How to Calculate a Cholesterol Retention Fraction

Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found naturally in the body. It's vitally important to producing cell membranes and certain hormones, but it's also a major risk factor in heart disease, the number one killer among Americans.

There are many types of cholesterol; the most important kinds for monitoring your health are high-density and low-density lipoprotein, more commonly known as HDL and LDL. If LDL builds up in the blood, it can build up on the arterial walls and increase the risk of heart disease. HDL, on the other hand, removes excess cholesterol from arterial blockages; it's commonly known as "good" cholesterol, and the higher this quantity is, the better.

The cholesterol retention fraction, or CRF, is a good way of keeping track of both of these factors with one quantity.

Things You'll Need

• Calculator

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Instructions

• 1

  Get your cholesterol checked. You can consult your doctor and get a cholesterol test at a regularly scheduled physical, or make a special appointment for such a test. Be sure to make note of your separate HDL and LDL readings.

• 2

  Subtract your HDL from your LDL.

• 3

  Divide this total by your LDL total. This is your cholesterol retention fraction.

• 4

  This value is considered "abnormal" if it is above 0.7. If this is the case for you, consult your doctor about possible medications or other alternative cholesterol treatments.