Normal cholesterol levels vary by age and sex but generally fall within these ranges for adults:
- Total cholesterol: Less than 200 mg/dL
- LDL (bad) cholesterol: Less than 100 mg/dL (optimal), with lower targets (below 70 mg/dL) for those with heart disease or high risk
- HDL (good) cholesterol: 40 mg/dL or higher for men, 50 mg/dL or higher for women; ideally above 60 mg/dL for heart protection
- Triglycerides: Below 150 mg/dL
For children and adolescents (19 and younger), total cholesterol should be below 170 mg/dL, LDL below 110 mg/dL, and HDL above 45 mg/dL
. In summary, adults should aim for total cholesterol under 200 mg/dL, LDL under 100 mg/dL, and HDL above 40 mg/dL for men or 50 mg/dL for women to maintain healthy cholesterol levels and reduce cardiovascular risk
