How to Figure the Ratio Between HDL & LDL

A ratio of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) to low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is one of several measurements which may appear as part of a cholesterol test or lipid profile. It may be helpful to predict heart disease, as it measures the ratio between "good cholesterol" to "bad cholesterol." However, some experts recommend using total cholesterol numbers as a predictor of heart disease. HDL is considered "good cholesterol" because it can carry cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it's broken down and eliminated, according to the American Heart Association.

Things You'll Need

• Lipid profile or cholesterol test

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Instructions

Determining Ratio

• 1

  When you receive your cholesterol test or lipid profile results, find your HDL number and your LDL number. The measurement will be in milligrams per deciliter of blood, or mg/dl. Your profile might also include your total blood (or serum) cholesterol and your triglyceride level.

• 2

  To calculate the ratio, emedtv.com says to divide the concentration of LDL cholesterol into the HDL cholesterol. The website provides an example--"if a person has an HDL cholesterol of 50mg/dL and an LDL cholesterol of 150mg/dL, the HDL/LDL ratio would be 0.33."

• 3

  Keep the ratio above 0.3, according to emedtv.com. The ideal HDL/LDL ratio is above 0.4. The higher your HDL level the better, according to the American Heart Association.