Men: 35 - 82 mg/dl
Women: 40 - 82 mg/dl
Children: 35 - 82 mg/dl
In the International System of Units (SI), HDL cholesterol in the blood is measured in mmol/L. The normal HDL cholesterol levels in the blood in the SI are:
Men: Entre 0.9 - 2.12 mmol/l
Women: 1.03 - 2.12 mmol/l
Children: 0.9 - 2.12 mmol/l
Each laboratory must establish its own normal ranges for HDL cholesterol in the blood. These ranges depend on the makeup of the local population, the technologies used and the accuracy of the measurement. There may be also slight differences in the normal levels, according to age, gender, race or ethnic origin, geographic region, diet, type of sample and other relevant status.
Your doctor will study the results along with your medical record, screenings, physical condition, symptoms and any other relevant information about your situation.
Women, children and black people have a higher HDL level in the blood than men, adults and white people respectively.
HDL cholesterol is also known as the “Good” cholesterol because it is the responsible to remove the excess of cholesterol from the blood. HDL (high density lipoproteins) bound to cholesterol transport it from the bloodstream to the liver to be excreted into the bile.
That process prevents the formation of atheromatous plaques. An atheroma is an accumulation of cholesterol and other lipid compositions on the inner wall of vessels, which can finally narrow an artery. An atheroma may causes a cardiovascular disease (heart attack, stroke, etc.).
HDL cholesterol blood test is performed along with other lipid tests, including the measurement of total cholesterol LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides.
Generally speaking, a high HDL cholesterol level is positive. It reduces the risk of suffering a cardiovascular disease. On the contrary, a low HDL cholesterol level increases the risk of suffering a cardiovascular disease (heart attack, stroke, etc.)
In very exceptional circumstances, the HDL values can be very high (over 82 mg/dl). That is not positive for the health.
Besides the HDL level in the blood, it is recommended to study the cholesterol ratio between the total cholesterol and the HDL cholesterol because a high level of HDL cholesterol will not be an enough protection against cardiovascular diseases if total cholesterol is very high.
Cholesterol ratio = Total Cholesterol/ HDL Cholesterol.
Cholesterol ratio should be below 4.5 in men and 4 in women.
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The following values are considered to be normal values:
IMPORTANT: These levels are expressed in mg/dl. They are an example of a healthy man of about 45 years old with no known disease and not taking any medication. The ranges can be different depending on the laboratory or on your personal circumstances.
HDL Cholesterol | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normality | |||||||
| 35 mg/dl | 36 mg/dl | 37 mg/dl | 38 mg/dl | 39 mg/dl | 40 mg/dl | 41 mg/dl | 42 mg/dl |
| 43 mg/dl | 44 mg/dl | 45 mg/dl | 46 mg/dl | 47 mg/dl | 48 mg/dl | 49 mg/dl | 50 mg/dl |
| 51 mg/dl | 52 mg/dl | 53 mg/dl | 54 mg/dl | 55 mg/dl | 56 mg/dl | 57 mg/dl | 58 mg/dl |
| 59 mg/dl | 60 mg/dl | 61 mg/dl | 62 mg/dl | 63 mg/dl | 64 mg/dl | 65 mg/dl | 66 mg/dl |
| 67 mg/dl | 68 mg/dl | 69 mg/dl | 70 mg/dl | 71 mg/dl | 72 mg/dl | 73 mg/dl | 74 mg/dl |
| 75 mg/dl | 76 mg/dl | 77 mg/dl | 78 mg/dl | 79 mg/dl | 80 mg/dl | 81 mg/dl | 82 mg/dl |