Non-HDL Cholesterol
Non-HDL cholesterol covers the cholesterol carried by LDL and by triglyceride-rich remnant particles. Population values peak in middle age and fall in later life, with females overtaking males from age 50 onward.
Unit: mg/dL · 12 slices · age and sex · 1 source
Filed under panels: Lipid Panel , Metabolic Panel · topics: Lipids , Metabolic
Non-HDL cholesterol is the cholesterol carried by every lipoprotein except HDL, so it covers LDL together with the triglyceride-rich remnant particles. NHANES publishes no non-HDL variable, so these percentiles are computed for each participant as total cholesterol minus HDL cholesterol (LBXTC minus LBDHDD) and then survey-weighted. These percentiles are derived from the full US population and include individuals on lipid-lowering medication. Note: 1 mg/dL is approximately 0.02586 mmol/L.
Population Distribution
Browse by Demographic
| Age (years) | male (mg/dL) | female (mg/dL) |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | 69.8-198 (115) | 67-182.7 (108) |
| 30-39 | 82.3-208 (140) | 74-188.4 (121) |
| 40-49 | 89-221 (150) | 87-191.3 (133) |
| 50-59 | 80-212.1 (137) | 88-217.4 (140.2) |
| 60-69 | 71-198 (130) | 84-215.6 (137) |
| 70+ | 64-189.5 (111) | 72-213 (127.2) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is non-HDL cholesterol calculated rather than measured directly?
No assay measures it. Non-HDL cholesterol is defined as total cholesterol minus HDL cholesterol, which captures the cholesterol carried by LDL and by triglyceride-rich remnant particles in a single value. NHANES publishes no non-HDL variable, so LabNorms computes it for each participant from LBXTC and LBDHDD before applying survey weights.
Why does non-HDL cholesterol have a larger sample than LDL on this site?
Total cholesterol and HDL are both measured on the full MEC sample, so non-HDL inherits that sample: 7,921 adults across the twelve groups. LDL in NHANES is calculated by the Friedewald equation and is available only for the fasting subsample, which covers 3,902 adults. Every participant with a total cholesterol value in this release also has an HDL value, so no one is lost to the subtraction.
How do I convert mg/dL to mmol/L?
Multiply by 0.02586. For example, 140 mg/dL is approximately 3.62 mmol/L. The mmol/L unit is used in most countries outside the United States.