Why is a total blood cholesterol of 190 mg/dL not necessarily indicative of a low risk of heart disease?


Healthcare providers evaluate the proportions of HDL and LDL that comprise this total. Thus, 2 people who have a total cholesterol level of 190 mg/dL, may still have very different risks for developing heart disease.
One person might have an HDL level of 30 mg/dL and an LDL level of 150 mg/dL (VLDL makes up the rest of the cholesterol). This person has a high level of LDL, which may lead to atherosclerosis, and a low level of HDL, which may be less protective against the buildup of plaque in the blood vessels.
The other person might have an HDL level of 70 mg/dL and an LDL level of 110 mg/dL. This person has LDL levels that do not put them at higher risk of atherosclerosis and HDL levels that are more protective against the development of heart disease.

Nutritional Science

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