Non-HDL cholesterol

Non-HDL (non-high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is an indicator that represents the total amount of cholesterol found in all blood lipoproteins other than high-density lipoprotein (HDL).

In other words, non-HDL cholesterol reflects the total level of atherogenic (“bad”) cholesterol, which contributes to the deposition of cholesterol in artery walls and the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.

Studies show that non-HDL cholesterol may be a more accurate predictor of cardiovascular disease risk than LDL alone, especially in patients with elevated triglyceride levels.

No additional laboratory tests are required to determine non-HDL cholesterol levels; it is sufficient to know the values of total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol:

Non-HDL cholesterol = Total cholesterol - HDL cholesterol