Non HDL Cholesterol
Non-HDL cholesterol is a measure of all the “bad” cholesterol in your blood, excluding HDL (high-density lipoprotein), which is considered “good” cholesterol. It includes LDL (low-density lipoprotein), VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein), and other lipid particles that can contribute to plaque buildup in arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Non-HDL cholesterol is often used as a more comprehensive marker for cardiovascular risk and is calculated by subtracting HDL cholesterol from the total cholesterol level.
What is a Non HDL Cholesterol?
You may measure the amount of the “bad” types of cholesterol in your blood by looking at your non-HDL cholesterol.
There is no need for misleading cholesterol measurements. The three types of cholesterol are total, HDL, and LDL. Non-HDL cholesterol also exists.
What is the difference between non-HDL cholesterol and other cholesterol values, and what information is necessary to understand it?
As you may already be aware, not all cholesterol is bad. Your body needs cholesterol to function properly. However, you do not want too much of it, especially the negative kind.
Non-HDL cholesterol, sometimes referred to as non-HDL-C, is a metric used to quantify the levels of harmful cholesterol in your blood. Your doctor can use it to assess your risk of heart disease as well.
Learn what constitutes your non-HDL cholesterol level, how it impacts heart health, and how to lower this kind of cholesterol by reading on.
Lipid panel with cholesterol that is not HDL
Your doctor will prescribe a blood test known as a lipid panel to measure your cholesterol levels. Your blood’s cholesterol level is measured by this test. A panel of tests covering all the fats in your blood, including triglycerides and cholesterol, may be ordered by certain doctors.
Your doctor is assessing your HDL and LDL cholesterol when you receive a lipid panel that includes non-HDL cholesterol. HDL is also referred to as the “good” cholesterol, whereas LDL is commonly called the “bad” cholesterol.
Professionals calculate non-HDL cholesterol by deducting total cholesterol from HDL cholesterol. Triglycerides, very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL), which are both eventually converted to LDL, are shown in this figure along with LDL cholesterol.
In order to suggest ways to lower your risk of heart disease, your doctor could ask for this test. A high total cholesterol level or the following may increase your risk of heart disease:
- obesity
- elevated blood pressure
- stress
- diabetes or prediabetes
Additionally, your doctor may assess your non-HDL cholesterol due to certain lifestyle factors:
- Unbalanced diet and smoking
- Absence of consistent exercise
- According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, you could also have other tests in addition to the lipid panel that measures non-HDL cholesterol. In order to evaluate your heart health even more, your physician could additionally ask:
Electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat; stress test, in which you work out while hooked up to an ECG; cardiac catheterization, which enables medical professionals to take X-rays to detect artery blockages
Your doctor can use the data from all of these tests to help you maintain and enhance your heart health.
What distinguishes non-HDL cholesterol from other types of cholesterol?
Many people wish to reduce their blood cholesterol levels. However, total cholesterol is not a whole picture.
Total cholesterol is divided into the following to help you better understand your risk of heart disease:
- HDL cholesterol, or high-density lipoprotein
- Triglycerides of cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins (LDL)
- non-HDL cholesterol, which is the sum of LDL and triglycerides.
Let us examine each form of cholesterol and its meaning in more detail.
High-density lipoprotein
The term “good” cholesterol is often used to describe HDL. That is because it carries non-HDL cholesterol to the liver from the circulation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Non-HDL cholesterol is subsequently eliminated from the body via the liver. This lessens the chance of plaque accumulation in your arteries.
Naturally having a high HDL is beneficial to your health. Certain drugs, such as niacin, can increase your HDL. However, a 2017 research found that niacin supplementation to raise HDL did not prevent heart attacks.
LDL cholesterol in the body
One term for LDL cholesterol is “bad” cholesterol. Excessive consumption might narrow blood vessels and block arteries. A stroke or heart attack may result from this. The lower your LDL cholesterol can be, the better.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides are a kind of fat that is obtained by diet. Eating more calories than you burn off might result in an accumulation of excess triglycerides, according to the University of Rochester Medical Center.
Heart disease has been associated with elevated blood levels of triglycerides. Yet, elevated triglyceride levels are frequently associated with other illnesses, such as diabetes and obesity. Researchers were unsure in a 2019 study if heart disease is caused by triglycerides or by these other illnesses.
Triglyceride levels should be kept low, much like LDL.
The liver produces very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), which are related to triglycerides. Since VLDL cannot be precisely measured, it will not appear on your report. Usually, it is calculated as a percentage of the triglyceride level. Triglycerides are transported via VLDL, hence this is significant. VLDL can eventually change into LDL cholesterol, according to research.
Non-HDL cholesterol
Non-HDL cholesterol is essentially your HDL, or “good,” cholesterol level less your total cholesterol number, as the name suggests. It is a measure of all the “bad” kinds of cholesterol, to put it another way. This value should ideally be lower rather than greater.
How much is considered normal for non-HDL cholesterol?
An increased risk of heart disease is associated with elevated non-HDL cholesterol levels.
Over 36,000 individuals with a low 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease participated in a 2018 research. Both LDL and non-HDL values over 160 mg/dL were associated with a 50–80% higher relative risk of cardiovascular disease death, according to a long-term follow-up.
If you do not have heart or blood vessel problems, you should follow the CDC’s recommendations for other forms of cholesterol:
- HDL cholesterol more than or equal to 60 mg/dL LDL cholesterol less than 100 mg/dL and total cholesterol less than 200 mg/dL
- Triglycerides below 150 mg/dL
If you have heart disease or are at high risk for developing it, your doctor may have different objectives for you.
Note that the notion of target LDL and non-HDL values is being phased out by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology. A risk calculator is taking the place of these levels. According to this recommendation, persons without diabetes and established cardiovascular risk have a 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease.
In this situation, doctors will treat the patient with statins if their LDL is 190 or above. Whether a person has cardiovascular disease is taken into consideration in this recommendation.
If your non-HDL cholesterol is elevated, what does it mean?
You can be more susceptible to atherosclerosis, or artery narrowing, if your non-HDL cholesterol is elevated. Your risk of heart disease is increased by non-HDL cholesterol and
Angina (chest discomfort), heart attack, and stroke
The CDC states that your chance of developing heart disease might be increased even further if you:
- smoke, have high blood pressure, and diabetes.
- possess obesity.
- having renal illness
Research is starting to show how crucial non-HDL cholesterol is for determining cardiovascular risk.
In a 2016 study, for instance, researchers examined data from nine clinical trials that included patients with coronary heart disease. They discovered that, in comparison to LDL, attained non-HDL cholesterol was more closely linked to the advancement of the illness.
A 2017 research with a 22-year follow-up included almost 4,800 males. Non-HDL cholesterol may be more important than LDL cholesterol in predicting the death rate from cardiovascular disease, the researchers concluded.
Methods for reducing non-HDL cholesterol
Medication and lifestyle changes are necessary for the treatment of high cholesterol.
Changes in lifestyle
A component of any therapy for high cholesterol is adopting a healthy lifestyle. One may need to make a number of adjustments, such as:
- Consuming foods that are good for your heart: This entails avoiding foods that are rich in saturated fat and consuming wholesome foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Exercise: Studies show that regular exercise lowers LDL and triglycerides and raises HDL.
- Stress management: Prolonged stress can increase LDL and decrease HDL.
- Moderate weight gain or maintenance: Reducing body fat can raise HDL and decrease LDL in those who are overweight.
- Stopping smoking, if you do: Quitting smoking lowers the chance of developing cardiovascular disease.
- Reducing alcohol use: Studies have shown that excessive alcohol use is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Sleeping sufficiently aids in blood vessel and heart healing and repair.
How can non-HDL cholesterol be reduced?
Your liver provides you with all the cholesterol you require. Foods including meat, poultry, dairy products, and saturated oils used in baked goods also provide some. Additionally, these meals cause your liver to produce more cholesterol.
The CDC advises limiting your consumption of saturated fats in order to lower your total cholesterol levels. This entails consuming less full-fat dairy and fatty meat.
Trans fats should also be avoided. On food labels, they could be identified as partly hydrogenated vegetable oil. They can be found in:
- Baked goods: cakes, cookies, pastries, and frozen pies purchased from stores
- Crackers, microwaveable popcorn, frozen pizza crusts, and meat pies are examples of snack foods.
- French fries, battered fish, fried noodles, and fried chicken are examples of fried fast food.
- Often used in baked products as a less expensive substitute for butter, vegetable shortening
- The ingredients for stick margarine are hydrogenated vegetable oils.
- Coffee, tea, and other hot beverages can be made without milk or cream by using non-dairy coffee creamers.
If you have the opportunity, aim to consume more real foods rather than processed ones. These consist of whole grains, nuts, seeds, and fresh produce. Lean red meat, seafood, and skinless chicken are good sources of protein.
Among the foods that might lower LDL cholesterol are:
- Oat bran and oatmeal
- kidney beans.
- Brussels sprouts, almonds, pears, and apples
- Avocados
The following foods may help reduce triglycerides:
- Omega-3-rich seafood, such as trout, salmon, mackerel, herring, and tuna, walnuts
- Oil from flaxseed
- Canola oil
Additional strategies to lower your cholesterol include
- Avoid smoking and engage in moderate exercise five times a week for at least thirty minutes each day.
- lowering alcohol intake and maintaining a healthy weight
- Your doctor could recommend cholesterol-lowering drugs if lifestyle modifications are insufficient.
FAQs
What happens if non-HDL cholesterol is high?
If your triglycerides are greater than 200 mg/dL, your doctor may recommend medication to help decrease both your LDL and non-HDL cholesterol. However, a high non-HDL cholesterol level by itself is not an indication that something is wrong with your heart or arteries.
How do you fix non-HDL cholesterol?
Eating a diet low in saturated fat, exercising often, and quitting smoking, if applicable, are all part of the treatment for any kind of high cholesterol. Drugs that reduce cholesterol and statins are among the medicines that doctors may give.
What food causes high non-HDL cholesterol?
processed meats like sausage and red meats like lamb, beef, and pork.
full-fat dairy products, such as butter, cream, and whole milk.
sweets and baked products.
meals that are fried.
Coconut oil and palm oil are examples of tropical oils.
Butter.
Can walking reduce non-HDL cholesterol?
Walking appears to be effective in lowering non-HDL-C levels, especially since it has many other health benefits. Walking is currently the most popular type of exercise in the United States and has a low injury rate when compared to other physical activities.
Is 3.6 non-HDL cholesterol good or bad?
Your total cholesterol should be 5 mmol/L or less, and your non-HDL cholesterol should be less than 4 mmol/L. The good news is that, unlike with other cholesterol tests, you will not need to fast before the non-HDL cholesterol test.
References:
- Pietrangelo, A. (2024, March 18). What you need to know about Non-HDL cholesterol. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/what-you-need-to-know-about-non-hdl-cholesterol#takeaway
- West, M. (2022, July 29). What are non-HDL cholesterol levels, and how can you lower them? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/non-hdl-cholesterol-levels-how-to-lower-chart-and-more#how-to-lower-it