I just received my most recent cholesterol test results:

Total Cholesterol 234
HDL 88
LDL 137
Triglycerides 45

I am a 50 year old female. I know the HDL and Triglycerides are good, but how bad is the Total/HDL? I know I am going to get pressure from my very well meaning and concerned husband and our doctor to go on a statin. I absolutely refuse to do this. I take fish oil, garlic, policosanol, COQ10 and have been eating oat bran. I will not take a statin or red yeast rice.
I eat whole eggs (2-3 per day) and the saturated fat content of my diet is roughly 15%. I am willing to drop that to get the Total below 200, but will that really do it? I am post menopausal and I have read the lower estrogen is the cause of increased cholesterol readings. I have had a heart screening and all of the tests were good. I would really appreciate any input and moral support.



Judy

This is an amazingly good lipid profile; High HDL and very Low TGs. The ideal total cholesterol range to optimize health and minimize mortality is 200-260. * Total cholesterol under 200 mg/dl indicates impaired immune function. (Perfect Health Diet, p 366).

TGs/HDL ratio is a good proxy for the type of LDL you have. Under 2 means you have more of the beneficial large fluffy type...Less than 2 is good, less than 1 excellent, and your ratio is .51.
TC/HDL is less significant, but still often used, and that is an excellent 2.6, anything under 4.4 is good. Your doctor should give you an award, not suggest statins.


* Even more so for women, in a recent Norwegian study.


(5.0=195 and 7.0 =273!)

http://www.drbriffa.com/2011/10/06/...or-celebration/

There's a chart floating around out there composed from data collected by the World Health Organization re: mortality and TC levels. The lowest all-cause mortality is in the TC range of 200-259. It climbs sharply lower and higher than that. So I think you are fine!

Thank you so much! That is very reassuring. Thanks for the references too, I'll have these with me when I go to the doctor.

Judy

Thank you!

Excellent numbers.

Thank you!

I go back to the doctor on March 19th for another test (an annual physical for insurance purposes). I am better prepared to discuss cholesterol numbers with him now.

Another thing to be aware of, the calculated value of LDL is going to be very skewed by your low triglycerides. It could be off by as much as 30%. There's a thread here about how to recalculate it when your Trig. are lower than 100. I think it is stickied.

Thanks Nancy!

I just found it:

LDL = TC/1.19 + TG/1.9 - HDL/1.1 - 38

For me, LDL = 103 using this equation

Those are rockstar numbers you have there. Especially considering you're postmenopausal and your age. No woman your age should be on a statin. Over 200 for TC is shown to be protective and healthy. Low cholesterol is FAR more dangerous for somebody in your position.

Sorry to hijack your thread, your HDL is awesome...

These are my numbers, I'm not particularly concerned, but when I do the 'formula' my LDL gets worse-152.

TC-224
HDL-62
TG-112
LDL-140

Should I be 'trying' to lower my LDL.

The problem with a standard lipid panel is that it doesn't tell us much beyond the total LDL-C. What you really need is an LDL particle count or an Apo-B count. That will really tell you your risk factors. Just an LDL-C isn't worth much. Generally though, as your trig-HDL ratio goes down, your Apo-B and pattern B goes down with it.

If you want a great education on lipid profile numbers, check out the Livin La Vida Low Carb podcast, the episode with Thomas Dayspring. He is the modern day Yoda of all things cholesterol.

Thank you! I agree about not going on a statin-I never will. I also agree that low cholesterol is more dangerous. From everything I have read, keeping my cholesterol at or over 200 is what I want to do.

Thank you! I was taking a fish oil called "Med Omega" by Carlson. 1-2 teaspoons a day. That was the highest HDL I've had. Before it was between 60-70. Now if I could just get my husband to take fish oil. His HDL is only 40.

If you stay low carb your HDL will rise slowly over time. Lots of us get our HDL to around 100.