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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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