High density lipoprotein medical therapy

Template:High denisty lipoprotein Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Recommended Range

The American Heart Association, NIH and NCEP provides a set of guidelines for male fasting HDL levels and risk for heart disease.

Level mg/dL	Level mmol/L	Interpretation
<40	<1.03	Low HDL cholesterol, heightened risk for heart disease, <50 is the value for women
40–59	1.03–1.52	Medium HDL level
>60	>1.55	High HDL level, optimal condition considered protective against heart disease

More sophisticated laboratory methods measure not just the total HDL but also the range of HDL particles, e.g. "lipoprotein subclass analysis", typically divided into several groups by size, instead of just the total HDL concentration as listed above. The largest groups (most functional) of HDL particles have the most protective effects. The groups of smallest particles reflect HDL particles which are not actively transporting cholesterol, thus not protective.