How to read a lipid profile
Quick answer: To read a lipid profile, look at LDL first, check HDL, check triglycerides and bring it together.
- Look at LDL first. Under 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L) is optimal; 160 or more is high. Your personal target depends on your heart risk.
- Check HDL. Higher is better: under 40 mg/dL in men or 50 in women is low.
- Check triglycerides. Under 150 mg/dL is normal. Non-fasting samples read higher, and 500 or more needs prompt attention.
- Bring it together. Total cholesterol under 200 mg/dL is desirable, and a total/HDL ratio under 5 is acceptable.
Cholesterol categories (mg/dL)
LDL: under 100 optimal, 100–129 near optimal, 130–159 borderline high, 160–189 high, 190+ very high. Total cholesterol: under 200 desirable, 200–239 borderline high, 240+ high. Triglycerides: under 150 normal, 150–199 borderline high, 200–499 high, 500+ very high. To convert, 1 mmol/L of cholesterol is 38.67 mg/dL.
What helps
Eating more fibre (oats, beans, lentils), swapping butter and ghee for unsaturated oils, cutting sugary drinks and refined carbs, regular exercise and not smoking all improve cholesterol. Whether you need a statin depends on your overall heart risk, which your doctor can estimate.
Important
This tool explains results in plain words; it can't diagnose anything. Your doctor reads them alongside your symptoms, history and medicines.
Frequently asked questions
Is LDL of 130 bad?
130–159 mg/dL is borderline high. Whether it needs treatment depends on your age, blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and family history.
Do I need to fast for a cholesterol test?
Not usually. Fasting mainly affects triglycerides; if they're high on a non-fasting test, your doctor may repeat it fasting.
Are my results uploaded or stored?
No. The report is read inside your browser, on your device. Nothing is sent to a server or saved after you close the page.