Adults: 25 - 100 mg/dl
Adolescents: 25 - 120 mg/dl
Children: 25 - 110 mg/dl
Desirable level: <130 mg/dl
Limit level: 130 - 159 mg/dl
High risk: >160 mg/dl
Patients with coronary heart disease <100 mg/dl
Reference ranges are always related to total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
In the International System of Units (SI), LDL cholesterol in the blood is measured in mmol/L. The normal LDL cholesterol levels in the blood in the SI are:
Adults: 0.64 - 2.58 mmol/l
Adolescents: 0.64 - 3.10 mmol/l
Children: 0.64 - 2.84 mmol/l
Each laboratory must establish its own normal ranges for LDL cholesterol in the blood. These ranges depend on the makeup of the local population, the technologies used and the accuracy of the measurement. There may be also slight differences in the normal levels, according to age, gender, race or ethnic origin, geographic region, diet, type of sample and other relevant status.
Your doctor will study the results along with your medical record, screenings, physical condition, symptoms and any other relevant information about your situation.
LDL cholesterol is also known as the “Bad” cholesterol because it is the responsible to carry cholesterol from the liver to the bloodstream. LDL (Low Density Lipoproteins) binds to cholesterol for that transport.
Cholesterol is an essential type of fat for the body's cells because it is part of the cell membrane. Cholesterol is also the precursor of vitamin D, myelin and some hormones.
That is the reason why cholesterol is present in the bloodstream. The cholesterol must be available to the cells to perform all those tasks.
Cholesterol blood test is used as a cardiovascular risk factor. If LDL cholesterol is high the risk of suffering a cardiovascular disease increases.
LDL cholesterol blood test is performed along with other lipid tests, including the measurement of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides.
Actually, LDL cholesterol is not measured in a blood test. It is estimated with the next formulas:
LDL cholesterol is also called the “Bad” cholesterol because an excessive LDL cholesterol in the blood is a key contributor to atherosclerosis (artery-clogging plaques). Those plaques may harden and narrow the arteries, blocking the bloodstream. The cholesterol can accumulate and set the stage for a heart attack or a stroke.
The risk of suffering a cardiovascular disease increases if there are other cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity or smoking.
A low level of LDL cholesterol in the blood is positive in general terms. The main reason is an excess of anti-cholesterol drugs. It some cases it can be due to genetic diseases that prevents the cholesterol formation (ex. Abetalipoproteinemia) but it is not common.
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The following values are considered to be normal values:
IMPORTANT: These levels are expressed in mg/dl. They are an example of a healthy man of about 45 years old with no known disease and not taking any medication. The ranges can be different depending on the laboratory or on your personal circumstances.
LDL Cholesterol | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normality | |||||||
| 25 mg/dl | 26 mg/dl | 27 mg/dl | 28 mg/dl | 29 mg/dl | 30 mg/dl | 31 mg/dl | 32 mg/dl |
| 33 mg/dl | 34 mg/dl | 35 mg/dl | 36 mg/dl | 37 mg/dl | 38 mg/dl | 39 mg/dl | 40 mg/dl |
| 41 mg/dl | 42 mg/dl | 43 mg/dl | 44 mg/dl | 45 mg/dl | 46 mg/dl | 47 mg/dl | 48 mg/dl |
| 49 mg/dl | 50 mg/dl | 51 mg/dl | 52 mg/dl | 53 mg/dl | 54 mg/dl | 55 mg/dl | 56 mg/dl |
| 57 mg/dl | 58 mg/dl | 59 mg/dl | 60 mg/dl | 61 mg/dl | 62 mg/dl | 63 mg/dl | 64 mg/dl |
| 65 mg/dl | 66 mg/dl | 67 mg/dl | 68 mg/dl | 69 mg/dl | 70 mg/dl | 71 mg/dl | 72 mg/dl |
| 73 mg/dl | 74 mg/dl | 75 mg/dl | 76 mg/dl | 77 mg/dl | 78 mg/dl | 79 mg/dl | 80 mg/dl |
| 81 mg/dl | 82 mg/dl | 83 mg/dl | 84 mg/dl | 85 mg/dl | 86 mg/dl | 87 mg/dl | 88 mg/dl |
| 89 mg/dl | 90 mg/dl | 91 mg/dl | 92 mg/dl | 93 mg/dl | 94 mg/dl | 95 mg/dl | 96 mg/dl |
| 97 mg/dl | 98 mg/dl | 99 mg/dl | 100 mg/dl | ||||