Low-Density Lipoproteins
(LDL) Low-Density Lipoproteins (LDL): the "bad"
cholesterol. Cholesterol travels in the blood in packages called lipoproteins.
Just like oil and water, cholesterol, which is fatty, and blood, which is
watery, do not mix. In order to be able to travel in the bloodstream, the
cholesterol made in the liver is combined with protein, making a lipoprotein.
This lipoprotein then carries the cholesterol through the
bloodstream.
LDL carry
most of the cholesterol in the blood, and the cholesterol from LDL is the main
source of damaging buildup and blockage in the arteries. Thus, the more
LDL-cholesterol you have in your blood, the greater your risk of heart disease.
Reducing your LDL cholesterol is the main goal of cholesterol-lowering
treatment.
| LDL-Cholesterol Levels |
| Less than
100 mg/dL |
Optimal
|
| 100 to 129
mg/dL |
Near
Optimal/Above Optimal |
| 130 to 159
mg/dL |
Borderline
High |
| 160 to 189
mg/dL |
High
|
| 190 mg/dL
and above |
Very
High |
Note: These categories apply to adults age 20 and
above.
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