Cholesterol and triglyceride tests are blood tests that measure the

total amount of fatty substances (cholesterol and triglycerides) in

the blood.
Results are usually available within 24 hours.
The values listed here are for adult cholesterol levels. Desirable
cholesterol and triglyceride levels are slightly different for children
and teens. For more information see Cholesterol in Children and
Teens.
Cholesterol and triglycerides!

Total
cholester
ol
Desirable"
#ess than 2$$ milligrams %er deciliter
(mg&d#)
#ess than '.2 millimoles %er liter (mmol&#)
(orderline
high"
2$$)2*+ mg&d#
'.2),.2 mmol&#
-igh"
24$ mg&d# or higher
,.2 mmol&# or higher
HDL
cholester
ol
-igh
(desirable)
"
,$ mg&d# or higher
!., mmol&# or higher
.cce%table
"
4$),$ mg&d#
!.$)!., mmol&#
#ow
(undesirab
le)"
#ess than 4$ mg&d#
#ess than !.$ mmol&#
LDL
cholester
ol
/%timal" #ess than !$$ mg&d# (less than 0$ mg&d# for
%eo%le at high ris1 for a heart attac1)
#ess than 2., mmol&# (less than !.2 mmol&#
for %eo%le at high ris1 for a heart attac1)
3ear
o%timal"
!$$)!2+ mg&d#
2.,)*.* mmol&#
(orderline
high"
!*$)!'+ mg&d#
*.4)4.! mmol&#
-igh"
!,$)!2+ mg&d#
4.!44.+ mmol&# or higher
5ery high"
!+$ mg&d# or higher
4.+ mmol&# or higher
VLDL
cholester
ol
/%timal"
*$ mg&d# or less
$.02 mmol&# or less
Triglyceri
des
3ormal"
#ess than !'$ mg&d#
#ess than !.0 mmol&#
(orderline
high"
!'$)!++ mg&d#
!.0)2.* mmol&#
-igh"
2$$44++ mg&d#
2.*4'., mmol&#
5ery high"
'$$ mg&d# or higher
'., mmol&# or higher
.n -D# level of ,$ mg&d# (!.' mmol&#) or higher is lin1ed
with a lower ris1 of heart disease.
.n -D# cholesterol level less than 4$ mg&d# (!.$ mmol&#)
raises your ris1 for develo%ing heart disease es%ecially if you
also have high total cholesterol levels.
The ratio of total cholesterol to 6good6 (-D#) cholesterol
may be im%ortant es%ecially if total cholesterol is high.
5ery high cholesterol and triglyceride levels may be caused
by an inherited form of high cholesterol
(hy%ercholesterolemia or hy%erli%idemia).
Tal1 with your doctor about other things that raise your ris1
of heart %roblems. 7our doctor may change your goals for
cholesterol levels if you have other ris1 factors for coronary
artery disease such as"
8mo1ing.
-igh blood %ressure.
Diabetes.
Family history of early C.D. (coronary artery
disease )
7ou are a man and older than 4' or you are a woman
and older than ''.
9f you have a very high ris1 of having a heart attac1 your
doctor may want your #D# level to be less than 0$ mg&d#.
Cholesterol is an im%ortant ty%e of fat (li%id) that is made by the body. 9t is
needed for the body to function. 9t also is found in foods that are made from
animal %roducts (meat and dairy %roducts).
Cells need cholesterol to function. (ut e:cess cholesterol in the blood builds
u% in blood vessels and may lead to hardening of the arteries
(atherosclerosis) heart disease and stro1e. ;eo%le who have diabetes are at
higher ris1 for atherosclerosis.
There are two main forms of cholesterol"
#ow4density li%o%rotein (#D#) is called 6bad cholesterol.6 <ost
efforts to lower cholesterol are aimed at reducing levels of #D#.
-igh4density li%o%rotein (-D#) is called 6good cholesterol.6 9t can
hel% remove e:cess cholesterol from the blood vessels.
. %erson=s cholesterol level can be chec1ed with a blood test.
Triglycerides are a ty%e of fat that is found in the blood. They are the most
common ty%e of fat and are a ma>or source of energy.
?hen a %erson eats his or her body uses the calories it needs for @uic1
energy. 9t converts e:cess calories into triglycerides and stores them in fat
cells to use later. 9n normal amounts triglycerides are very im%ortant to
good health. (ut having high triglyceride levels may increase a %erson=s ris1
for coronary artery disease (C.D). 5ery high triglycerides may lead to
%ancreatitis in certain %eo%le.