VLDL cholesterol blood test
Very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
In short
A typical adult VLDL cholesterol result is under 30 mg/dL (desirable). A high VLDL usually mirrors high triglycerides and is read together with them. What counts as too high for you depends on your overall heart risk. Always read your result against the range printed on your own report.
Cholesterol carried in the particles that mainly carry triglycerides.
VLDL particles carry triglycerides, the main blood fat, out from the liver. Most labs estimate VLDL cholesterol from triglycerides instead of measuring it, so it rises and falls with them. Like LDL, extra VLDL can add to plaque in the arteries.
Is my VLDL cholesterol high or low?
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Typical range
| For | Range | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Adults · desirable | under 30 | mg/dL |
| Adults · desirable | under 0.78 | mmol/L |
Typical ranges for adults. Labs differ a little, so the range printed next to your result is the one to go by.
If your VLDL cholesterol is high
A high VLDL usually mirrors high triglycerides and is read together with them. What counts as too high for you depends on your overall heart risk.
Common reasons
- Eating or drinking alcohol in the hours before the test
- Extra body weight, high blood sugar or type 2 diabetes
- Foods high in sugar and refined starch, or little activity
- An underactive thyroid or kidney disease
- Some medicines, including steroid medicines and hormone therapy
- Less often: an inherited condition that raises blood fats
What can throw it off
Because it is usually worked out from triglycerides, a recent meal or alcohol can push it up.
Questions to take to your appointment
- 1Is my VLDL high only because my triglycerides are high?
- 2Was I fasting long enough before the test?
- 3Does this change my overall heart risk?
Read together with
Doctors rarely read VLDL cholesterol alone. These usually sit next to it.
Quick answers
What is the VLDL cholesterol blood test?
VLDL cholesterol (Very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol): Cholesterol carried in the particles that mainly carry triglycerides. VLDL particles carry triglycerides, the main blood fat, out from the liver. Most labs estimate VLDL cholesterol from triglycerides instead of measuring it, so it rises and falls with them. Like LDL, extra VLDL can add to plaque in the arteries.
What is a normal VLDL cholesterol level?
For most adults, VLDL cholesterol is typically under 30 mg/dL (desirable). Some countries print it in mmol/L, so check the unit first. Labs differ a little, so the range printed next to your result is the one to go by.
What does a high VLDL cholesterol mean?
A high VLDL usually mirrors high triglycerides and is read together with them. What counts as too high for you depends on your overall heart risk. Common reasons include eating or drinking alcohol in the hours before the test; extra body weight, high blood sugar or type 2 diabetes; foods high in sugar and refined starch, or little activity; and an underactive thyroid or kidney disease. A doctor reads it together with your other results and how you feel.
What can affect my VLDL cholesterol result?
Because it is usually worked out from triglycerides, a recent meal or alcohol can push it up.
What should I ask my doctor about my VLDL cholesterol?
Questions worth taking to the appointment: Is my VLDL high only because my triglycerides are high? Was I fasting long enough before the test? Does this change my overall heart risk?
What this page can’t do
It reads each number on its own.
Doctors read results together — ALT with AST, ferritin with hemoglobin, TSH with free T4. A pattern says more than any single flag.
It doesn't know you.
Your age, your medicines, how you feel and your last result all change what a number means.
It doesn't remember.
Close this page and your results are gone. That's on purpose: nothing was ever sent to us.
We also make Vita: Health Coach, an app for those parts. It reads your whole report with your medicines and history in mind, answers follow-up questions in plain words, and keeps your reports in one place — for you and for the people you look after.
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