VLDL Cholesterol
Very low-density lipoproteins, or VLDL, are one of the five main types of lipoprotein and are another type of the so-called bad cholesterol. VLDLs carry triglycerides, and to a lesser degree cholesterol, to the tissues. Intermediate-density lipoproteins are created when VLDLs give up their fatty acids, and those are then either removed by the liver or converted into LDL.
Why it matters: A lipid blood test cannot measure VLDL levels, and there is no separate test for it. Instead laboratories estimate VLDL by dividing the triglyceride figure by five, so a VLDL value on a lab report is a calculated estimate rather than something that was measured. That equation is not always accurate when triglyceride levels are too high.
Source · Cleveland Clinic — what it is, why it matters
What is VLDL Cholesterol?
Very low-density lipoproteins, or VLDL, are one of the five main types of lipoprotein and are another type of the so-called bad cholesterol. VLDLs carry triglycerides, and to a lesser degree cholesterol, to the tissues. Intermediate-density lipoproteins are created when VLDLs give up their fatty acids, and those are then either removed by the liver or converted into LDL.
What might a high or low VLDL Cholesterol mean?
A lipid blood test cannot measure VLDL levels, and there is no separate test for it. Instead laboratories estimate VLDL by dividing the triglyceride figure by five, so a VLDL value on a lab report is a calculated estimate rather than something that was measured. That equation is not always accurate when triglyceride levels are too high.
What is the typical reference range for VLDL Cholesterol?
The general-population reference range shown here is 0.1 – 1.7 mmol/L. Reference ranges describe the general population and are not a personal target — discuss your results with your physician.
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