Calculation of Total Cholesterol - High Cholesterol Message Board

50176702 · 03-23-2004, 09:55 AM

Dear all,

Do you know what is the standard way of calculating total cholesterol level? I note from the lab results for my mum and for myself (done in two different labs) that there is a difference in calculating the total cholesterol level. My mum's report done by Lab A shows a total cholesterol level of about 247, which is considered high. If Lab B's method is used, the figure will be slightly lower than 230.

Besides, for Lab A (i.e. for my mum), LDL above 130 is considered as "borderline"; yet for mine, the line is cut at 150. Which should I follow? My mum's LDL level is around 150, is it high?

The point of these questions is that, exactly on the basis of the figures from Lab A, my mum's doctor prescribes her a cholesterol-reducing medication (called Bezalip), though in low dosage (one tablet daily). I am wondering if this is necessary, particularly when her triglycerides level is normal (77) and her HDL is very good (over 60).

Do you have any idea about the calculation method or on where the lines should cut? Any knowledge about the side effects of the medication would also be welcomed. Many thanks.

501

zip2play · 03-24-2004, 05:52 AM

Is that Lab A and Lab B conjectural or actual?

There SHOULD be no difference in the cholesterol measurement from lab to lab. The agreed standard is currently
TC = LDL + HDL + (Triglycerides/5).

All are directly measured except the LDL which is obtained by jiggling the equation around. Even THAT can be measured directly by better labs (and soon all I predict.)

As far as what is safe , i.e, 130 for your mum, 150 for you, that depends on personal interpretation, age, sex, doctor, health (heart risks). Depending on who you talk to you might get a different value of "borderline."

Side effects of the meds are all over the "High Cholesterol" board... Just scan down and read for an hour or so...

(really).
Personally I'm a fan but the biggest complaint from people who don't like them is muscle and joint pain.
Liver should be checked periodically for enzymes (blood test) but the complaints in this direction are few.

pcovers · 03-24-2004, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 50176702

Dear all,

Do you know what is the standard way of calculating total cholesterol level? I note from the lab results for my mum and for myself (done in two different labs) that there is a difference in calculating the total cholesterol level. My mum's report done by Lab A shows a total cholesterol level of about 247, which is considered high. If Lab B's method is used, the figure will be slightly lower than 230.

Besides, for Lab A (i.e. for my mum), LDL above 130 is considered as "borderline"; yet for mine, the line is cut at 150. Which should I follow? My mum's LDL level is around 150, is it high?

The point of these questions is that, exactly on the basis of the figures from Lab A, my mum's doctor prescribes her a cholesterol-reducing medication (called Bezalip), though in low dosage (one tablet daily). I am wondering if this is necessary, particularly when her triglycerides level is normal (77) and her HDL is very good (over 60).

Do you have any idea about the calculation method or on where the lines should cut? Any knowledge about the side effects of the medication would also be welcomed. Many thanks.

501

If you mean that your mother had two different blood tests done at two different labs and they came up with two different TC numbers, this is not surprising. They are likely using the same testing protocol, but these numbers are not absolutes like your height. In other words, you could have the very same lab take a sample, five minutes later take another sample. Then send these two samples to the very same testing lab and they could come back with the differences you noted above for your mothers TC.

As zip noted, TC is always read directly. It is LDL that is calculated using the the formula zip provided.

50176702 · 03-24-2004, 08:04 AM

The figures for my mum doesn't seem to fit in the formula which zip or the web told me (i.e. HDL+LDL+Triy/5):

HDL 63
LDL 150
Triy 77
TC 247

There comes my question.

Anyway thanks for the feedback. I agree it's no good asking things that are already plenty there on the web.

bigal123 · 03-24-2004, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 50176702

The figures for my mum doesn't seem to fit in the formula which zip or the web told me (i.e. HDL+LDL+Triy/5):

HDL 63
LDL 150
Triy 77
TC 247

There comes my question.

Anyway thanks for the feedback. I agree it's no good asking things that are already plenty there on the web.

No the formula is wrong the correct one is
Total cholesterol minus HDL minus the (Triglycerides divided by 5)
So here is an example Chol.=174 Trig= 296 HDL= 54 LDL=60.8
174 - 54=120
296. divided by 5=59.2
120
-59.2
60.8