{"id":69647,"date":"2026-03-31T09:12:42","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T08:12:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.easly.nl\/biomarkers\/hdl-cholesterol\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T09:12:45","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T08:12:45","slug":"hdl-cholesterol","status":"publish","type":"biomarkers","link":"https:\/\/www.easly.nl\/en\/biomarkers\/hdl-cholesterol\/","title":{"rendered":"HDL Cholesterol"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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HDL Cholesterol meaning<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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HDL stands for High-Density Lipoprotein and is commonly referred to as ‘good’ cholesterol. Unlike LDL cholesterol, which can build up in the walls of your blood vessels, HDL has a protective function. It clears excess cholesterol from the blood and vessel walls and transports it back to the liver. There, the cholesterol is broken down and removed from the body via bile.<\/p>\n

A high HDL level is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease because it helps keep the arteries clean (preventing atherosclerosis). Factors such as physical exercise, a healthy diet, and not smoking play a major role in maintaining this biomarker at a healthy level.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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HDL Cholesterol values and interpretation<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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HDL cholesterol values are expressed in mmol\/L. Different reference values apply to men and women because women biologically tend to have higher average HDL levels.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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HDL Cholesterol values for men<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Below is an overview of the HDL values for men between the ages of 18 and 100.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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  • Low:<\/b> When the value is below 0.91 mmol\/L, it is considered abnormal and too low. A low HDL level means there is less protection against the buildup of fats in the vessel walls, which can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.<\/li>\n
  • Caution:<\/b> A value between 0.91 and 0.96 mmol\/L technically falls within the normal range but is considered ‘cautionary’ because it is on the lower side. This is often a good time to review lifestyle factors.<\/li>\n
  • Normal:<\/b> A value between 0.96 and 10 mmol\/L is considered good. This indicates a healthy amount of protective cholesterol in the blood.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    HDL Cholesterol values for woman<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Below is an overview of the HDL values for women between the ages of 18 and 100.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    • Low:<\/b> For women, a value below 1.17 mmol\/L is considered abnormal and too low. This result indicates reduced natural protection for the blood vessels.<\/li>\n
    • Caution:<\/b> A value between 1.17 and 1.23 mmol\/L falls within the margins but is on the lower side. It is advisable to remain alert to the overall cholesterol balance.<\/li>\n
    • Normal:<\/b> A value between 1.23 and 10 mmol\/L is considered good. This indicates an optimal protective effect of the HDL cholesterol.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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      HDL cholesterol values \u200b\u200band interpretation (in table)<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      You can also find the HDL cholesterol values \u200b\u200band their interpretation in table form below, so that you can easily understand what the values \u200b\u200bsay about your health.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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      Status<\/th>Unit<\/th>Value min-max<\/th>Age<\/th>Gender<\/th>Biomarker interpretation<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
      Abnormal<\/span><\/td>mmol\/L<\/td>0 - 0.91<\/td>18 - 100<\/td>Male<\/td>HDL cholesterol falls outside the normal range and is too low.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Caution<\/span><\/td>mmol\/L<\/td>0.91 - 0.96<\/td>18 - 100<\/td>Male<\/td>HDL cholesterol falls within the normal range but is on the lower side.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Normal<\/span><\/td>mmol\/L<\/td>0.96 - 10<\/td>18 - 100<\/td>Male<\/td>HDL cholesterol is good.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Abnormal<\/span><\/td>mmol\/L<\/td>0 - 1.17<\/td>18 - 100<\/td>Female<\/td>HDL cholesterol falls outside the normal range and is too low.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Caution<\/span><\/td>mmol\/L<\/td>1.17 - 1.23<\/td>18 - 100<\/td>Female<\/td>HDL cholesterol falls within the normal range but is on the lower side.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Normal<\/span><\/td>mmol\/L<\/td>1.23 - 10<\/td>18 - 100<\/td>Female<\/td>HDL cholesterol is good.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      HDL cholesterol is known as ‘good’ cholesterol that protects your vessels by transporting fats to the liver; a healthy level is essential for a strong heart and clear arteries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","biomarkers_category":[1611,2247],"class_list":["post-69647","biomarkers","type-biomarkers","status-publish","hentry","biomarkers_category-cardiovascular-diseases","biomarkers_category-cholesterol-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHDL Cholesterol Values: What does your 'good' cholesterol mean?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What does a low or healthy HDL cholesterol level mean? 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