Fasting lipid panel - feedback on values

Nutrition
1

I got my bloodwork back today from my annual physical I did yesterday. Everything looks good, but my cholesterol is high for the first time.

Values:

Cholesterol: 250
Triglyceride: 59
HDL: 97
LDL: 143

How do these look? I’m concerned the LDL is up (it was 94 when last tested) and the total cholesterol is also up. I’m 52, healthy weight range. My diet does include a lot of eggs and meat, and not much processed foods.

@T3hPwnisher : You may have some insight. Don’t know who else to tag.

2

I have a LOT to say on the subject but am short on time at the moment. Bottom line is I would be happy with those numbers.

You may like checking out Dave Feldman and the cholesterol code along with the idea of “lean mass hyper responders” to go down a rabbit hole here

2 Likes
3

1- When was the last time you tested?
2- Has your diet/body composition changed?

The jump in numbers may not mean anything serious but it’s something I would look at. I would get an ApoB test.

If you want more detail a test that gives LDL particle number and particle size like the “Cardio IQ Lipoprotein Fractionation Test” from Ulta.

1 Like
4

I tested in 2025 and I test every year. Last year:

Total cholesterol: 183
Triglycerides: 70
HDL: 69
LDL: 92

I’m about 15% BF, based on dexa. But, yes, I have made some changes over the last ~8 months.

  • Training: I pivoted from CF, which I had done as my main type of training for 2.5 years, and MetCon training to the opposite of HIIT: explosive KB work with long rests. Specifically to avoid the glycolitic state during normal training and only go all out every week or two. Using Dan John and Pavel approaches.

  • Diet/weight: I am about 172/3 lbs, which is where I’ve been at for years. I do think I’m leaner now with the shift in training. I have also stopped taking whey protein, and focused more on meats, eggs, fruits, veggies. As an example, for years I would take a pre-workout carb drink (like Surge), then for breakfast have a protein slurry of whey, yogurt, oats, and blueberries. Now, I train fasted and eat eggs and berries as a typical breakfast. Sometimes adding sausage or beef to the eggs.

    I just googled that a read a bit. Interesting. The LDL levels he discusses are even higher (above 200), but the rest seems to track with where I’m at. I don’t eat ultra low carbs, but as I said above have changed some aspects of my diet and training.