What is VLDL cholesterol?

Very Low-Density Lipoprotein (VLDL) is a type of lipoprotein that plays an important role in transporting fats, including triglycerides, through the bloodstream. Elevated levels of VLDL cholesterol can pose significant health risks and increase your likelihood of developing cardiovascular diseases.

How do I reduce VLDL cholesterol?

To effectively lower VLDL cholesterol levels, you can follow these research-supported measures: Engage in regular exercise – Exercising helps lower triglyceride levels, a key component of VLDL particles. Reduce your intake of sugar and carbohydrates – Excessive sugar and carbohydrate consumption (especially refined sugars and simple carbs) can lead to increased liver production of VLDL particles. Limit alcohol consumption – Research studies indicate that excessive drinking negatively affects lipid profiles.

What is the normal range of VLDL cholesterol?

Normal VLDL levels range from 2 mg/dL to 30 mg/dL (0.1 mmol/L to 1.7 mmol/L), but individual values may vary due to the broader context of a patient's health. To accurately interpret and manage your lipid profile results, it's best to consult a healthcare professional who can provide guidance based on your overall health and medical history.

What is my VLDL level if my triglycerides are at 130 mg/dL?

If your triglyceride levels are at 130 mg/dL, your VLDL is 26 mg/dL, which falls within the normal range.

VLDL Calculator

Last updated: July 23, 202457 people find this calculator helpful

Loading calculator…

The VLDL calculator helps you to calculate VLDL cholesterol based on triglycerides concentration. VLDL stands for Very Low Density Lipoprotein, which is one of the five primary lipoprotein particles present in our bloodstream. The article below contains more information about it. You will be able to find out more specifics on what is VLDL, what are reference values for VLDL levels, and what is the difference between VLDL vs LDL.

We try our best to make our s as precise and reliable as possible. However, this tool can never replace professional medical advice.

What is VLDL (Very Low Density Lipoprotein)?

Below are some interesting pieces of information about very low density lipoprotein (VLDL):

They're one of the five major groups of lipoproteins (chylomicrons, VLDL, IDL, LDL, HDL);
They enables fats and cholesterol to circulate in the bloodstream, a water-based solution;
They're produced in the liver from triglycerides, cholesterol, and apolipoproteins; and
Their main function is the transport of endogenous products: triglycerides, phospholipids, cholesterol, and cholesteryl esters.

🙋 Curious about cholesterol? We have other tools that can help you: the [cholesterol units calculator], the cholesterol ratio calculator, and the (calc:730) LDL calculator!

VLDL calculation

Traditionally, most laboratories measure only three quantities: total cholesterol, HDL, and triglycerides. From the triglycerides, we can calculate VLDL using Friedewald's equation.

VLDL = \frac{tryglicerides}{5}

VLDL=5tryglicerides

This formula was created by Friedewald and collaborators and allows VLDL to be estimated for triglycerides concentration up to $400 mg / dL$ 400 mg/dL ( $4.5 mmol / L$ 4.5 mmol/L).

If the patient has a higher triglycerides concentration, you should use another equation which accounts for hyperlipidemia. It was created by Wilson et al. and is more accurate; however, caution is still advised for $TG >$ 1000 mg/dLTG>1000 mg/dL ( $11.29 mmol / L$ 11.29 mmol/L). We the formula is presented below:

VLDL = triglycerides \times 0.166

VLDL=triglycerides×0.166

Reference values for VLDL levels - VLDL normal ranges

Normal VLDL levels range from $2 mg / dL$ 2 mg/dL to $30 mg / dL$ 30 mg/dL ( $0.1 mmol / L$ 0.1 mmol/L to $1.7 mmol / L$ 1.7 mmol/L).

Important: You should check your lipid profile every five years to screen for heart disease risk factors; however, more frequent testing may be required for patients with coexisting risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure or high BMI.

🙋 Knowing your cholesterol levels can help you calculate other disease risks: we created some tools for the purpose. Try our CVD risk calculator or our diabetes risk calculator.

VLDL vs LDL - what is the difference?

LDL stands for low density lipoprotein, and it delivers fat molecules to cells. VLDL, along with LDL, is considered "bad cholesterol" as it builds upon the walls of arteries.

Once in circulation, VLDL will come in contact with lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and after various transformations, the composition of the molecule changes, becoming a intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL). Around half of IDLs are recognized by receptors in the liver cells and are endocytosed (brought into the cell). The rest undergo further modifications and become LDL.

VLDL cholesterol calculator - a practical example

You just read the most important information about very low density lipoprotein. Let's use a practical example to show how our VLDL calculator works.

Let's assume that we want to calculate VLDL levels for a patient with a triglycerides concentration equal to $125 mg / dL$ 125 mg/dL.

Note that sometimes laboratories use different units - $mmol / L$ mmol/L. You can use both in our calculator, as it has a built-in unit converter 👍.

We will use Friedewald's equation in our calculation as the triglycerides level is not elevated.

VLDL = \frac{tryglicerides}{5} = \frac{125 mg / dL}{5} = 25 mg / dL

VLDL=5tryglicerides=5125 mg/dL=25 mg/dL

Our patient's VLDL cholesterol is $25 mg / dL$ 25 mg/dL. This result is within the normal range for VLDL levels.

FAQs

What is VLDL cholesterol?: Very Low-Density Lipoprotein (VLDL) is a type of lipoprotein that plays an important role in transporting fats, including triglycerides, through the bloodstream. Elevated levels of VLDL cholesterol can pose significant health risks and increase your likelihood of developing cardiovascular diseases.
How do I reduce VLDL cholesterol?: To effectively lower VLDL cholesterol levels, you can follow these research-supported measures: Engage in regular exercise – Exercising helps lower triglyceride levels, a key component of VLDL particles. Reduce your intake of sugar and carbohydrates – Excessive sugar and carbohydrate consumption (especially refined sugars and simple carbs) can lead to increased liver production of VLDL particles. Limit alcohol consumption – Research studies indicate that excessive drinking negatively affects lipid profiles.
What is the normal range of VLDL cholesterol?: Normal VLDL levels range from 2 mg/dL to 30 mg/dL (0.1 mmol/L to 1.7 mmol/L), but individual values may vary due to the broader context of a patient's health. To accurately interpret and manage your lipid profile results, it's best to consult a healthcare professional who can provide guidance based on your overall health and medical history.
What is my VLDL level if my triglycerides are at 130 mg/dL?: If your triglyceride levels are at 130 mg/dL, your VLDL is 26 mg/dL, which falls within the normal range.

Based on 2 sources

Estimation of VLDL cholesterol in hyperlipidemia. — Wilson PW, Zech LA, Gregg RE, Schaefer EJ, Hoeg JM, Sprecher DL, Brewer HB Jr.
Estimation of the Concentration of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Plasma, Without Use of the Preparative Ultracentrifuge — W T Friedewald, R I Levy, D S Fredrickson

VLDL Calculator

What is VLDL (Very Low Density Lipoprotein)?

VLDL calculation

Reference values for VLDL levels - VLDL normal ranges

VLDL vs LDL - what is the difference?

VLDL cholesterol calculator - a practical example

FAQs

Based on 2 sources

Related calculators

Vaccine queue UK

Body shape

Height

BMR - Harris-Benedict equation