Non-HDL Cholesterol
Calculates non-HDL cholesterol, a measure of all atherogenic lipoproteins, by subtracting HDL from total cholesterol.
Warnings:
- Non-HDL is less affected by fasting status than LDL or triglycerides
- Non-fasting lipid panels may still provide useful non-HDL values
- 2018 AHA/ACC cholesterol guidelines recommend non-HDL as a secondary target (target <130 mg/dL for high-risk patients, <100 mg/dL for very high risk)
- Non-HDL is particularly useful when triglycerides are elevated (making Friedewald LDL unreliable)
- Does not require fasting; can be calculated from any lipid panel
Note: For mmol/L: Non-HDL (mmol/L) = Total (mmol/L) - HDL (mmol/L). Non-HDL goals per AHA/ACC: Very high risk: <100 mg/dL (<2.6 mmol/L); High risk: <130 mg/dL (<3.4 mmol/L).
Total serum cholesterol concentration
HDL cholesterol concentration
References
- Non-HDL Cholesterol: What It Is & Normal Range - Cleveland Clinic (2026)
- 2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline on the Management of Blood Cholesterol - Circulation / AHA (2019)