Total Cholesterol

ABOUT THIS TEST

The cholesterol (lipid) profile has four component parts.

The lipid profiles includes:

• Cholesterol
• Triglycerides
• High density lipoprotein cholesterol
• Non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol

What is cholesterol and why is it important?

Cholesterol is a fatty substance known as a lipid, and is important for the normal function of cells and organs in the body. It is also used to make hormones which are essential for reproduction, development and growth including Vitamin D.

Cholesterol is mainly produced by the liver and the cells of the intestinal wall, but intake can also be obtained from the diet.  Having elevated cholesterol can increase the risk of developing vascular disease which may lead to serious health conditions such as atherosclerosis (clotted arteries), a blood clot, angina (arm or chest pain during physical activity), heart attack or stroke.

Lifestyle factors such as a poor diet with a high saturated fat intake, smoking, obesity and drinking large amounts of alcohol can increase the risk of developing serious health conditions including heart disease. Other health disorders such as diabetes mellitus (HbA1c test), high blood pressure, liver or kidney disease, hypothyroidism or a family history of heart disease or stroke can also contribute towards increasing the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD).

There is an inherited condition which runs in families, which can cause high cholesterol even in patients who have a healthy lifestyle and diet. This is called familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH).

Some factors which cause high cholesterol cannot be changed; these are called ‘non-modifiable’ risk factors. These include:

• A family history of cholesterol-related conditions such as FH
• Age: increasing age increases the risk of atherosclerosis
• Ethnicity: Sri Lankan, Indian, Bangladeshi or Pakistani descendants have an increased risk of a heart attack
• Sex: men have a higher heart attack risk than women

What are triglycerides and why are they important?

Triglycerides are fats made by the liver and are also a type of fat found in the diet. These foods include dairy products, meat and cooking oils.

Triglycerides increase in the blood after eating a meal, and slowly reduce over a few hours after eating.

The role of triglycerides in the body are as a source of energy for cells, tissues and organs, or as fat storage.

Triglyceride concentrations are important as they can be used as an independent risk factor for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Very high triglyceride levels may also confer a risk for the development of acute pancreatitis.

What is HDL-Cholesterol and why is it important?

High-density lipoproteins are  also known as ‘good cholesterol’ as they protect against heart disease, so the higher the HDL-cholesterol levels, the better. Low HDL-cholesterol concentrations, especially paired with high levels of triglycerides increase the risk of heart disease.

What is non-HDL-C and why is it important?

Non-HDL cholesterol is a calculated result using total cholesterol minus HDL-cholesterol which is ‘good cholesterol’. This final number represents all the ‘bad cholesterol’ together and should be less than 4 mmol/L and is the best individual risk factor.