Women’s health testing: a guide for you

Lipid profile — a look at cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides

by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP

A conventional lipid profile consists of four major measurements:

• Total cholesterol
• HDL (high-density lipoprotein, the so-called “good” fraction believed to transport excess cholesterol out of the blood to the liver for disposal)
• LDL (low-density lipoprotein, the so-called “bad” fraction that transports cholesterol from the liver into tissues and organs)
• Triglycerides (comprised of a sugar and fatty acids)

It is generally recommended that adults have their cholesterol levels tested every five years, or more frequently if they’re being monitored for high cholesterol or heart disease.

Elevated cholesterol is a very real concern for many women I see at the clinic, yet too often we overlook the fact that all the above subcomponents play a role in metabolism as energy sources and transporters of dietary fat. Cholesterol and fat are essential to every cell in our bodies. For one thing, cholesterol is the precursor to all our steroid hormones. Many conventional practitioners leap to prescribe statin drugs if a patient is outside of the set range for cholesterol, but I think a more holistic approach offers the patient better health in the long run. To learn more, see my article on the truth about cholesterol and fat.

The medical community’s perspective on cholesterol has evolved over the years. Twenty years ago, the focus was on total cholesterol, and then we realized there were two main kinds of cholesterol — HDL and LDL — “good” and “bad” cholesterol. Then it was found that the ratio of HDL to LDL was what was more important than the numbers themselves. Now we know there are at least five major groups of lipoproteins, and we look at the concentrations of different-sized LDL particles to better determine risk. The bottom line is that cholesterol simply cannot be labeled in black and white terms — each type has a role to play in the body, and there are many, many shades of gray.

The current standards on a lipid profile are noted above, but I have never been fond of focusing treatment on numbers alone. I tell my patients to be mindful about family history, nutrition, and lifestyle. There are many variables when it comes to cholesterol, and we have more power than you may have been led to believe. Simply changing your diet can substantially improve your cholesterol and lower your triglycerides. There are also herbs and supplemental nutrients like red rice yeast (a natural alternative to Lipitor and other statins) taken with coenzyme Q10 (a natural enzyme found in our cells) that can make a huge difference for some people.

As I mentioned before with testing blood glucose and bone breakdown markers, it’s very, very instructive to track your own numbers, to see where they are when you are at your healthiest — these should define your personal ranges. If you see these numbers moving in an upward or downward trend, explore natural options for getting back to your ideal. I will say the best results are generally achieved under the guidance of a qualified healthcare practitioner, but the point is, there are many natural options for lowering the cardiovascular risks associated with inflammation, high LDL, and CRP, and the power to seek them out is yours.

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Related to this article:

References on interpreting your medical test results

 

Last Modified Date: 04/15/2011
Principal Author: Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP