How reports print it
CHOLОбщий холестеринХолестерол общийОбщий холестеролХолестеринХолестеролОХСTCCholesterolCholesterol total
What it shows
Total cholesterol is the cholesterol in all lipoproteins combined. Cells and hormones need it; an excess builds up in artery walls.
Units and conversion
Base unit: mmol/L.
- 1 mg/dL = 0.02586 mmol/L · 1 mmol/L = 38.67 mg/dL
Typical ranges
Your laboratory’s range comes first — it is printed on the report next to the result. Below is one laboratory’s adult range with its method: a reference, not a rule.
| Who | Range, mmol/L |
|---|---|
| Adults | < 5.2 |
Range source: Лаборатория Хеликс — Холестерол общий
Guideline thresholds
They apply on top of the range, for adults outside pregnancy. They are a reason to talk to a doctor, not a conclusion.
- Total cholesterol above 7.5 mmol/L in adults is, per Russian guidelines (2023), a reason to look at the family history of cholesterol.
- Нарушения липидного обмена. Клинические рекомендации 2023 — Российский кардиологический журнал, 2023
Good to know
Laboratories note that there is no single cut-off for total cholesterol: LDL and overall cardiovascular risk, assessed by a doctor, matter more.
Why it can be higher
Common reasons discussed with a doctor. This is not a diagnosis.
- A diet high in saturated fat
- Family history
- An underactive thyroid
- Pregnancy
- Some medicines
Why it can be lower
- An overactive thyroid
- Undernutrition
- Cholesterol-lowering medicines
What to ask a doctor
- What is my cardiovascular risk, and what is my LDL goal?
- Is a full lipid panel needed?
Whom to see
A GP or internist; then a cardiologist.