Lipid panel
LDL cholesterol
LDL carries cholesterol from the liver out to the body. When there is more of it circulating than the body needs, it contributes to the build-up in artery walls, which is why it is often called the harmful fraction.
Typical adult reference range
Often reported as optimal below 100, with targets set lower for higher-risk people · mg/dL
Ranges vary between laboratories and by age, sex and method. Always read your own result against the range printed on your own report.
What a high result can mean
A raised LDL increases cardiovascular risk over years rather than days. Diet, weight, exercise, thyroid function, some medicines and inherited conditions all contribute. A very high LDL, particularly with a family history of early heart disease, can indicate familial hypercholesterolaemia, which is treatable and worth identifying.
What a low result can mean
A low LDL is generally regarded as favourable. Very low values occasionally accompany malnutrition, an overactive thyroid, or liver disease.
What commonly affects this result
Diet in preceding weeks, whether you fasted, recent illness, pregnancy, thyroid function, and weight change.
Questions worth asking your doctor
- What is a sensible LDL target for me specifically, given my other risks?
- Does my family history change that target?
- Should we recheck after a few months of changes before considering medicine?
See what your own results say
Upload your blood test and get a plain English summary of every value on it, with the questions worth raising at your next appointment.
Analyse my resultsThis page explains what a test measures. It is general information, not medical advice, and it cannot tell you what your own result means. Reference ranges differ between laboratories, and results are only meaningful alongside your history, your symptoms and your other results. Always discuss your results with your doctor.