Making Sense of Cholesterol Ratios, Lipid Profiles and Your Heart Disease Risk Scores

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Sunday, September 07, 2008
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It's very possible your MD orders lab work and you have no idea what or why you're having blood drawn. Well, let's clear up the confusion when it comes to your cholesterol labs. The terms "lipid panel", "lipid profile", and "lipoprotein profile" are used interchangeably to order the same set...

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Untitled Comment
Sue
Wednesday, September 10, 2008 at 03:09 PM

Thanks for your post Lisa. These numbers can really be confusing and keeping it straight is really tough. But you guide spells it out for us - good breakout for those who are challenged with this kind of information.

Readers may also want to check out these links for Information on Cholesterol: The Basics.

All the best, sue

Plan of Action
Cynthia
Saturday, September 13, 2008 at 08:18 AM

Too often, doctors hastily reach for the prescription pad to start those of us with elevated lipid scores on a statin regimen. Even before you get your lipid panel results, visit cholesterolscore.com

The website, cholesterolscore.com is a site that focuses entirely on the therapeutic use of niacin to control cholesterol.

Untitled Comment
D Z
Monday, March 02, 2009 at 10:44 PM

What about a very good LDL:HDL ratio, AND a good total cholesterol to HDL ratio, BUT still too high of LDL? I've tried to find research articles about this (I'm a biologist) but can't find much. I'm only 24, and my LDL is about 180, total is 256 (supposedly much too high as well), but my HDL is nice and high as well - about 76.

What does this mean? I've spoken to a physician but would appreciate more info.

re: Untitled Comment
Lisa Nelson, RD, LN
Monday, March 02, 2009 at 11:13 PM

Hi DZ,

You would benefit from an expanded lipid profile. This would look at the type of LDL particles you have to determine your risk. I recently interviewed Dr. Cynthia Shelby-Lane and she answered this very question. Check out the two posts below to see her answer.

Should You Receive Treatment for Very Low HDL Levels?
Can My HDL Be Too High?

All the best,

Lisa Nelson RD
How to Lower Cholesterol Naturally

Cholesterol
Dixie Curtiss
Thursday, March 12, 2009 at 05:32 PM

My bad cholesterol is 161. What should try to do?

I know I need more Fiber, fruits. I do not want to take PILLS.

I don't know if you know anything about; Fibrestore, fiber-rich

antioxidant dietary supplement, its a dietary fibre antioxidants-

digestive enzymes-21 herbs. Do you think this will help me?

re: Cholesterol
Lisa Nelson, RD, LN
Thursday, March 12, 2009 at 05:43 PM

Hi Dixie,

Your about needing bump up the fiber, especially soluble fiber. Check out this post for some tips:

Dietary Fiber: 4 Tips to Lower Cholesterol with Fiber

Evaluate your diet for trans fats and saturated fats which impact LDL cholesterol.

Don't forget about bumping up your activity level and losing weight if you're overweight. Both will positively impact your LDL cholesterol level.

No, I have not researched Fibrestore, so I'm not able to offer you feedback on their supplements. Maybe someone else will jump in with some feedback for you on this option.

All the best,

Lisa Nelson RD
How to Lower Cholesterol Naturally

HDL/Total Cholesterol ratio
Anonymous
Monday, June 01, 2009 at 11:24 AM

I have read that the best single predictor of whether you are likely to have a heart attack is the ratio of your total cholesterol to your HDL or "good' cholesterol. Is this true?

re: HDL/Total Cholesterol ratio
Lisa Nelson, RD, LN
Monday, June 01, 2009 at 01:09 PM

Hi Anonymous,

I recommend you watch your triglyceride to HDL ratio. Triglycerides should never be more than double your HDL.

All the best,

Lisa Nelson RD

Be Heart Healthy and Lose Weight

Confused results
Brian
Monday, November 09, 2009 at 04:55 PM

I got my lab work back and my LDL is 107 which sounds high. My Lipid Ratio (?) is 3.27. It says that low is less than 5.0. I assume that's good. Is that the same as an HDL ratio? That is what I am used to seeing.

Also, my ALT came back at 60 with the good range showing 1-39. Should I be concerned?

My profile didn't even show HDL??? But it did have Creatinine, BUN,NA,K,CL,CA,ALT and CO2.

Any advise?

re: Confused results
Lisa Nelson, RD, LN
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 01:16 PM

Hi Brian,

There are different lipid ratios. If you have your lab numbers you could complete the different calculations to determine if this ratio of 3.27 is total cholesterol to HDL.

The American Heart Association recommendations for LDL cholesterol are at least less than 130 mg/dl and ideally less than 100 mg/dl.

All the best,

Lisa Nelson RD

How to Lower Cholesterol in 8 Simple Steps