← Blood tests
Cholesterol/HDL Ratio
Routine annualalso tc:hdl
What it isA simple ratio — total cholesterol divided by HDL — that compares the atherogenic burden against the protective fraction in a single number.
DoesEstimates the balance between cholesterol going into vessel walls and cholesterol being carried back to the liver.
GoodA low ratio means the protective fraction is large relative to the total and tracks lower cardiovascular event rates.
BadA high ratio captures the dyslipidemia of metabolic syndrome and predicts heart attack and stroke.
- Standard
- <5 desirable; <3.5 optimal.
- Optimal
- 2.0–3.0 (lower is good)
- Modifiers
- Shifts with diet, exercise, weight; women generally run lower.
How to optimize
- Lifestyle
- Zone 2 cardio, resistance training, weight loss.
- Diet
- Cut saturated fat and refined carbs; olive oil, fatty fish, nuts.
- Supplements
- Omega-3 EPA+DHA (2–4g/day), psyllium fiber (10g/day), plant sterols (2g/day), berberine (500mg 3×/day).
- Peptides
- —
- Drugs
- Statins, ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA)Berberine
Reference ranges are general adult lab norms; optimal ranges are editorial picks from the longevity literature — not medical advice. Always interpret results with your physician.
within Cholesterol & Lipids