Total Cholesterol: What It Means for Your Health
Total cholesterol measures the combined amount of LDL, HDL, VLDL, and other lipoproteins in your blood. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that your body needs to build cell membranes, produce hormones, and make vitamin D. While essential for life, excess cholesterol — especially LDL — can accumulate in artery walls and increase cardiovascular disease risk. Total cholesterol alone is a limited marker; the LDL/HDL ratio is more informative.
Reference Range
Reference ranges may vary between laboratories, age groups, and sexes. The values shown are general adult reference ranges. Always compare your results to the specific range provided by your testing laboratory.
What Is Total Cholesterol?
Total cholesterol measures the combined amount of LDL, HDL, VLDL, and other lipoproteins in your blood. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that your body needs to build cell membranes, produce hormones, and make vitamin D. While essential for life, excess cholesterol — especially LDL — can accumulate in artery walls and increase cardiovascular disease risk. Total cholesterol alone is a limited marker; the LDL/HDL ratio is more informative.
Commonly included in:
What Does High Total Cholesterol Mean?
Elevated total cholesterol (above 200 mg/dL) increases the risk of atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, heart attack, and stroke. Causes include a high-saturated-fat diet, obesity, physical inactivity, genetic factors (familial hypercholesterolemia), hypothyroidism, diabetes, and certain medications. Borderline high is 200-239, high is 240+.
What Does Low Total Cholesterol Mean?
Very low total cholesterol (below 120 mg/dL) is uncommon and may be associated with malnutrition, hyperthyroidism, liver disease, malabsorption, or certain genetic conditions. Some research suggests very low cholesterol may be linked to depression and increased hemorrhagic stroke risk, though the evidence is debated.
Related Biomarkers in Lipid Panel
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This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Reference ranges may vary between laboratories. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for interpretation of your blood test results and before making any health decisions.