Question

9. Physicians inform their patients of the total cholesterol concentration in the blood, but the HDL:LDL cholesterol ratio is also reported to the patient. Why is the HDL:LDL cholesterol ratio more informative? Which is more desirable, a high HDL:LDL cholesterol ratio or a low ratio?

Answer 1

Total cholesterol consists of following values:High density lipoprotein(HDL)or good cholesterol,Low density lipoprotein( LDL)or bad cholesterol and 20 percent of your triglycerides fat carried in your blood.For patients it is recommended to lower LDL-cholesterol while it’s a good to maintain ‘good’ HDL-cholesterol at or above the healthy level.

HDL should be at least higher than 55 mg/dL for females and 45 mg/dL for males approximately.

LDL should be no more than 130 mg/dL if there is a case of heart diseaseor diabetes. It should be no more than 100 mg/dL if you have any of those conditions .

LDL/HDL cholesterol ratios are risk indicators with greater predictive value than isolated parameters used independently, particularly LDL. For future diagnosis and treatment of dyslipidemia, including instruments for calculating cardiovascular risk , it should include the lipoprotein ratios with greater predictive power which, in view of the good results.

High HDL - LDL ratio is more desirable.When this ratio decreases ,it shows that there is chance of cardiovascular risk.Doctors also look at the ratio of Total cholesterol to HDL.

All these ratios are important to find out risk of cardiovascular activity.HDL : LDL ranges nearly between 0.3 to 0.6.It is recommended to have high value.