What are the normal results for a cholesterol test?
The “normal” values for serum lipids depend on the patient’s age, sex, and race. Normal values for people in Western countries were once presumed to be 140–220 mg/dL in adults, although as many as 5% of the population has TC higher than 300 mg/dL. Among Asians, the figures are about 20% lower. As a rule, both TC and LDL levels rise as people get older. However, in 2001, the NCEP released stricter guidelines for LDL and total cholesterol. Some doctors prefer to speak of “desired” rather than “normal” cholesterol values, on the grounds that “normal” refers to statistically average levels that may still be too high for good health. The NCEP has outlined the levels according to desirable and risk: • Optimal LDL cholesterol: less than 100 mg/dL and total cholesterol less than 160 mg/dL • Desirable LDL cholesterol: 100–129 mg/dL; total cholesterol 160–199mg/dL • Borderline high risk: LDL cholesterol 130–159 mg/dL; total cholesterol 200–239 mg/dL • High risk: LDL cholesterol greater than 160
