How reports print it
What it shows
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol — the main value a doctor uses to assess risk to the arteries and set goals.
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 | < 3 |
Range source: Лаборатория Хеликс — Холестерол – липопротеины низкой плотности (ЛПНП)
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.
- LDL of 4.9 mmol/L and above 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
The LDL goal depends on cardiovascular risk, which a doctor determines. Russian guidelines (2023): below 3.0 mmol/L at low risk, below 2.6 at moderate, below 1.8 at high and below 1.4 at very high risk. The «below 3.0» in Helix’s reference is the goal for low risk.
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
- Some medicines
Why it can be lower
- Cholesterol-lowering medicines
- An overactive thyroid
What to ask a doctor
- What is my risk category and LDL goal?
- Should my relatives be checked?
Whom to see
A GP or internist; then a cardiologist.