Most often a lipid panel measures concentrations of total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, and triglycerides. HDL-C is measurement of the cholesterol in the lipoprotein HDL, and LDL-C, the measurement of cholesterol in LDL.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is associated with elevations in LDL-C; increased LDL-C in individuals puts them at risk for CVD and is sometimes considered a pre-AMI condition. The opposite is true for HDL-C. One of the functions of this lipoprotein is to remove excess cholesterol, transporting it to the liver for reprocessing or excretion. To prevent cardiac disease, HDL-C levels should remain up and if below recommended range, steps are prescribed to raise the HDL-C concentration.
Recommended ranges for lipids from the 2001 National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III). These were developed in the US as recommended levels that decrease risk for CHD in adults:
- Cholesterol <200 mg/dL
- Triglyceride <150 mg/dL
- LDL-C <100 mg/dL
- HDL-C >59 mg/dL
