HDL Cholesterol
High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol
HDL helps carry cholesterol back to your liver, where it can be removed. Your HDL cholesterol result measures the cholesterol in these particles. It is often called “good” cholesterol, but a higher number is not always better.
Try your HDL Cholesterol result.
A quick one-marker check. Vita can score it better once it sees the full lab report around it.
What does a low HDL result mean?
Low HDL is associated with a higher chance of heart disease. HDL alone does not measure how well this transport process works, and raising the number alone is not the main treatment goal. Read it with LDL, triglycerides and your other risk factors.
HDL can be too low or unusually high
- Low in men and women
- Below 40 mg/dL (about 1.0 mmol/L)
- Low in women; not low in men
- 40–49 mg/dL (about 1.0–1.3 mmol/L)
- Not low
- 50–80 mg/dL (about 1.3–2.1 mmol/L)
- Unusually high — review in context
- Above 80 mg/dL (about 2.1 mmol/L)
Low HDL is below 40 mg/dL in men and below 50 in women. The amber 40–49 band needs that context. Above 80 mg/dL is unusually high and is not automatically protective. HDL should always be read alongside LDL and overall risk.
Sources: Cleveland Clinic
What can change this result?
What can bring it down
- Smoking.
- Spending much of the day inactive.
- Insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes or high triglycerides.
Habits that support heart health
- Regular activity, such as brisk walking, can also raise HDL.
- Quitting smoking can help HDL recover.
- Managing excess weight and blood sugar, where relevant.
Do not start drinking alcohol to raise HDL. Raising the number alone is not a treatment goal; LDL and your overall heart risk matter more.
What should I do next?
- Look at LDL and triglycerides alongside HDL before drawing conclusions.
- Focus on regular activity, avoiding tobacco and a varied diet rather than trying to raise HDL with supplements or alcohol.
- Ask your clinician what would reduce your overall heart risk.
How this test works
HDL particles take part in cholesterol transport. The amount of cholesterol they carry does not show every aspect of their function. This is why an isolated HDL result cannot tell you whether your arteries are healthy.