LDL/HDL Cholesterol Ratio
Other names: LDL/HDL RATIO, LDL / HDL RATIO, LDL Cholesterol / HDL Cholesterol
Optimal Result:
0.5 - 3 Ratio.
LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio is the ratio of two types of lipids in the blood. LDL stands for low density lipoprotein and HDL stands for high density lipoprotein. LDL is often considered “bad” cholesterol and HDL is “good” cholesterol. LDL is considered bad because high levels of LDL are associated with heart and blood vessel damage and disease. On the other hand, HDL tends to be protective against this damage, so higher levels of HDL are considered good. Both LDL and HDL are created by the liver. They are released into the blood to move fats and cholesterol around the body. Since LDL is “bad” and HDL is “good” it is best to have a lower LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio. A high ratio means that there is too much LDL relative to HDL. Aerobic exercise and eating foods low in saturated fat improve the LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio. Certain drugs such as statins can also help lower the LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio.
Normal Ranges for LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio:
Men: Less than 3.0
Women: Less than 2.5
Children to up 18 years of age: Less than 2.5
Critical Range: N/A
Sources:
http://www.uptodate.com/contents/lipoprotein-classification-metabolism-and-role-in-atherosclerosis
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2747394/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/316173.php
www.merckmanuals.com/professional/endocrine-and-metabolic-disorders/lipid-disorders/hypolipidemia
http://press.endocrine.org/doi/abs/10.1210/jcem.85.12.7027
www.merckmanuals.com/professional/endocrine-and-metabolic-disorders/lipid-disorders/dyslipidemia
Lab Results Explained and Tracked
What does it mean if your LDL/HDL Cholesterol Ratio result is too high?
If your LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio is too high, it means your LDL is too high, your HDL is too low, or both. Most people do not have any symptoms when LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio is too high. When cholesterol levels are very high, however, it may cause yellow deposits to form in the hands and around the eyes. People may also get small bumps of the skin that contain cholesterol deposits.
Some specific causes of a high LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio are:
- Obesity
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Alcohol overuse
- Diabetes mellitus
- Hypothyroidism
- Cholestatic liver diseases
- Chronic kidney disease
- Certain drugs such as: Thiazides, Beta-blockers, Retinoids, Glucocorticoids, Highly active antiretroviral agents, Oral estrogens, Antirejection drugs.
All Your Lab Results.
One Simple Dashboard.
Import, Track, and Share Your Lab Results Easily
Import, Track, and Share Your Lab Results
Import lab results from multiple providers, track changes over time, customize your reference ranges, and get clear explanations for each result. Everything is stored securely, exportable in one organized file, and shareable with your doctor—or anyone you choose.
Cancel or upgrade anytime
What does it mean if your LDL/HDL Cholesterol Ratio result is too low?
The LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio cannot be too low. However, LDL cholesterol may become very low or HDL can become very high, or both. Most people do not have any symptoms when these things occur. When cholesterol levels are very low, people may experience confusion and memory problems. In rare cases, the person may have a genetic condition that is causing low cholesterol. It is also possible that they are experiencing a severe disease such as cancer or severe anemia. Cholesterol medications can also lower the LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio.
Some specific causes of a low LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio are:
- Cholesteryl ester transfer protein deficiency
- Familial hyperalphalipoproteinemia
- Abetalipoproteinemia
- Hypobetalipoproteinemia
- Chylomicron retention disease
- Anorexia
- Undernutrition
- Malabsorption
- Advanced, non-cholestatic liver disease
- Malignant cancer
- Drugs (Statins, Bile acid sequestrants, Ezetimibe)
Article Review & Sources
All our content is backed by peer-reviewed studies, academic research, and trusted medical sources. We're committed to accuracy and transparency — see our editorial policy for details.
Laboratories
Bring All Your Lab Results Together — In One Place
We accept reports from any lab, so you can easily collect and organize all your health information in one secure spot.
Pricing Table
Gather Your Lab History — and Finally Make Sense of It
Finally, Your Lab Results Organized and Clear
Personal plans
$79/ year
Advanced Plan
Access your lab reports, explanations, and tracking tools.
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track all results with visual tools
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export your full lab history anytime
- Share results securely with anyone
- Receive 5 reports entered for you
- Cancel or upgrade anytime
$250/ once
Unlimited Account
Pay once, access everything—no monthly fees, no limits.
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track all results with visual tools
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export your full lab history anytime
- Share results securely with anyone
- Receive 10 reports entered for you
- No subscriptions. No extra fees.
$45/ month
Pro Monthly
Designed for professionals managing their clients' lab reports
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track lab results for multiple clients
- Customize reference ranges per client
- Export lab histories and reports
- Begin with first report entered by us
- Cancel or upgrade anytime
About membership
What's included in a Healthmatters membership
Import Lab Results from Any Source
See Your Health Timeline
Understand What Your Results Mean
Visualize Your Results
Data Entry Service for Your Reports
Securely Share With Anyone You Trust
Let Your Lab Results Tell the Full Story
Once your results are in one place, see the bigger picture — track trends over time, compare data side by side, export your full history, and share securely with anyone you trust.
Bring all your results together to compare, track progress, export your history, and share securely.
What Healthmatters Members Are Saying
I have been using Healthmatters.io since 2021. I travel all over the world and use different doctors and health facilities. This site has allowed me to consolidate all my various test results over 14 years in one place. And every doctor that I show this to has been impressed. Because with any health professional I talk to, I can pull up historical results in seconds. It is invaluable. Even going back to the same doctor, they usually do not have the historical results from their facility in a graph format. That has been very helpful.
Anthony
Unlimited Plan Member since 2021
What fantastic service and great, easy-to-follow layouts! I love your website; it makes it so helpful to see patterns in my health data. It's truly a pleasure to use. I only wish the NHS was as organized and quick as Healthmatters.io. You've set a new standard for health tracking!
Karin
Advanced Plan Member since 2020
As a PRO member and medical practitioner, Healthmatters.io has been an invaluable tool for tracking my clients' data. The layout is intuitive, making it easy to monitor trends and spot patterns over time. The ability to customize reports and charts helps me present information clearly to my clients, improving communication and outcomes. It's streamlined my workflow, saving me time and providing insights at a glance. Highly recommended for any practitioner looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly solution to track patient labs!
Paul
Healthmatters Pro Member since 2024
We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.
At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.
