Lipid profile test: normal ranges and a diet to lower cholesterol
A lipid profile measures total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides. Desirable levels: total cholesterol below 200 mg/dL, LDL below 100, HDL 40 or more (men) and 50 or more (women), triglycerides below 150. Less ghee and fried food, more fibre, fish and nuts, and less sugar improve most results.
Lipid profile normal ranges
| Test | Desirable | Borderline | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total cholesterol | Below 200 mg/dL | 200 to 239 | 240 or more |
| LDL cholesterol | Below 100 (optimal); 100 to 129 near optimal | 130 to 159 | 160 to 189 high; 190+ very high |
| HDL cholesterol | 60 or more is protective | Low: below 40 (men), below 50 (women) | |
| Triglycerides | Below 150 | 150 to 199 | 200 to 499 high; 500+ very high |
Categories from the US National Cholesterol Education Program. Your own target for LDL depends on your heart risk: people with diabetes or heart disease are usually given lower targets.
Diet to lower LDL cholesterol
- Less saturated fat: reduce desi ghee, butter, cream, malai, fatty mutton and beef, and full-fat cheese.
- No trans fat: avoid banaspati ghee and food fried in it, many bakery items and street fries.
- More soluble fibre: oats, daliya, isabgol, daal, chana, lobia, seb and amrood.
- Healthy fats in small amounts: a handful of nuts, fish twice a week, and canola, sunflower or olive oil measured with a spoon.
Diet to lower triglycerides
- Stop sugary drinks, juices, sweet chai and mithai first; triglycerides often fall within weeks.
- Keep roti and rice to measured portions; avoid maida bread and bakery items.
- Lose weight slowly if overweight, and walk 30 minutes most days.
- Fish such as rohu or salmon twice a week.
High triglycerides often come with fatty liver, prediabetes and belly fat, so the same plan helps all of them. Blood pressure advice is on the high BP diet page.
See a doctor first if
- Your LDL is 190 mg/dL or more, or triglycerides 500 or more
- You have chest pain, diabetes, kidney disease or a family history of early heart attack
- You are on a statin and want to stop it (never stop on your own)
Common questions
What does a lipid profile test show?
It measures fats in the blood: total cholesterol, LDL ("bad") cholesterol, HDL ("good") cholesterol and triglycerides. Some reports also show VLDL and non-HDL cholesterol. Together they show your risk of heart attack and stroke.
Do I need to fast for a lipid profile?
Many labs now accept a non-fasting test for routine checks. If your triglycerides are high or your doctor asks, fast for 9 to 12 hours (water is allowed). Follow your lab's instruction.
What is a normal cholesterol level?
Total cholesterol below 200 mg/dL is desirable, LDL below 100 is optimal, HDL 40 or more in men and 50 or more in women, and triglycerides below 150. If you have diabetes or heart disease, your doctor will set a lower LDL target.
How can I lower triglycerides with diet?
Triglycerides respond quickly to food. Cut sugar, sweet drinks, mithai and refined flour, keep rice and roti to measured portions, lose weight if needed, eat fish twice a week and walk daily. Alcohol raises triglycerides strongly.
Is desi ghee bad for cholesterol?
Desi ghee, butter, cream and fatty meat are high in saturated fat, which raises LDL. Banaspati (vanaspati) ghee is worse because it can contain trans fats. Use less of all of them, and cook with small amounts of oils such as canola, sunflower or olive.
What are triglycerides in Urdu?
Triglycerides are a type of fat (چکنائی) in the blood that the body makes from extra calories, especially from sugar and refined carbohydrate. In Urdu reports they are often written simply as triglycerides.
Keep reading
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Sources
- NCEP Adult Treatment Panel III: cholesterol and triglyceride categories (NIH NHLBI)
- Mach F et al. 2019 ESC/EAS Guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemias. Eur Heart J, 2020
- Grundy SM et al. 2018 AHA/ACC Guideline on the Management of Blood Cholesterol. Circulation, 2019
- World Health Organization. Healthy diet: fact sheet (fats and trans fats)