Today’s blog is about Lipid Profile. We will discuss the normal values of Parameters used in Lipid Profile and Conditions in which Abnormality occurs in Lipid Profile.
A lipid profile, also known as a lipid panel, is a set of blood tests used to detect lipid abnormalities like cholesterol and triglycerides. The results of this test can be used to identify certain genetic diseases as well as estimate the risk of cardiovascular disease, pancreatitis, and other diseases.
The Lipid Profile Typically Includes:
- Total Cholesterol
- Triglyceride
- HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein)
- LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein)
- VLDL (Very Low-Density Lipid)
Reagents are available for Total cholesterol, Triglyceride and HDL, But LDL and VLDL are obtained through formula.
Normal Values of Lipid Profile
- Cholesterol: Less than 200 milligrams per decilitre (Values above 200 will be considered High And Abnormal.
- Triglyceride: Less than 200 milligrams per decilitre (Values above 200 will be considered high and Abnormal.
- HDL: Normal value is 40 to 60 milligram per decilitre (Less than 40 will be considered Abnormal).
- LDL: Less than 150 milligrams per decilitre (Value above 150 will be considered high and Abnormal)
- VLDL: Normal range is 2 to 30 milligrams per decilitre
Specimen Collection for Lipid Profile
The blood samples for lipid profile should be collected Only after 10 to 12 hours of fasting (He/she will not eat or drink anything for at least 10 or 12 hours and then He/she will come for the test.
- Collect 3 to 5 ml blood in Green Top or Gel Tube Or Yellow Top Or Gold Top Tube.
- Centrifuge the blood and Use Serum for the Test.
- Run the test on Routine chemistry Analyzers like Microlab or any other Special Chemistry Analyzer.
Significances of the Lipid Profile Test
In Addition to serum Total Cholesterol, the measurement of HDL, LDL and Triglycerides provide valuable information for the risk assessment of Coronary Heart Diseases.
What is Coronary Heart Disease?
Coronary arteries are the arteries that supply blood, Nutrients and Oxygen to the heart, so to their arteries occurs due to which heart diseases occur and the lipid profile will be abnormal in these diseases of the heart
- The determination of serum cholesterol is one of the important tools in assessing the risk in Artherosclerosis and the diagnosis of familial and Non-familial Lipemia.
What is Atherosclerosis?
In Artherosclerosis the blood vessels get thick and stiff due to which the blood flow to organs and tissues get affected and stop due to which that tissue and organ stops working.
So to check Artherosclerosis Serum Cholesterol test is useful.
Besides this High blood cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for Heart Disease. High cholesterol levels in the blood cause heart problems. High Cholesterol levels in the blood also lead to High Blood Pressure.
- An increase in serum Cholesterol (Hypercholesterolemia) is found in diabetes mellitus, Nephrotic Syndrome (In Nephrotic syndrome high level of proteins excreted in urine due to which small vessels in kidneys are damaged), Obstructive Jaundice (In obstructive Jaundice the problem is in bile duct due to obstruction the bilirubin does not excrete and accumulate in the liver and blood), and Hypothyroidism (In Hypothyroidism the thyroid gland function is low and slow)
- Hyperthyroidism, hepatocellular damage, anaemia (except haemorrhagic), acute infections, and intestinal obstruction all cause a decrease in serum cholesterol (hypocholesterolaemia).
- HDL is known as ”Good Cholesterol” since its function is to carry Cholesterol from Peripheral tissues to the liver for Excretion. If cholesterol starts accumulating in the blood then it can cause diseases of the heart and blocking of blood vessels so HDL work as a transporter.
- HDL Cholesterol below 40 milligrams per desi litre may indicate the increased risk of coronary disease.
- LDL Cholesterol is termed as ”Bad Cholesterol” LDL carries Cholesterol and Triglycerides from the liver to extrahepatic tissues leading to Atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis and Atherosclerosis are two different terms. In Atherosclerosis plaque formation of cholesterol occurs within blood vessels due to which blood and oxygen supply of heart and other parts of body gets affected.
- Triglyceride mostly come from food.
- High levels of blood triglycerides are often found in people who have high cholesterol levels, heart problems, are overweight or have diabetes.
Formula for LDL and VLDL
As reagents are available for cholesterol, Triglyceride and HDL but LDL and VLDL will obtain through formula.
LDL and VLDL values are usually calculated by using Fried Wald’s Equation:
VLDL=Triglycerides/5
LDL=Total Cholesterol- (HDL+VLDL)