Lipid profile test
Lipid profile; Lipid panel; Lipid test; Cholesterol test; Cholesterol panel; Coronary risk panel; Lipoprotein profile
Lipids are fatty, wax-like substances found in the body. Your body needs lipids for proper body functions, growth, and energy. Two important types of lipids found in the blood are cholesterol and triglycerides. High levels of lipids in your blood may clog your arteries and increase your risk of heart disease and stroke.
A lipid profile is a blood test to measure different types of lipids:
- Total cholesterol: This is the measure of all the cholesterol in your blood.
- High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL [good] cholesterol): HDL helps remove LDL from your blood.
- Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL [bad] cholesterol): LDL can build up in your blood vessels and increase your heart disease risk.
- Very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL cholesterol): VLDL moves triglycerides from your liver to other cells. VLDL can also build up in your blood vessels.
- Triglycerides: Your body makes some triglycerides. Triglycerides also come from the food you eat. Extra calories are turned into triglycerides and stored in fat cells for later use.
Maybe you've been eating fast food more often than you should, or you're not getting your recommended two-and-a-half hours of exercise each week. Or, it could be that you smoke, or your blood pressure is too high. Well, for whatever reason, you may be concerned about your risk of getting heart disease. Well, a few tests can help you learn that risk, so you can start making healthy lifestyle changes to reduce it. A coronary risk profile is a group of blood tests that measure your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Why is it important to know these levels? Because if you have too much of these substances in your blood from eating foods like burgers and French fries, they can clog your arteries. Eventually your arteries can become so clogged that you'll have a heart attack or stroke. Men should have their cholesterol tested by the time they're 35. Women should have it checked by age 45. If you have a condition like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, or high blood pressure, have your cholesterol checked now, no matter what your age. To measure your cholesterol, your doctor will give you a blood test. If you're also having your triglyceride level checked, you may be told not to eat or drink anything for 8 to 12 hours before the test. Depending upon your heart risk, the doctor may measure just your total cholesterol level, or your total cholesterol along with your LDL, or bad cholesterol, HDL, or good cholesterol, and triglycerides. If you're of average risk of getting heart disease, your goal is to have total cholesterol of less than 200 milligrams per deciliter, LDL cholesterol lower than 130 milligrams per deciliter, HDL cholesterol higher than 40 milligrams per deciliter if you're a man, or 50 if you're a woman -- the higher the better, and triglycerides of less than 150 also, the lower the better. Although some illnesses, like arthritis, can raise your cholesterol level, generally having high cholesterol means that you're at increased risk for heart disease and stroke. It's a sign you need to work harder to keep your heart healthy. If your cholesterol levels are normal, that's great! That means that you're eating right, you're exercising, and you're taking good care of your health. You don't need to have another cholesterol test for about five years. But if your cholesterol level is high, or you've already got heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes, you'll need to have your cholesterol levels checked more often. Keeping close tabs on your cholesterol and triglyceride levels is one way that you can take charge of your health, and change it for the better.
Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance that is present in all parts of the body including the nervous system, skin, muscle, liver, intestines, and heart. It is made by the body and obtained from animal products in the diet. Cholesterol is manufactured in the liver and is needed for normal body functions including the production of hormones, bile acid, and Vitamin D. Excessive cholesterol in the blood contributes to atherosclerosis and subsequent heart disease. The risk of developing heart disease or atherosclerosis increases as the level of blood cholesterol increases.
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like material that is found in all parts of the body. It comes from two sources: our liver produces it, and we consume it in animal products.
Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. Preparation may vary depending on the specific test.
How the Test is Performed
A blood sample is needed. Most of the time, blood is drawn from a vein located on the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand.
How to Prepare for the Test
You should not eat for 9 to 12 hours before the test. If you don’t fast, only values for total cholesterol and HDL may be useful.
Alcohol and some medicines can interfere with blood test results.
- Make sure your health care provider knows what medicines you take, including over-the-counter medicines and supplements.
- Your provider will tell you if you need to stop taking any medicines before you have this test.
- Do not stop or change your medicines without talking to your provider first.
How the Test will Feel
You may feel slight pain or a sting when the needle is inserted. You may also feel some throbbing at the site after the blood is drawn.
Why the Test is Performed
A lipid profile test helps you and your provider understand your risk for heart disease.
You also may have this test to see how well you are responding to medicines to help lower your cholesterol.
Normal Results
The most common ideal results for these levels are:
- Total cholesterol below 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or 5.18 millimoles per liter (mmol/L).
- HDL from 40 to 60 mg/dL (1.04 to 1.55 mmol/L), though even higher is better.
- LDL generally below 100 mg/dL (2.59 mmol/L). For people with heart or other vascular disease, it should be below 70 mg/dL (1.81mmol/L).
- VLDL 2 to 30 mg/dL (0.05 to 0.78 mmol/L).
- Triglycerides below 150 mg/dL (3.88 mmol/L) for adults and lower than 90 mg/dL (2.33 mmol/L) for 10 to 19 year olds.
Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results.
What Abnormal Results Mean
If your lipid profile testing is abnormal, your provider may recommend lifestyle changes, cholesterol-lowering medicine, or continued monitoring of your blood lipid levels.
Risks
There is little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others.
Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may include:
Considerations
Certain medicines, pregnancy, infection, and some medical conditions can affect test results.
References
Bredefeld CL, Lau R, Hussain MM. Lipids and dyslipoproteinemia. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 18.
Genest J, Mora S, Libby P. Lipoprotein disorders and cardiovascular disease. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli, GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 27.
Marshall WJ, Lapsley M, Day A, Shipman K. Lipids, lipoproteins and cardiovascular disease. In: Marshall WJ, Lapsley M, Day A, Shipman K, eds. Clinical Chemistry. 9th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2021:chap 17.
Robinson JG. Disorders of lipid metabolism. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 190.
Version Info
Last reviewed on: 7/25/2024
Reviewed by: Michael A. Chen, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
