• Total Cholesterol: less than 200 mg/dL
• Triglycerides: 100 mg/dL to 150 mg/dL.

Blood Triglyceride and Cholesterol Measurement

Cholesterol Level	Blood Concentration (mg/dL)
Desirable	< 200
Borderline High	200 to 239
High	> 240

LDL Cholesterol Level	Blood Concentration (mg/dL)
Optimal	< 100
Near Optimal/Above Optimal	100 to 129
Borderline High	130 to 159
High	160 to 189
Very High	> 190

HDL Cholesterol Level	Blood Concentration (mg/dL)
Low (Men)	< 40
Low (Women)	< 50
High	> 60

Triglyceride Level	Blood Concentration (mg/dL)
Ideal	< 100
Normal	100 to 150
Borderline High	150 to 200
High	200 to 500
Very High	500 to 1000
Extreme	> 1000

The general recommendation is that persons over the age of 20 should have their cholesterol measured once every 5 years. The best method of measuring cholesterol levels is with a blood test called a lipid panel or lipid profile. Because cholesterol and triglyceride levels rise after a meal—particularly one high in fat, sugars or alcohol—patients may be asked to fast twelve to fourteen hours prior to having blood drawn.

Concentrations of blood fats are determined by measuring levels of their carriers—HDL, LDL and VLDL—and ratios of carriers to one another. LDL has the capacity to transport more cholesterol than HDL and to deposit more in the arteries. Therefore, the greater the HDL/LDL ratio, the lower the potential for depositing cholesterol. Similarly, the larger the ratio of HDL to total cholesterol, the better. Minimizing blood VLDL (the primary transporter of triglycerides) levels is one way of reducing triglycerides.

Blood Lipoprotein Level	Relative Blood Concentration and Type of Fat	Risk of Heart and Cardiovascular Problems
High HDL	Low cholesterol	Reduced
High LDL	High cholesterol	Increased
High VLDL	High triglycerides	Increased