Cholesterol Ratios

The term "lipid profile” is used to order the same set of labs. "Lipid" is simply a medical term for "fat". A lipid profile measures fatty substances in your blood. Cholesterol is one type of fat. When you eat food containing cholesterol or when your body produces cholesterol and releases it into your bloodstream, the cholesterol will attach to a protein. This package of cholesterol plus a protein is called a lipoprotein.

Lipid profiles components:
1) LDL (bad cholesterol)
LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol carries mostly cholesterol, some protein, and minimal triglycerides throughout your circulation. LDL should be less than 130 mg/dL, ideally less than 100 mg/dL.
2) HDL (good" cholesterol)
HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol removes cholesterol from your bloodstream and carries it back to the liver. I like to think of HDL as a vacuum cleaner, picking up cholesterol LDL leaves behind in your arteries, the more HDL the better. HDL should be greater than 40 mg/dL, ideally greater than 60 mg/dL.
3) VLDL (bad cholesterol)
VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol contains minimal protein and mainly transports triglycerides. VLDL should be less than 40 mg/dL.
4) Triglycerides
Triglycerides are a type of fat in the blood, not a type of cholesterol. Triglycerides are frequently used to estimate VLDL (bad cholesterol). Here's the calculation: triglycerides divided by 5 equals VLDL cholesterol. Triglycerides should be less than 200 mg/dL, ideally less than 150 mg/dL.
5) Total cholesterol

Cholesterol is essential to bodily functions, such as building cells and producing hormones.

Too much cholesterol will build up on artery walls, form a plaque, and potentially "plug" the artery resulting in a heart attack or stroke. Total cholesterol is calculated from the above components (Total cholesterol = HDL + LDL + VLDL). Total cholesterol should be less than 200 mg/dL.

A risk score is based on you lipid profile results, sex, age, family history, and different other risk factors. Do not take doxycycline without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. If you have a high risk score for heart disease, it's best to speak with your MD to evaluate your risk score.

You want a low ratio of cholesterol to HDL. A ratio lower than 4.5 is good, but 2 or 3 is best. You can calculate your cholesterol to HDL ratio by dividing total cholesterol by HDL. If your total cholesterol is 195 and your HDL is 55. 195 divided by 55 equals a ratio of 3.5. It's actually not your total cholesterol that has the greatest impact on your heart disease risk. The ratio of total cholesterol to HDL is a critical factor. If your total cholesterol is less than 200, but your ratio is 5, you are still at increased risk for developing heart disease.

This ratio compares the amount of bad (LDL) cholesterol to your good (HDL) cholesterol levels. You want a ratio less than 3.5, ideally less than 2.5. To calculate your ratio, divide LDL by HDL. If your HDL is 55 and LDL is 100. 100 divided by 55 equals a ratio of 1.8. A low ratio of triglycerides to HDL is best, ideally less than 2. To calculate your triglyceride to HDL ratio, divide your triglycerides by your HDL. Your triglyceride level is 200 and your HDL is 55. 200 divided by 55 equals a ratio of 3.6.
Lipid profiles are commonly ordered to assess your heart disease risk. Do not take doxycycline without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Your doctor or dietitian will use the results to determine the best treatment to reduce your risk. A lipid profile is beneficial, because you know your good cholesterol level and bad cholesterol levels. The interventions that work best to raise HDL and lower LDL differ, so knowing all your numbers helps you make the most effective changes.