Lipid Panel

Non-HDL Cholesterol

Also written as: Non-HDL-C

Total cholesterol minus HDL - the cholesterol in all the artery-relevant particles.

What it measures

A calculation rather than a direct measurement: total cholesterol minus HDL cholesterol. The result is the cholesterol carried in every particle type other than HDL, including LDL, VLDL, and remnant particles - the leftovers after triglycerides have been unloaded.

Why a doctor orders it

Ordered as a single summary of the cholesterol in the particle types linked with artery buildup. It stays reliable without fasting, so it is often used for routine risk assessment and for tracking over time.

What is generally associated with a higher result

Broadly associated, at a population level, with a higher long term likelihood of cholesterol buildup in arteries. Genetics, diet, an underactive thyroid, kidney conditions, and pregnancy are all linked with higher values.

What is generally associated with a lower result

Low values are generally viewed as favorable and are not pursued on their own.

Everyday things that move this number

Not every shift in a value reflects disease. These are ordinary factors known to affect this particular measurement:

• Recent acute illness, which temporarily lowers cholesterol
• Pregnancy, a normal cause of higher values
• Recent weight change or a major change in diet
• Less affected by a recent meal than triglyceride based numbers

Questions to take to your appointment

• Is non-HDL or ApoB the more useful summary number in my situation?
• Do I need to fast before future lipid panels?
• How does this number relate to the LDL figure on the same report?

Build a printable questionnaire with your own results →

Where to read more

MedlinePlus, from the US National Library of Medicine, publishes patient-facing pages on individual lab tests and is a reliable next stop: medlineplus.gov/lab-tests .

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