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I have often asked by my
patients about normal cholesterol level, range, numbers, reading, count and normal cholesterol
ratio in men, women. The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) has published definitions
regarding high and normal cholesterol levels and values. These were endorsed by the American Heart
Association and other health organizations and are shown in the table below.
LDL cholesterol is the most important indicator for your risk of atherosclerosis or a hardening of
the arteries, and eventually heart disease or stroke so specific target levels or
the recommended cholesterol values you should try to maintain, are established only for LDL or
"bad" cholesterol.
Table Of Normal Cholesterol
Level
|
|
mg/dL:
|
mmol/L:
|
Total cholesterol
|
|
desirable
|
<
200
|
<
5.1
|
|
borderline high
|
200 -
239
|
5.1 -
6.1
|
|
high
|
>
239
|
>
6.1
|
LDL cholesterol - the "bad"
cholesterol
|
|
optimal
|
<
100
|
<
2.6
|
|
near/above optimum
|
100 -
129
|
2.6 -
3.3
|
|
borderline high
|
130 -
159
|
3.3 -
4.1
|
|
high
|
160 -
189
|
4.1 -
4.8
|
|
very
high
|
>
189
|
4.8
|
HDL cholesterol - the "good"
cholesterol
|
|
low
(undesirable!)*
|
< 40
|
<
1.0
|
|
high
(desirable!)
|
> 60
|
>
1.5
|
Serum triglycerides
|
|
normal
|
<
150
|
1.7
|
|
borderline high
|
150 -
199
|
1.7 -
2.2
|
|
high
|
200 -
499
|
2-2 -
5.6
|
|
very
high
|
>
499
|
>
5.6
|
* The American Heart
Association sets different thresholds for HDL cholesterol in men (< 40 mg/dL = low) and women
(< 50mg/dL = low), a discrimination that the National Cholesterol Education Program no longer
makes.
The values in the above table
are indicated in milligrams per deciliter blood (mg/dL) and millimole/liter (mmol/L). The unit
mg/dL is common in the US, whereas mmol/L is generallly used in the rest of the
world.
The ratio of
Total cholesterol / HDL cholesterol should be 4.0 – 6.0 (for males) and 3.7 –
5.7 (for females). The total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio is a number that is
helpful in predicting an individual's risk of developing atherosclerosis and heart disease. The
number is obtained by dividing the total cholesterol value by the value of the HDL cholesterol.
(High ratios indicate higher risks of heart attacks, low ratios indicate lower
risk).
High total cholesterol and low
HDL cholesterol increases the ratio, and is undesirable. Conversely, high HDL cholesterol and
low total cholesterol lowers the ratio, and is desirable. Since LDL cholesterol can damage your
arteries and HDL cholesterol helps your arteries, this ratio is a good indicator of the
potential of cholesterol, in general, to help or hurt your arteries. Additionally, there are
separate guidelines for male and female – recognizing the inherent differences in women’s and
men’s bodies.
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