Can I Drink Water Before a Fasting Lipoprotein Profile?

Doctors advise that once you reach the age of 20, you should have your cholesterol levels measured every five years. The lipoprotein profile is one of the best ways to get an accurate reading of the cholesterol that is currently in your blood.

• Nutritious food.

Measurements

• The lipoprotein profile measures the total amount of cholesterol in your blood. It measures the levels of HDL-cholesterol that you have (the "good" cholesterol, which you want to have more of) and the levels of LDL-cholesterol that you have (the "bad" cholesterol, which you ideally want to have less of in your blood than the HDL-cholesterol). In addition, it measures the amount of triglycerides that you have, or fat present in your blood plasma.

Food Before a Lipopprotein Profile

• No. Your doctor will tell you not to eat any food for the 12 hours preceding the lipoprotein profile test. The reason is because eating food less than 12 hours before the lipoprotein profile can cause false test results.

Water Before a Lipoprotein Profile

• Yes. You may drink pure water in the hours before you have this test done. Water that is not flavored with any artificial sweeteners is acceptable.

Food Eaten Before a Lipoprotein Profile

• Eating food a few hours before you have this profile taken can cause your triglyceride levels to appear higher than they usually normally are. If you have eaten before the test, your body is still in the process of digesting and metabolizing the byproducts of the food you've eaten.

Beverages Drunk Before a Lipoprotein Profile

• Drinks such as fruit juice, rehydrating drinks such as Gatorade and soda are not acceptable to drink 12 hours or less before you have this profile taken. They contain ingredients which, like the ones that can also be found in food, will err your test results.