VLDL results - confusing

[CocoChannel]

For the last five years or so, I’ve had slightly high cholesterol , e.g. 5.7 mmol/l total, 3.4 LDL but good 1.9 HDL, 0.9 triglycerides and total/HDL ratio of 3. I get tested once a year or so. I’m not overweight and am active, etc., but I do want to bring that LDL down and made a few changes such as more leafy green, Benecol drinks, etc.

I read somewhere that a VLDL test was more worthwhile so went for that.

The result is just one number (<5mg/dL). Apparently, anything below 30mg/dL is good. It’s clearly a different system and units from the HDL and LDL tests. I should be glad I scored well, but it doesn’t tell me how my LDL is getting on. I sort of assumed that’d be measured too.

Not really a question, just disappointed with the info. I’ll stick to HDL and LDL next time.

[sandybrown]

Hello,

Very interesting you went for this test!!

Please read the information on cholesterol in the link below:

zoeharcombe.com/the-knowled...

zoeharcombe.com/2012/08/cho...

Different unit of measurements are explained.

Where id you go to get VLDL tested and the cost, fasting or not fasting?

"Remnant Cholesterol, Not LDL Cholesterol, Is Associated With Incident Cardiovascular Disease", this is new few doctors talk about.!!

Thank you.

[CocoChannel in reply to sandybrown]

There are probably rules about advertising, but the company was Medich*cks. You get a kit in the post which you take to a pre-booked pharmacy appointment to have the sample taken. It was a syringe and not a finger prick lance. I booked it for 9am so it was fairly easy to fast from the midnight before.

It’s not so much the difference in units. Google advises how to convert mmol/l to mg/dL and vice versa. My issue is I have slightly elevated LDL, and I was rather hoping this figure would be included in the result. However, the results were just a single VLDL figure of <5mg/dL. So I’m not the wiser about my LDL.

Note the VLDL healthy range is from 0 to 30 mg/dL, so it’s not connected with the oft-used total cholesterol figure.

I believe VLDL and LDL are both considered bad cholesterol, but they’re different. If people are saying a VLDL test is a good idea, bear in mind it might not include LDL results, so these should also be requested.

I’m going to take another test which includes the more recognisable HDL and LDL. I’m not really sure what I’ve achieved with the VLDL test.

[sandybrown in reply to CocoChannel]

Thank you your response.

My GP practice is having difficulty in getting my blood collected at the surgery, two tries problems. Now I am going to the hospital to take blood collection and this is to test RBC.

For the first time the blood was take in a syringe and then transferred to a different tube not a standard purple colour tube, a narrow long tube.

"Calculated LDL cholesterol testing: In this test, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides are used to estimate LDL cholesterol levels in your blood. Usually, LDL is calculated by subtracting the amount of HDL and VLDL from the total amount of cholesterol. In most cases, LDL cholesterol levels reported by your doctor are calculated rather than measured directly.

Direct LDL cholesterol testing: Tests that measure only LDL cholesterol levels in your blood are called direct LDL cholesterol tests. Your doctor might use a direct LDL cholesterol test if you have a high level of triglycerides, which can make the formula-based calculation of LDL less accurate.

Most of the time, using a formula to calculate LDL cholesterol is accurate enough to provide your doctor with a useful assessment of your cholesterol levels."

Please do keep us informed of your blood numbers.

[Batty1]

This VLDL is automatically tested when I do my cholesterol tests.

[CocoChannel in reply to Batty1]

Good to hear

Do your results show VLDL, HDL and LDL? If so, could I ask who does these tests, please?

I’m disappointed with medich*cks. No one will just want their VLDL results. People will want the other numbers too.

[Batty1 in reply to CocoChannel]

My cholesterol test shows everything and its done through my doctor/lab Im in the US and its been standard with my test but honestly she never comments on it so I wonder how important it actually is… Im going to see her today and I will ask her about it.

[CocoChannel in reply to Batty1]

Thanks Batty, interesting to know

My VLDL test was slightly more expensive than the more common HDL, LDL, etc., test so I assume it involves a bit more work. From what I’ve read, LDL and VLDL are “bad” so should be watched. It’s good that your lab records both those numbers.

It’s interesting how different countries do these things. I lived in Asia and could walk in and ask for a cheap blood test which recorded lots of things. I also lived in Germany where the same applied. The U.K., though, makes this difficult. A GP may allow a blood test, but only that particular condition will be checked. So if your GP wants to test for diabetes, your blood sugar will be checked and nothing else. Private tests are available but these are quite expensive.

These tests are very important as long as the results are acted on with lifestyle changes and/or medication as a last resort.

[sandybrown in reply to CocoChannel]

The answer for blood test from UK, NHS is, we only test what is necessary, routine blood test. If you are taken in an ambulance, the blood test are different!!

There is no fasting blood test as routing, a GP need to request this.

All the diabetic nurse want is to take diabetic medication and doctor wants is to take statin.

[CocoChannel in reply to sandybrown]

You can tell so much from a proactive blood test. I only know my LDL is slightly high because of private tests.

I realise it’d be too expensive for the nhs to fund this. Patients would be inundating their GPs with queries about every out of range number. However, heart disease and diabetes are on the up, in lots of countries, and this should be tested for routinely. I think it’s currently offered every five years.