Cholesterol levels

[SimplesL]

Hi

I've just got hold of the breakdown of HDL/LDL & Triglyceride levels from some blood tests I had to check I was OK to join an Aspirin study (which I did).

They breakdown as: Total 3.5 (yipee) HDL 1.2 Calculated LDL 1.9 Triglyceride is 0.81.

My question relates to the bad LDL is this a good level or should I be looking at reducing it.

When I last saw my GP in January he told me I had lots of the good stuff & total then was 3.7 so It's gone down a bit. He wasn't worried thought all my levels are good, I have the kidneys of a 25 year old (96%), so hopefully if I get to 100 I'll have the kidneys of a 50 year old!
So generally all OK. I just wondering about this LDL fig.

Looking fwd to the meet in London tomorrow
Take care
Lynne

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I think they look excellent Simples.

The 'usual' targets for LDL are <2 (but too low can cause problems according to some research) with total chol target for us D types being <4.

Lots of HDL seems to be a good thing, with <1.5 (just a little higher than yours) being the 'best' score.

Trigs target seems to be <1.7 which you well and truly beat. The real nasty cholesterol particle seems to be VLDL (the small dense LDL particles rather than larger 'fluffier' ones that are used in the body). One way of guestimating VLDL seems to be to divide trigs by 5, so the lower the better is the best way with trigs.

There are those who look long and hard at these things (not me!) who suggest that the best indicator of risk is sometimes more to do with proportions than total numbers. High HDL and low trigs being thought the best bet with a trigs/HDL ratio of less than 1.3 being a good indication of healthier LDL particle sizes - yours is 0.66

 

[mcdonagh47]

Trigs target seems to be <1.7 which you well and truly beat. The real nasty cholesterol particle seems to be VLDL (the small dense LDL particles rather than larger 'fluffier' ones that are used in the body). :

No,no,no - VLDL as the name ( "Very Low Density") implies are NOT small dense particles, they're big ! VLDL are the second largest of the lipids after Chylomicrons. VLDL cannot get through the pores of the coronary arteries into the Endothelium to deposit cholesterol in plaques and atheromas. VLDL degenerates to IDL after giving up its cholesterol to HDL and then further degenerates into LDL Fragments after delivering its Apoliptrotein cargo. Half of the VLDL ends up as LDL-Fragments and that is when it is dangerous and ex-VLDL becomes a problem.
You are confusing VLDL with Pattern B LDL !! 😉

 

[mcdonagh47]

Hi

They breakdown as: Total 3.5 (yipee) HDL 1.2 Calculated LDL 1.9 Triglyceride is 0.81.

My question relates to the bad LDL is this a good level or should I be looking at reducing it.
Lynne

Overall your Statin looks as though it is doing an excellent job.

The recommendation for LDL is 50-70 mgdl which translates for us as under 1.80 so you are on the cusp but your good level of HDL looks as though it has it under control.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Thanks for the explanation McD. I'd thought that VLDL was bad, but got mixed as to what particle size was what. I soooort of heard that some LDL is better than others (something about brain repair?!) but thought that smaller/denser LDL was the worst stuff? Should have realised what with the 'D' in LDL/HDL of course... 🙄

 

[SimplesL]

Many thanks for your replies I knew if I asked someone would know what the LDL level was.

My statin does seem to have helped with this although my total cholesterol levels were in the normal range when diagnosed.

GP told me due my age & mix not quite right put me on 10mg of simvastatin a baby dose but thought (correctly) it was all I'd need.

Hopefully I'll not have to increase it anytime soon.

 

[mcdonagh47]

Thanks for the explanation McD. I'd thought that VLDL was bad, but got mixed as to what particle size was what. I soooort of heard that some LDL is better than others (something about brain repair?!) but thought that smaller/denser LDL was the worst stuff? Should have realised what with the 'D' in LDL/HDL of course... 🙄

Yes the smaller denser LDL is the worst stuff but it isn't VLDL and of course the dangerous type, Pattern B LDL (most LDL below average width) is strongly associated with Diabetic Dyslipidemia. Thank you God 😉

 

[trophywench]

LOL, I always think of the 'good' LDL - sometimes described as being 'fluffy' - as being cloud like benign structures therefore large - whereas the 'Vicious' (LOL) ie VLDL is little, mean and gritty. Well the bits that it leaves lying around, anyway.

LDL is good stuff when it's the good stuff, it's the Repair and Maintenance Squad. The ones that repair my brain whilst I sleep I imagine are the cahps who have had the electrical/electronics training and as they busy themselves they pass comment about me - 'Look what she's done now - she's broken this synapse here AGAIN, it'll take us all night to fix this - I do wish she wouldn't keep going on that ruddy Diabetes forum and thinking about flipping cholesterol!'