My cholesterol, TG, after 5 weeks

[Helena-in-England]

After 4 weeks on a very high (80%) fat diet my blood results are as follows:

Triglycerides 1.3 - perfect!

1.69 is cause for concern and over 2.26 is high.

Overall cholesterol 5.5 - good

Less than 5.7 is good.

HDL ratio 4.2

HDL (good) cholesterol 1.3 - acceptable

Above 1.56 is perfect. Under 1.04 is bad.

LDL (bad) cholesterol 3.6 - bordeline high.

Needs to be under 3 to be perfect.

Blood pressure 144/96 - too high

But I'd just walked fast and was nervous in the surgery.

Thyroid TSH 2.54

More detailed reading refused, as 2.54 is normal.

Fasting glucose 4.9 - perfect

(Should be between 3.9 and 5. 9

[Slapshot]

HDL ratio 4.2

I don't understand this number. Are you referring to your TG/HDL ratio? If so, I think your ratio is .236 (1.5/5.5) (it looks like you subtracted (not divided) your HDL from your TG.) You're supposed to divide it: TG/HDL. That puts you just near where you want to be:

0.24 or higher is considered ideal
under 0.24 - low
less than 0.10 - very dangerous.

You should discuss with your doctor, but I'm not sure I would sweat the LDL number if your TG/HDL ratio is OK. Others with more experience insight will be able to chime in here if I am off on my read of things as I'm no expert on this.

[Helena-in-England]

Thanks Slappie,

Sorry if I have written it wrong.

It was my doctor that told me my ratio was 4.2. He gave me the number.

I have the printout here, it says:

"Total cholesterol: HDL ratio=4.2"

He was happy with my readings. He does not know I am on 80% fat. He's nice and I didn't want to give HIM a heart attack.

[Slapshot]

It was my doctor that told me my ratio was 4.2.

"I have the printout here, it says: Total cholesterol: HDL ratio=4.2"

Hm. Got me then. The phrase "HDL ratio" confuses me as I don't know what it's a ratio of. If it's your "HDL/LDL ratio" then I don't see how how 4.2 comes out of 1.3 and 3.6. If it's your TG/HDL ratio ( which is important), then it still doesn't make sense to me. The only way I can get 4.2 is by subtracting your HDL (1.3) from your Total Cholesterol (5.5), which isn't a "ratio." Perhaps it's a British difference that I'm just unfamiliar with...

Anyway, as I said, I'm no expert so I defer to your MD and the fact that he was happy with it...those are good numbers....

[Helena-in-England]

BTW tehre are lots and lots of other things on the printout, lots of long words like creatinine and plasma and all sorts!

[Helena-in-England]

Originally Posted by Slapshot

I don't know what it's a ratio of.

I have found out!

Ratio is calculated as the total divided by the HDL.

My total was 5.5 divided by my HDL (which is 1.3) = 4.2

I'm pleased with the results. However, they partly reflect what I was eating before I started zero carb on 19th August -- i.e. sugar and wheat.

So I am looking forward to having the next test. Nothing would please me more than to have really PERFECT readings so that I can tell my fat-o-phobic docs that I did it on a high fat diet.

[Slapshot]

Originally Posted by LastChance

I have found out!

Ratio is calculated as the total divided by the HDL.

My total was 5.5 divided by my HDL (which is 1.3) = 4.2

I'm pleased with the results. However, they partly reflect what I was eating before I started zero carb on 19th August -- i.e. sugar and wheat.

So I am looking forward to having the next test. Nothing would please me more than to have really PERFECT readings so that I can tell my fat-o-phobic docs that I did it on a high fat diet.

Well...duh! The answer was right in front of my face. Who would have thought that 5.5 minus 1.3 and 5.5 divided by 1.3 would yield the same number...! Glad you figured this mystery out......