🫀 Non-HDL Cholesterol Calculator Cardiovascular Risk Marker
Enter total cholesterol and HDL to compute non-HDL cholesterol and the TC/HDL ratio.
💡 Non-HDL cholesterol does not require fasting and remains accurate even with elevated triglycerides. It is often preferred over LDL alone as a cardiovascular risk marker.
Units: mg/dL
Units: mg/dL
📊 Results
📋 Non-HDL Reference Ranges (NCEP ATP III)
| Category | Non-HDL (mg/dL) | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Optimal | < 130 | Low atherosclerotic risk |
| Near Optimal | 130 – 159 | Acceptable for most adults |
| Borderline | 160 – 189 | Lifestyle change indicated |
| High | 190 – 219 | Pharmacotherapy typically recommended |
| Very High | ≥ 220 | High-intensity therapy indicated |
🔄 LDL vs Non-HDL Comparison
| Feature | LDL Cholesterol | Non-HDL Cholesterol |
|---|---|---|
| Lipoproteins included | LDL only | LDL + VLDL + IDL + Lp(a) |
| Fasting required | Friedewald: yes | Not required |
| Effect of high TG | Inaccurate ≥ 400 mg/dL | Accurate regardless of TG |
| Formula | TC − HDL − (TG/5) | TC − HDL |
| CV event prediction | Excellent | Equivalent or superior |
| High-risk target | < 70 mg/dL | < 100 mg/dL (LDL + 30) |
📐 Formula
Non-HDL cholesterol
Non-HDL = TC − HDL
TC/HDL ratio
Ratio = TC / HDL
* Target TC/HDL ratio: < 3.5 ideal
* Non-HDL target = LDL target + 30 mg/dL
Non-HDL = TC − HDL
TC/HDL ratio
Ratio = TC / HDL
* Target TC/HDL ratio: < 3.5 ideal
* Non-HDL target = LDL target + 30 mg/dL
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is non-HDL cholesterol? ▼
Non-HDL-C = Total cholesterol − HDL. It captures all atherogenic lipoproteins (LDL, VLDL, IDL, Lp(a)). A single number that represents the full atherogenic burden more completely than LDL alone.
Non-HDL vs LDL — which is better? ▼
Non-HDL outperforms LDL when triglycerides are elevated (> 200 mg/dL) or in non-fasting samples. It is endorsed as a secondary target by ACC/AHA and a co-primary target by ESC/EAS guidelines.
Does non-HDL require fasting? ▼
No. Total cholesterol and HDL change minimally after meals. This is a major practical advantage — patients don't need to arrive fasting, making adherence easier in practice.
What is a healthy TC/HDL ratio? ▼
Ideal < 3.5; acceptable < 5.0 for men, < 4.5 for women. Higher ratios indicate greater atherogenic burden. The ratio complements but does not replace absolute LDL and non-HDL targets.
🔗 Related Calculators
About Non-HDL
Non-HDL cholesterol sums all atherogenic particles — LDL plus VLDL remnants, IDL, and Lp(a) — in a single value calculated from a simple subtraction. Because it does not require fasting and handles high triglycerides gracefully, it has gained prominence in modern dyslipidemia guidelines.
Non-HDL is particularly useful in patients with hypertriglyceridemia, diabetes, or metabolic syndrome, where Friedewald LDL is unreliable.
⚠️ Disclaimer — Educational reference only. Does not replace clinical judgment. Cutoffs differ by risk category; work with your physician to set individualized targets.
References: NCEP ATP III. JAMA. 2001;285(19):2486-2497. · Grundy SM et al. 2018 AHA/ACC Cholesterol Guideline. · Mach F et al. 2019 ESC/EAS Dyslipidaemia Guidelines.
References: NCEP ATP III. JAMA. 2001;285(19):2486-2497. · Grundy SM et al. 2018 AHA/ACC Cholesterol Guideline. · Mach F et al. 2019 ESC/EAS Dyslipidaemia Guidelines.