Definition: HDL cholesterol is cholesterol carried by high-density lipoproteins. MedlinePlus calls it the "good" cholesterol because it carries cholesterol from other parts of the body back to the liver, which removes it. Unlike LDL, a higher HDL is better, because a high level can lower the risk of coronary artery disease and stroke.
| Group | Healthy HDL |
|---|---|
| Age 19 or younger | More than 45 mg/dL |
| Men 20 or older | More than 40 mg/dL |
| Women 20 or older | More than 50 mg/dL |
HDL is one line of a standard lipid panel, next to LDL, total cholesterol and triglycerides. MedlinePlus says adults 20 and older are usually tested every 5 years, and more often (every 1 to 2 years) for men 45 to 65 and women 55 to 65. It also lists low HDL with high triglycerides as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, and says diabetes itself can lower HDL.
MedlinePlus names anabolic steroids, including testosterone; progestins in some birth control and menopause hormone therapy; beta blockers; and benzodiazepines. Testosterone labels such as AndroGel say blood fats can change and the lipid profile is checked periodically, especially after starting. MedlinePlus adds that some statins can raise HDL, though medicines are not usually prescribed only to raise it.
An HDL drop on testosterone or another hormone is easy to see when each lipid panel sits next to the dose and start date. Noting whether the draw was fasting, and any change in exercise, weight, smoking or alcohol in the weeks before, also helps when results are compared, because MedlinePlus names all of these as things that move HDL.
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