It is believed that every person needs to take a blood test for cholesterol from time to time. Having received a referral, the patient of the polyclinic may see the unfamiliar word “lipidogram” in it. What is this study, how is it carried out? Why is this analysis done?
Deciphering the blood lipid profile gives the doctor important information for assessing the patient's condition, the course or risks of diseases of the liver, kidneys, cardiovascular system, autoimmune processes. Just a blood test for cholesterol or total cholesterol is not very informative and can only be used in screening studies or in assessing the dynamics of treatment.
What are blood lipids?
Fats already present or ingested by the body are needed for energy metabolism, construction of cell membranes, synthesis of hormones and other substances.
Cholesterol (cholesterol) and triglycerides are determined in the blood.
In its pure form, lipids in the blood can not be. If this happens, the irreparable can happen - a fat embolism (or blockage) of the vessel with all the consequencesconsequences.
Therefore, in the bloodstream, fats are located and transported as part of lipoproteins - formations in which a protein part is attached to a fat particle. The ratio of the components can change, this has a diagnostic value, and it is this that will be shown by the decoding of the lipid profile.
How to get tested?
In order for the result to be reliable, before taking a blood test to a biochemical laboratory, you need to fulfill simple requirements. Blood is taken from a vein strictly on an empty stomach, not less than 12 hours after a meal, usually in the morning.
Why is this so important? The fact is that after eating, especially fatty, the blood serum becomes turbid (chylous). This makes analysis difficult. But this can also happen with some serious diseases. Therefore, for the accuracy of the diagnosis, the researcher must know for sure that the patient has complied with the requirement to take a fasting blood test.
Research methods
Currently, enzymatic methods for determining blood lipids are the main ones. Specially selected reagents cause coloring of the sample, which fixes the instrument. The determination of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol is done in several stages; for it, sedimentation and centrifugation of blood serum are preliminarily carried out.
Modern biochemical analyzers cost a minimum amount of blood serum and reagents. With their help, they conduct mass surveys, receiveaccurate results.
The previously used acid method for determining cholesterol was not safe for the laboratory assistant and required a large amount of dangerous reagents.
Indicators
Lipidogram - what is it? It presents several indicators obtained as a result of blood serum tests and calculated values:
- total cholesterol (TC);
- high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C or HDL);
- low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C or LDL);
- triglycerides (TG);- coefficient of atherogenicity (CA or AI).
Cholesterol and triglycerides are measured in mmol/l.
The atherogenic coefficient is simply a calculated numerical value showing how many times the amount of LDL cholesterol exceeds the amount of HDL cholesterol.
VLDL cholesterol is determined in some laboratories.
Normal values
Was a blood test (lipidogram) done? The decryption is as follows:
- For total cholesterol, the optimal value is from 3.5 to 5.2 mmol / l, the level from 6.2 mmol / l is elevated. - HDL cholesterol should be more than 1.4 mmol / l. A value below 1.0 mmol/L is considered unfavorable.
If you subtract from the amount of total HDL cholesterol, you get the level of LDL cholesterol. It is considered "bad", its level should not exceed 4.0 mmol / l.
Lipidogram - what is it? Thanks to this study, the value of blood triglycerides is established. It is a derivative of glycerol and fattyacids is the main source of energy derived from dietary fats. It is stored by the body in fat cells.
The norm in the blood is considered to be below 1.5 mmol / l. It is believed that this figure increases with age. But in any case, the result above 2.3 mmol / l cannot be called favorable. It is also reflected in the lipid profile.
The norm of the atherogenic index is in the range from 2.6 to 3.5. If less, better. A value above 3.5 occurs with significant lipid metabolism disorders.
Atherogenic index
Lipidogram - what is it? The index, or coefficient of atherogenicity, is a very important value, showing the ratio of "bad" and "good" cholesterol in the blood.
To calculate it, you need to divide the difference between total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol by the value of HDL cholesterol. The result obtained shows the content of LDL cholesterol, that is, dividing one by the other, we see how many times more “bad” cholesterol is than “good”:
KA=TC - HDL-C / HDL-C, or KA=LDL-C / HDL-C
For example, if total cholesterol is 6.0 mM/l, HDL cholesterol is 2.0 mM/l, KA=2. This is a good indicator.
And if total cholesterol is also 6.0 mM/l, and HDL cholesterol is 1.0 mM/l, then KA=5. With this result, we can talk about pathology.
So, if HDL cholesterol is elevated, the atherogenic coefficient, respectively, is lower. That is why it is important to know the level of not only total cholesterol. With the same indicator, the body can be differently protected from the risk of atherosclerosis.
"Bad" or "good"?
Actually, cholesterol is neither "bad" nor "good". It is an extremely important component of the life of the organism. Hormones, including sex, nervous and brain tissue, cell membranes, the production of bile acids - everywhere it is needed. Every cell of a living organism consists of a double layer of cholesterol molecules.
That is, the strength of the nerves, beauty, intelligence, immunity, digestion, reproduction, and life in general depends on the presence and proper metabolism of cholesterol. Its deficiency leads to severe disorders.
Cholesterol is 80% synthesized in the body, the rest comes from food of animal origin. Normally, the feedback principle operates: synthesis decreases with sufficient intake of cholesterol from the outside, and vice versa. This is what nature intended, because a person did not always have a full refrigerator of food and a huge amount of products made from sugar and white flour at his disposal.
Interesting fact
Specialists conducted an extensive international study, during which, in addition to many other indicators, the lipid profile of the indigenous inhabitants of Western Siberia (Khanty, Mansi) was determined.
Measurement was performed blindly, only numbered blood serum samples were loaded into the analyzer.
After reviewing more than 400 samples, the results were clearly divided into three groups:
- the first (largest) had normal (up to 5.0) total cholesterol, high (up to 3.0) HDL cholesterol, triglycerides below 1,0mMol/L;
- the second group had very low values of total cholesterol and triglycerides;
- in the third (about 30 people in total), the level of total cholesterol and triglycerides was significantly increased, HDL cholesterol was lowered.
The atherogenic coefficient in the last group was 5, 8, and even 10!
The answer is this:
- the first group consisted of adult representatives of the nomadic peoples of the north of the Tyumen region;
- second group - their children, as well as patients with tuberculosis;
- in the third, most "fat" group was… the administration of the villages in which the study was conducted!
Reindeer breeders of the north of Siberia eat fish, meat, wild plants. Of course, they also get sugar and flour, but a mobile lifestyle in harsh conditions does not allow the development of such diseases of civilization as diabetes, atherosclerosis, and obesity.
So what's the problem?
Why is high cholesterol so scary and called "bad"? It's not the cholesterol itself, but the ratio with the size of the protein particle transporting it in the blood.
That is, if a relatively large part of blood cholesterol is in the composition of high-density lipoproteins with a large protein part (HDL cholesterol is elevated), this is good. But with a deficiency of protein in food, as well as with an excess of simple carbohydrates in it, insulin metabolism is disturbed. This leads to the formation of lighter and looser low-density lipoproteins (LDL) in the blood, which easily get stuck in the vessels and stick to their wall.
Atherosclerotic plaques are formed, the vessels narrow and become inflamed, their reactivity changes. As a result, atherosclerosis, hypertension develops, there is a high risk of stroke, heart attack. Therefore, LDL cholesterol is considered "bad". As you can see, this element is not the issue at all.
Chlesterol in HDL, on the contrary, is actively transported, cleanses blood vessels, so it is called "good".
Another variety
In addition, the so-called modified cholesterol is considered “bad”, that is, changed under the influence of harmful factors: radiation, insolation, chemical effects of a domestic and industrial nature: smoking, inhalation of organic solvents, chlorine compounds, insecticides, etc..
Given the essential biological role of cholesterol and fatty acids for the normal functioning of the body, it is easy to understand why changes in their chemical structure are bad for he alth. This will explain the high level of cardiovascular and oncological diseases, hormonal disorders, infertility in people living in adverse environmental conditions or having bad habits.
In this case, a direct relationship works - the higher the cholesterol level and the total amount of adipose tissue in the body, the higher the risk of getting sick.
Problems with lipid metabolism
Lipid metabolism is most often disturbed in the so-called diseases of the wrong lifestyle:
- obese;
- atherosclerosis;
- diabetes type 2;
- hypertension.
Low mobility, excess consumption of fats, especially the "wrong" ones, and simple carbohydrates lead to this condition.
There is no need to look for a magic pill to correct the situation. So popular and widely advertised statins do not improve the quality of life. And the list of contraindications and side effects is easy to explain. The pill does not care where to dissolve the cholesterol - not only in the blood, but also in the membrane of the renal tubules or the process of the nerve, for example.
Proper nutrition will be much more effective, which consists in reducing the amount of foods containing sugar, starch, white flour, refined oils, animal fats.
Margarine and palm oil should be eliminated altogether. Meat, eggs, butter and even lard can be eaten, but not abused. Vegetables, fruits, buckwheat and oatmeal, bran, seafood, nuts, fish, cold-pressed vegetable oils are essential for normal lipid metabolism.
Where to get tested?
After reaching the age of twenty, you need to take tests to determine the lipid spectrum at least once every five years. And after forty it is better to do it annually, especially if there is a genetic predisposition. You can find out your lipid profile in almost any district clinic.
A person who goes to the doctor with complaints of diseases of the heart, liver, kidneys, high blood pressure will be assigned a biochemical blood test, including a lipid profile.
The price of the analysis may interest the patient if heapplies to a paid clinic or wants to know the result without a doctor's referral. Usually this study is carried out free of charge, at the expense of compulsory he alth insurance.
Private medical centers set their own prices, which start at 500 rubles. for the entire lipid spectrum and from 200 rubles. for one analysis.
