New cholesterol numbers

[joanneb608]

These were taken in February, after being on PPLP and exercising diligently for about 3 months. I'm not sure if I am figuring the ratios right so can someone interpret these ; CHOL = 205, LDL = 82, TRIG = 34, HDL = 116.

Here are my figures from 2003, taken when I was 60 lbs lighter and had been doing Protein Power for about a year, but had not been doing any exercising at all. CHOL = 265, LDL = 167, TRIG = 48, HDL = 89.

So, Gaelen or Lisa, or someone, can you tell me what these mean, I am guessing that the exercise factor is what brought down the total cholesterol number, since the nutrition aspect should have been about the same in the two readings.

Also my eye doctor said that the fact that I have cholesterol buildup in my retinas suggests damage done by a different way of eating (read here - massive carb binging on and off) before better eating habits. He was surprised that my cholersterol levels were so good.

Thanks for your input, all.

[Gaelen]

Joanne, the ratios you're aiming for are:

TTL Chol/HDL = < 4,
and with your new numbers you're at 205/116, or 1.767. Way to go!

Next, you want LDL/HDL = < 3
Your new numbers put you at 82/116, or 0.7--again, way to go!

The heart disease risk indicator ratio is Trig/HDL = < 1.8.
Your new numbers put you at 34/116, or roughly 0.3 with rounding.

Those ratios are pretty amazing!

[joanneb608]

Hi again, thanks for the reply. How about my numbers from 4 years ago listed above, how do the ratios come up there? I know the total cholesterol number looks high, but I wondered if I was still in a good ratio. My weight was much healthier and I ate "Protein Power" to the letter, only didn't exercise at all. Could that be the difference this time in the lower totals?

[joanneb608]

I'm re-reading your earlier post. If my numbers currently are THAT good, maybe they didn't do the tests right.:confused::suspicious: I suppose I could get another test in a few months.

[Songwriter]

CHOL = 205, LDL = 82, TRIG = 34, HDL = 116

Not saying they are, but the TRIG and HDL numbers above look awfully suspicious to me. It's like they're transposed. TRIG of 116 and HDL of 34 is believable but the way you have it, that's odd. Then again, I'm no expert.

[LisaS]

CHOL = 205, LDL = 82, TRIG = 34, HDL = 116

Not saying they are, but the TRIG and HDL numbers above look awfully suspicious to me. It's like they're transposed. TRIG of 116 and HDL of 34 is believable but the way you have it, that's odd. Then again, I'm no expert.

hard to say. the math of the Friedewald formula which is used to derive LDL works with those numbers so I think they are at least consistant

Total - HDL - TRI/5 = LDL
205 - 116 - 34/5 = 82 (as reported)
but switching them up doesn't give the LDL value reported
205 - 34 - 116/5 = 142
so if there was an error - it was at the lab that did the calculation and reporting because the results as reported make sense.
Since the numbers are consistant with those from the prior year, I tend to think they are all valid.

[Gaelen]

Hi again, thanks for the reply. How about my numbers from 4 years ago listed above, how do the ratios come up there? I know the total cholesterol number looks high, but I wondered if I was still in a good ratio. My weight was much healthier and I ate "Protein Power" to the letter, only didn't exercise at all. Could that be the difference this time in the lower totals?

Joanne, these are your numbers from 4 years ago (CHOL = 265, LDL = 167, TRIG = 48, HDL = 89.)

Just plug them into the ratios I quoted when I described your latest tests...you can do it, I know you can! ;)

[Missy]

lol...didn't know there was going to be a TEST, huh Joanne! :D :o :D

[joanneb608]

Oh shucks. You're making me think. Math was my worst subject and there are gaps like the ratio thing that I never got. Can you tell? Okay. I'll try.:( Thanks for your input and help!

[Gaelen]

Oh shucks. You're making me think. Math was my worst subject and there are gaps like the ratio thing that I never got.

Well, Joanne, you know what they say...give a girl a fish, feed her for a day; teach her to do math ratios and she'll have a useless skill that will serve her well only when she needs to figure the odds on a horse race.
Or something like that. ;)

Seriously...ttl cholesterol/HDL = < 4 is math for:
total cholesterol divided by HDL. The result should be < 4 (less than 4).

And the answer is?
:)

[joanneb608]

Okay I did it on paper the long division way and I get 2.9 factor, which is a bit more than the newer figure of 1.7, so maybe the exercise made a lot of difference. The only other thing I did differently was to now be taking alpha lipoic acid, CoQ10 and fish oil, oh and magnesium, about 450 mg. So even though the 265 looks too high, the ratio still was pretty good with the other stuff.

Now to start getting into the gym again. (Sigh). Well everyone else here does it so I won't feel lonely!:nod: Shadow would be so proud.

[Gaelen]

And Joanne, as one math-phobic to another...I'm proud of your ratio math, too! :)