LDL Cholesterol (LDL-C)

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The primary driver of atherosclerotic plaque.

Units

mg/dL

Reference (Male)

< 100 mg/dL (optimal)

Reference (Female)

< 100 mg/dL (optimal)

Aliases

LDL, Bad cholesterol

What it measures

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The primary driver of atherosclerotic plaque.

What a high value can mean

Diet high in saturated/trans fat, familial hypercholesterolemia, hypothyroidism, kidney disease.

What a low value can mean

Hyperthyroidism, malabsorption, statin therapy.

Conditions it helps assess

Cardiovascular risk
Plaque burden

Reading these numbers in context

Reference ranges describe the central 95 % of a healthy reference population — 5 % of perfectly healthy people fall outside any given range by definition. A single mildly abnormal value is rarely meaningful on its own. blood-test.life always interprets values together with related biomarkers before flagging.

Related biomarkers in Lipid Panel

Total Cholesterol CHOL Sum of LDL, HDL, and VLDL cholesterol. A starting point for cardiovascular risk — never interpreted alone. HDL Cholesterol HDL-C High-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Carries cholesterol away from arteries to the liver. Triglycerides TG Storage form of fat in blood. Elevated levels raise risk of pancreatitis and cardiovascular disease.