The Importance of the Triglyceride/HDL Ratio

The published evidence is quite clear in documenting that the actual total cholesterol level itself
is not the most important risk factor of cardiovascular disease.
It is the ratio between the level of HDL-"good" cholesterol and total cholesterol that we need
to be concerned about.
Therefore, in adults, the HDL-good cholesterol!total cholesterol ratio should be higher than
0.24 "#ust divide $our HDL level b$ $our cholesterol%.
&r more precisel$, the HDL!total cholesterol ratio'
(.)* or higher is considered ideal
under (.)* - low
less than (.+( - very dangerous .
,enerall$ speaking, the higher the ratio, the better "the lower $our risk of a heart attack%.
However, HDL is closel$ related to trigl$cerides.
It appears common for people with high trigl$cerides to have low HDL-s, and these same people
also tend to have high levels of clotting factors in their blood stream, which is unhealth$ in
protecting against heart disease.
Therefore, in adults, the triglyceride/HDL-"good" cholesterol ratio should be below ) "#ust
divide $our trigl$cerides level b$ $our HDL%.
&r more precisel$, the trigl$ceride!HDL ratio'
) or less is considered ideal
* - high
. - much too high
/nd, since HDL "high densit$ lipoprotein% is protective against heart disease, the
lower the ratio, the better.
In other words, the lower $our trigl$cerides, or the higher $our HDL, the smaller this ratio
becomes.
It is now believed that the triglycerides/HDL ratio is one of the most potent predictors of heart
disease.
/ Harvard-lead stud$ author reported'
High trigl$cerides alone increased the risk of heart attack nearl$ three-fold.
/nd people with the highest ratio of trigl$cerides to HDL -- the good cholesterol -- had !
ti"es the ris# of heart attac# as those with the lowest ratio of triglycerides to HDL in the
stud$ of 0*( heart attack patients and 0*( of their health$, same age counterparts.
The citation stated the ratio of trigl$cerides to HDL was the strongest predictor of a heart attack,
even more accurate than the LDL!HDL ratio.
$%&&orting 'itation( ,a1iano 23, Hennekens 4H, &-Donnell 42, 5reslow 2L, 5uring 26. 7asting trigl$cerides,
high-densit$ lipoprotein, and risk of m$ocardial infarction. 4irculation. +889 &ct )+:8.";%')<)(-<.
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