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HDL is the healthy or good cholesterol and is composed of a high percentage of protein, cholesterol, phospholipids, and a small portion of fat. The LDL is the unhealthy or bad cholesterol and is composed of fat, protein, and a high level of cholesterol.
The ratio of comparing HDL to LDL has been established as acceptably above .3 and ideally above .4. HDL is consider good cholesterol because it circulates throughout the body picking up excess cholesterol and bringing it to the liver. LDL is considered bad cholesterol because it transports cholesterol throughout the body. After several years with elevated LDL, the result may be hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis that eventually results in heart disease or heart attack.
The way of determining the ratio of HDL/LDL is to divide the HDL (value) by the LDL (value). For example, if an individual has a HDL of 60 mg/dL and a LDL of 150 mg/dL, the value would be .4 or ideal. The health industry is divided on whether the ratio is effective in predicting future heart disease. However, the recommendation is to consider the whole picture; numbers as well as the ratio.
