VLDL Cholesterol: What It Is, How It's Estimated, and How to Lower It

Cholesterol in brief

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance in every cell of your body. Your liver makes it, and it's also in foods such as meat and dairy. You need some to function, but too much in your blood raises your risk of coronary artery disease.

What VLDL is

VLDL stands for very-low-density lipoprotein. Your liver makes it and releases it into the blood, where its particles mainly carry triglycerides — another type of fat — to your tissues. It's similar to LDL, which mainly carries cholesterol instead.

VLDL and LDL are sometimes called "bad" cholesterols because they help plaque build up in the arteries — atherosclerosis. Plaque is a sticky mix of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other substances from the blood. Over time it hardens and narrows the arteries, cutting the flow of oxygen-rich blood, and can lead to coronary artery disease and other heart diseases.

Measuring it

VLDL can't be measured directly. Instead, a blood test measures your triglycerides, and the lab estimates VLDL from them: VLDL is about one-fifth of your triglyceride level. The estimate doesn't work when triglycerides are very high.

The healthy level

VLDL should be less than 30 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter). Anything higher puts you at risk of heart disease and stroke.

Lowering it

Because VLDL tracks triglycerides, lowering triglycerides lowers VLDL. You may be able to do that by combining:

• losing weight;
• changing your diet — switching to healthy fats and cutting back on sugar and alcohol;
• exercising.

Some people also need medicines.

Sources

Based on "VLDL Cholesterol," MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine; a work of the United States government in the public domain.