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Doctor's Assessment Included

Every result includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.

Cardiovascular

LDL/HDL Ratio: Insight Into Your Cholesterol Balance

The LDL/HDL ratio is your LDL cholesterol divided by your HDL. A lower ratio is more favourable. Learn what your value can mean.

Reference Ranges

Female
ratio
Normal < 3 High

Reference ranges may vary between laboratories. When you order a test, a BIG-registered doctor assesses your personal results in context. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.

What It Measures

The LDL/HDL ratio is your LDL cholesterol divided by your HDL cholesterol. It is not a separate measurement but a ratio the lab calculates from two values that have already been determined.

LDL is the cholesterol that can build up in the artery wall; HDL helps carry cholesterol away. The ratio sets the two against each other and shows how your 'unfavourable' and 'favourable' cholesterol relate.

A lower LDL/HDL ratio is more favourable. The value is assessed together with your individual cholesterol results.

Why It Matters

The LDL/HDL ratio focuses specifically on the cholesterol most strongly associated with artery narrowing. By setting LDL against HDL, it shows the balance between the build-up and the removal of cholesterol in your blood vessels.

A higher ratio points to relatively high LDL compared with protective HDL and is associated with a higher cardiovascular risk. A lower ratio points to a more favourable balance.

The ratio is always assessed together with your individual LDL and HDL values and your other risk factors.

When to Test

The LDL/HDL ratio is included in an extended lipid profile, for example at a health check, with an increased cardiovascular risk, or to monitor treatment.

The ratio is especially useful for tracking change over time, because it reflects both a fall in LDL and a rise in HDL.

For a reliable LDL, and therefore a reliable ratio, you are sometimes asked to fast; follow the instructions provided with your test.

Symptoms

Low Levels

A low LDL/HDL ratio is favourable and is not linked to any complaints. It usually points to a healthy balance between your LDL and your protective HDL. A strikingly low ratio is assessed by your doctor in the context of your whole profile.

High Levels

A raised LDL/HDL ratio causes no symptoms by itself. An unfavourable cholesterol profile develops silently over many years and is usually only picked up through a blood test. Complaints appear late, once artery narrowing already affects the heart or blood vessels.

Lifestyle Tips

What lowers your LDL and raises your HDL improves your ratio: unsaturated instead of saturated fats, fibre-rich food, regular exercise, not smoking and a healthy weight.

A one-off result says less than the trend; discuss a raised ratio with your doctor, who looks at your full risk profile before changing anything about lifestyle or medication.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the LDL/HDL ratio?
It is your LDL cholesterol divided by your HDL cholesterol, a single number showing the balance between the cholesterol that builds up in your arteries and the cholesterol that helps clear it.
What is a good LDL/HDL ratio?
A lower ratio is more favourable. Targets depend on your overall cardiovascular risk, so check the reference range on your result and discuss it with your doctor.
How is the LDL/HDL ratio calculated?
The lab divides your LDL cholesterol by your HDL cholesterol. It is calculated automatically from both values, not measured as a separate test.
How does it differ from the cholesterol/HDL ratio?
The cholesterol/HDL ratio uses your total cholesterol, while the LDL/HDL ratio uses only LDL. Both compare unfavourable cholesterol with protective HDL; your doctor decides which is most useful for you.
Do I need to fast for this test?
A reliable LDL, and therefore a reliable ratio, sometimes requires fasting. Follow the instructions provided with your test.
Can I improve my LDL/HDL ratio?
Yes. Lowering LDL and raising HDL through healthy fats, fibre, exercise, not smoking and a healthy weight improves the ratio. Discuss persistently high values with your doctor.