HDL Cholesterol (HDL-C)

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Carries cholesterol away from arteries to the liver.

Units

mg/dL

Reference (Male)

≥ 40 mg/dL

Reference (Female)

≥ 50 mg/dL

Aliases

HDL, Good cholesterol

What it measures

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Carries cholesterol away from arteries to the liver.

What a high value can mean

Regular aerobic exercise, healthy fats, moderate alcohol, genetic variants.

What a low value can mean

Metabolic syndrome, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, type 2 diabetes.

Conditions it helps assess

Cardiovascular protection

Reading these numbers in context

Reference ranges describe the central 95 % of a healthy reference population — 5 % of perfectly healthy people fall outside any given range by definition. A single mildly abnormal value is rarely meaningful on its own. blood-test.life always interprets values together with related biomarkers before flagging.

Related biomarkers in Lipid Panel

Total Cholesterol CHOL Sum of LDL, HDL, and VLDL cholesterol. A starting point for cardiovascular risk — never interpreted alone. LDL Cholesterol LDL-C Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The primary driver of atherosclerotic plaque. Triglycerides TG Storage form of fat in blood. Elevated levels raise risk of pancreatitis and cardiovascular disease.