Lipid Profile
The lipid profile measures the fats carried in the blood. LDL is the one that deposits in artery walls; HDL carries cholesterol away; triglycerides are a separate fat that rises sharply with sugar, refined carbohydrate and alcohol.
This is an educational reading aid, not a diagnosis and not medical advice. Reference ranges differ between laboratories — always read the range printed on your own report. Nothing here can see you, your history or your medicines. Do not start, stop or change any treatment on the strength of this page: take your report to a qualified doctor.
Reference ranges reviewed by Dr. Mohan Gayenlast reviewed
Your values
Fill in only the ones on your report. Anything you leave blank is simply skipped.
All the cholesterol in the blood — the good and the bad together, which is why it is the least useful number here.
The fraction that drives the build-up of plaque in arteries.
Carries cholesterol away from arteries. Here, higher is generally better.
A separate fat, very responsive to sugar, refined carbohydrate and alcohol.
Total cholesterol minus HDL — every particle that can deposit in an artery. Increasingly preferred to LDL because it stays reliable when triglycerides are high, and does not need fasting.
Enter one or more values and your reading will appear here.
What this panel is easy to get wrong
- THESE CATEGORIES ARE NOT TREATMENT TARGETS. Modern guidelines set an LDL goal from a person’s overall cardiovascular risk — someone who has had a heart attack or has diabetes is given a far lower target than these general bands. Only a doctor can set yours.
- LDL is usually CALCULATED rather than measured, and the calculation becomes unreliable when triglycerides are above about 400 mg/dL.
- A 9–12 hour fast is traditional and still matters most for triglycerides. Non-fasting samples are acceptable for screening in many guidelines.
- A very high triglyceride level — above about 500, and especially above 1000 mg/dL — carries a risk of pancreatitis and needs medical attention rather than watchful waiting.
Where these ranges come from: Categories follow the widely used NCEP ATP III classification. Note the caveat below about treatment targets, which are risk-based and different.
Where this is written from: This site is written from Indian clinical practice. Drug availability and brand names, vaccination schedules, national health programmes and some reference cut-offs differ between countries — a schedule or a threshold that is standard here may not be standard where you are. If you are reading outside India, check anything on this page against your own country’s guidance before you act on it.
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Total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides and non-HDL.