What do your blood cholesterol test results mean?

FAQ

Favourite Add to favourites Remove from favourites

What do your blood cholesterol test results mean?

If you have ever had a blood test to check your cholesterol levels, you would have received a list of results of different blood fat components and how they compare to reference ranges. Most commonly, you will receive results for total cholesterol levels, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides. Each of these different cholesterol levels can impact your risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in different ways and have different roles in the body. Elevated cholesterol levels can increase your risk of CVD, however some cholesterol is naturally produced by the body to make up cell membranes, vitamin D and hormones.

Below is an outline of each of the different blood fat types, what they mean and how different lifestyle changes can influence these levels.

Cholesterol type	Definition	Lifestyle changes to improve levels	Recommended levels	Elevated levels *
Total cholesterol	Measure of the total amount of cholesterol, a fatty wax-like substance made in the liver, found in your blood. Calculated as the sum of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) + low-density lipoproteins (LDL) + a proportion of triglycerides.	Reducing intake of fried/take away foods, and limiting red meat intake to 1-3 times a week. Choose reduced fat dairy and lean meats such as chicken and fish. Increase intake of fruits, vegetables, wholegrains and legumes.	< 5.5 mmol/L (<214 mg/dL)	>5.5 mmol/L (>214 mg/dL)
LDL cholesterol “aka bad cholesterol”	Builds up in the arteries and can reduce blood flow and cause blockages. Lower levels desirable as high levels can increase the risk of heart disease.	Reduce intake of saturated fats including fried foods, butter, red/processed meats, coconut oil, baked goods.	<3.0 mmol/L (<116 mg/dL)	>3.0 mmol/L (>116 mg/dL)
HDL cholesterol “aka good cholesterol”	Helps to clear arteries and carry cholesterol away from the blood. Higher levels are desirable and can reduce the risk of heart disease.	Increase intakes of unsaturated fats including salmon, nuts, seeds, olive oil, avocado. Increase physical activity levels.	>1mmol/L (>40 mg/dL)	Not applicable
Triglycerides	The most common fat in the body. High levels can increase risk of heart disease as it makes blood thick and sticky.	Reduce intake of saturated fats, trans fats, alcohol, added sugars and refined carbohydrates including fried foods, baked goods, white breads/pastas, sugary cereals, alcohol, processed and red meats. Increase physical activity levels.	0.5 – 1.7 mmol/L (44 – 150 mg/dL)	>2.0 mmol/L (>177 mg/dL)
Non-HDL cholesterol	The amount of total cholesterol in the body not carried by HDL. Determined by subtracting HDL from total cholesterol.			>4.0 mmol/L (>155 mg/dL)
Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)]	Risk factor of heart disease that is influenced by genetic factors.		<100 nmol/L (<40 mg/dL)	>100 nmol/L (>40 mg/dL)