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Norm of cholesterol in blood in women and men by age

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What is cholesterol and why is it needed in our body?

What can you tell us the average, ordinary person without medical training about cholesterol? It is worth asking anyone, immediately followed by some standard calculations, stamps and considerations. Cholesterol can be of two types: "good"and"bad" cholesterol is the cause of atherosclerosis, since the accumulation of it settles on the walls of blood vessels and forms plaque. The knowledge of a layman ends.

That this knowledge is true, what is just speculation, but what has not been told?

What is cholesterol?

Few people actually know what is a cholesterol. However, ignorance does not prevent the majority consider it very harmful and hazardous to health substance.

Cholesterol is a fatty alcohol. Both in domestic and foreign medical practice, other compound name — "cholesterol". The role of cholesterol cannot be overemphasized. This substance found in cell membranes of animals and is responsible for giving them strength.

The highest amount of cholesterol is involved in the formation of cell membranes of red blood cells (about 24%), membranes of liver cells and account for 17%, brain (white matter) — 15%, the gray matter of the brain — about 5-7%.

Useful properties of cholesterol

Cholesterol is very important for our body:

  • Cholesterol is actively involved in the process of digestion, because without it production liver digestive juices and salts impossible.
  • Another important function of cholesterol is involved in the synthesis of male and female sex hormones (testosterone, estrogen, progesterone). The change in the concentration ratio of fatty alcohol in the blood (up and down) can lead to failure of reproductive function.

  • Due cholesterol the adrenal gland continues to produce cortisol and in the dermal structures of the synthesized vitamin D. Studies show that violations of concentration of cholesterol in the blood lead to weakening of the immune system and many other malfunctions of the body.

  • the Vast majority of substances produced by the body (about 75%) and only 20-25% comes from food. Therefore, if you believe the studies, the cholesterol level may deviate in one direction or another depending on the diet.

Cholesterol "bad"and"good"— what's the difference?

With a new round of cholesterol hysteria in the 80-90-ies from all sides talking about the exceptional hazards of fatty alcohol. Here and TV programmes of dubious quality, and scientific research in Newspapers and magazines, and opinions nizkomolekularnah doctors. As a result, people were struck by a distorted information flow that creates a totally wrong picture. Quite reasonably formed the opinion that the lower the concentration of cholesterol in the blood the better. Whether so it actually? As it turned out, no.

Cholesterol plays an essential role in the stable functioning of the human organism as a whole and its individual systems. Fatty alcohol traditionally divided into"bad"and"good". It is the conventional classification, since in fact the cholesterol is not "good"nor"bad" can not be. It has a uniform composition and a uniform structure. It all depends on what kind of transport protein he would join. That is, cholesterol is only dangerous in certain bound, and not free state.

Cholesterol "bad" (or LDL) is able to settle on vessel walls and form layers of plaque that closes the lumen of the blood vessel. When connecting proteins apoproteins, cholesterol forms complexes of LDL. With increasing such cholesterol — danger really exists.

Graphically jorobekova LDL complex can be represented as follows:

Cholesterol "good" (high-density cholesterol or HDL) high-quality and structure and function. It cleans the walls of blood vessels from the "bad" cholesterol and sends harmful substance for processing in the liver.

Find out more: Causes of high cholesterol than it is dangerous?


Norm of cholesterol in blood by age

The content of cholesterol in the blood according to CNN:

Over 6.2 mmol/l

Total cholesterol

Below 5.2 mmol/l

Optimal

5.2 - 6.2 mmol/l

The maximum allowable

High

The level of LDL cholesterol ("bad")

Below 1.8 mmol/l

Optimal for people with high risk of cardiovascular disease

Below 2.6 mmol/l

Optimal for people with a predisposition to cardiovascular disease

2.6 - 3.3 mmol/l

Optimal

3.4 - 4.1 mmol/l

The maximum allowable

4.1 – 4.9 mmol/l

High

More than 4.9 mmol/l

Very high

Levels of HDL-cholesterol ("good")

Less than 1.0 mmol/l (for men)

Bad

Less than 1.3 mmol/l (for women)

1.0 – 1.3 mmol/l (for men)

Normal

1.3 – 1.5 mmol/l (for women)

1.6 mmol/l and above

Great

Triglyceride levels

Below 1.7 mmol/l

Desirable

1.7 – 2.2 mmol/l

The maximum allowable

2.3 – 5.6 mmol/l

High

Above 5.6 mmol/l and over

Very high

Find out more: the Norm of triglycerides according to age, and how to reduce them?


Norm of cholesterol in the blood in women by age

Age

Total cholesterol

LDL-cholesterol

HDL-cholesterol

< 5 years

2.90-5.18 mmol/l

5-10 years

2.26 – 5.30 mmol/l

1.76 – 3.63 mmol/l

0.93 – 1.89mmol/l

10-15 years

3.21-5.20 mmol/l

1.76 – 3.52 mmol/l

0.96 – 1.81 mmol/l

15-20 years

3.08 – 5.18 mmol/l

1.53 – 3.55 mmol/l

0.91 – 1.91 mmol/l

20-25 years

3.16 – 5.59 mmol/l

1.48 – 4.12 mmol/l

0.85 – 2.04 mmol/l

25-30 years

3.32 – 5.75 mmol/l

1.84 – 4.25 mmol/l

0.96 – 2.15 mmol/l

30-35 years

3.37 – 5.96 mmol/l

1.81 – 4.04 mmol/l

0.93 – 1.99 mmol/l

35-40 years

3.63 – 6.27 mmol/l

1.94 – 4.45 mmol/l

0.88 – 2.12 mmol/l

40-45 years

3.81 – 6.53 mmol/l

1.92 – 4.51 mmol/l

0.88 – 2.28 mmol/l

45-50 years

3.94 – 6.86 mmol/l

2.05 – 4.82 mmol/l

0.88 – 2.25 mmol/l

50-55 years

4.20 – 7.38 mmol/l

2.28 – 5.21 mmol/l

0.96 – 2.38 mmol/l

55-60 years old

4.45 – 7.77 mmol/l

2.31 – 5.44 mmol/l

0.96 – 2.35 mmol/l

60-65 years

4.45 – 7.69 mmol/l

2.59 – 5.80 mmol/l

0.98 – 2.38 mmol/l

65-70 years

4.43 – 7.85 mmol/l

2.38 – 5.72 mmol/l

0.91 – 2.48 mmol/l

4.48 – 7.25 mmol/l

2.49 – 5.34 mmol/l

0.85 – 2.38 mmol/l

In females, the concentration of cholesterol is stable and is approximately at the same value until menopauseand then increases.

When interpreting laboratory results it is important to consider not only gender and age but also a number of additional factors that may significantly change the picture and cause an inexperienced physician to incorrect conclusions:

  • Season. Depending on the time of year, the level of substances can lower or raise. It is known that in cold season (late autumn-winter) the concentration grows by about 2-4%. The deviation on such value can be considered as physiological norm.
  • Beginningof the menstrual cycle. In the first half of the cycle, the deviation can reach almost 10%, which is a physiological norm. In the later stages of the cycle there is an increase of cholesterol by 6-8%. This is due to the peculiarities of the synthesis of fatty compounds under the influence of sex hormones.
  • The bearing of fruit. Pregnancy is another reason a significant increase in cholesterol, due to the different intensity of the synthesis of fat. Normal is an increase of 12-15% of the norm.

  • Disease. Diseases such as stenocardia, arterial hypertension in the acute phase (talking about the dramatic asthma), acute respiratory diseases are often the cause of significant decrease in the concentration of cholesterol in the blood. The effect may last for from days to a month or more. The decline is observed in the range of 13-15%.

  • Malignant neoplasms. Contribute to a sharp decrease in the concentration level of fatty alcohol. To explain this process is active growth of abnormal tissue. For its formation required a lot of substances, including fatty alcohol.

Cholesterol in women after 40 years

  • 40 – 45 years. The normal total cholesterol — 3.81-6.53 mmol/l, LDL-cholesterol — 1.92-4.51 mmol/l, HDL-cholesterol — 0.88-2.28.
  • 45-50 years old. The normal total cholesterol — 3.94-6.86 mmol/l, LDL-cholesterol — 2.05-4.82 mmol/l, HDL-cholesterol — 0.88-2.25.

Cholesterol in women after 50 years

  • 50-55 years. The normal total cholesterol — 4.20 – 7.38 mmol/l, LDL-cholesterol — 2.28 – 5.21 mmol/l, HDL-cholesterol — 0.96 – 2.38 mmol/L.

  • 55-60 years old. Standard of total cholesterol 4.45 – 7.77 mmol/l, LDL-cholesterol — 2.31 – 5.44 mmol/l, HDL-cholesterol — 0.96 – 2.35 mmol/l.

Cholesterol in women after 60 years

  • 60-65 years. The normal total cholesterol — 4.43 – 7.85 mmol/l, LDL-cholesterol — 2.59 – 5.80 mmol/l, HDL-cholesterol — 0.98 – 2.38 mmol/L.

  • 65-70 years. The normal total cholesterol — 4.20 – 7.38 mmol/l, LDL-cholesterol — 2.38 – 5.72 mmol/l, HDL-cholesterol — 0.91 – 2.48 mmol/L.

  • After 70 years of age. The normal total cholesterol — 4.48 – 7.25 mmol/l, LDL-cholesterol — 2.49 – 5.34 mmol/l, HDL-cholesterol — 0.85 – 2.38 mmol/L.

Norm of cholesterol in blood in men by age

Age

Total cholesterol

 LDL-cholesterol

HDL-cholesterol

< 5 years

2.95-5.25 mmol/l

5-10 years

3.13 – 5.25 mmol/l

1.63 – 3.34 mmol/l

0.98 – 1.94 mmol/l

10-15 years

3.08-5.23 mmol/l

1.66 – 3.34 mmol/l

0.96 – 1.91 mmol/l

15-20 years

2.91 – 5.10 mmol/l

1.61 – 3.37 mmol/l

0.78 – 1.63 mmol/l

20-25 years

3.16 – 5.59 mmol/l

1.71 – 3.81 mmol/l

0.78 – 1.63 mmol/l

25-30 years

3.44 – 6.32 mmol/l

1.81 – 4.27 mmol/l

0.80 – 1.63 mmol/l

30-35 years

3.57 – 6.58 mmol/l

2.02 – 4.79 mmol/l

0.72 – 1.63 mmol/l

35-40 years

3.63 – 6.99 mmol/l

1.94 – 4.45 mmol/l

0.88 – 2.12 mmol/l

40-45 years

3.91 – 6.94 mmol/l

2.25 – 4.82 mmol/l

0.70 – 1.73 mmol/l

45-50 years

4.09 – 7.15 mmol/l

2.51 – 5.23 mmol/l

0.78 – 1.66 mmol/l

50-55 years

4.09 – 7.17 mmol/l

2.31 – 5.10 mmol/l

0.72 – 1.63 mmol/l

55-60 years old

4.04 – 7.15 mmol/l

2.28 – 5.26 mmol/l

0.72 – 1.84 mmol/l

60-65 years

4.12 – 7.15 mmol/l

2.15 – 5.44 mmol/l

0.78 – 1.91 mmol/l

65-70 years

4.09 – 7.10 mmol/l

2.49 – 5.34 mmol/l

0.78 – 1.94 mmol/l

3.73 – 6.86 mmol/l

2.49 – 5.34 mmol/l

0.85 – 1.94 mmol/l

Thus, it is possible to draw some conclusions. Over time the level of cholesterol in the blood rises gradually (the speaker has the character of directly proportional: the more years the higher the cholesterol). However, different genders this process occurs varies. In men, the level of fatty alcohol is increased to 50 years, and then begins to decline.

Find out more: Statins and other drugs for lowering cholesterol

Risk groups

Groups at risk of increased concentration of "bad" cholesterol in the blood are determined by a number of risk factors:

  • Age;
  • Heredity;
  • Floor;
  • The presence of ischemic heart disease (or CHD).

Heredity

In the 60-70-ies was considered axiomatic that the main reason for high levels of cholesterol in the blood is an improper diet and abuse of "harmful"food products. To 90-th years it has become clear that the wrong diet is only the"tip of the iceberg"and in addition there are a number of factors. One of these is genetically determined specificity of metabolism.

How the human body processes certain substances directly? depends on heredity. Role play and features of the metabolism of the father, and the peculiarities of the metabolism of the mother. Man"gets inherited" two chromosomes. Meanwhile, studies have shown that for determining the concentration of cholesterol in the blood is responsible as many as 95 genes.

A considerable number, considering that are often found defective copies of a gene. According to statistics, every five people in the world carries one or more faulty genes (of the 95), responsible for the processing of fatty alcohol. Moreover, it is known more than a thousand mutations of these genes. Even if there is a situation in which one of the parents inherited the normal gene and the other is damaged, the risk of problems with the concentration of cholesterol will remain high.

This is due to the nature of the defective gene. In the body, it becomes dominant, and it is responsible for the method and features of processing of cholesterol.

  • Thus, if one or both parents had problems with cholesterol, with a probability of 25 to 75% the child will inherit this peculiarity of metabolism, and also will later have problems. However, this is not always the case.

Diet

Nutrition plays though not a key role in the mechanism of the dynamics of cholesterol in the blood, still significantly affected. With food, as has been said, receives no more than 25% of the total fatty alcohol. In what type of cholesterol it will go — say it is possible depending on the parallelfood and peculiarities of metabolism. The product itself is rich in cholesterol (egg, shrimp), eaten with fat foods (mayonnaise, sausages, etc.), with high probability entail increasing the level of LDL cholesterol.

The same effect would happen if a person inherits the defective gene. In the presence of the defective gene (or genes) the same result will occur even if along the way, anything in bold was not used. The reason lies in the fact that signal the liver to reduce production of its own cholesterol is not received, and she continues to produce fatty acid. That is why, for example, people with a typical metabolism not recommended to use more than 4 eggs a week.

The cholesterol content in foods:

Interesting information: Can I eat butter, eggs, shrimp and drinking alcohol high cholesterol?

Weight

Rather controversial is the question of the role of excess weight in increasing the level of cholesterol in the blood. Not entirely clear what is cause and what is effect. However, if you believe the statistics, nearly 65% of people with overweight have problems with level of fatty alcohol in the blood, and "bad" varieties.

Hypodynamia (reduced physical activity)

Low level of physical activity is directly linked to the increase in the concentration of cholesterol in the blood. The reason is stagnant processes and disorders of energy metabolism of the body. With sufficient exercise the level of "bad" cholesterol usually declines.

The instability of the functioning of the thyroid gland

The effect of the degree of functioning of the thyroid gland and the level of cholesterol in the blood is mutual. Once the thyroid stops efficiently to cope with its functions, abruptly increases the concentration of fatty alcohol. At the same time, when cholesterol is elevated, and the thyroid gland before worked fine, this may change. The danger is that such changes in the thyroid gland is practically not diagnosed, while the organic changes in the body occur.

Therefore, persons who have a tendency to unstable dynamics of cholesterol, one should be mindful of her thyroid, checking it regularly, and as soon as you start to experience the initial symptoms of hypothyroidism (weakness, drowsiness and fatigue, etc.) — contact your endocrinologist.

Problems with the liver and kidneys

If there are problemsthese two organs, cholesterol can also uncontrollably rise and fall.

Taking certain types of medication

Many drugs intended for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, can have a definite impact on the concentration of cholesterol in the circulatory system. So, beta-blockers (Verapamil, Diltiazem, etc.) significantly increase the level of fatty acids. The same effect caused by hormone medications to eliminate acne, etc.

The greater the number of risk factors can be attributed to the specific anamnesis of the patient, the more likely the presence of increased amounts of cholesterol in the blood.


Cholesterol is the main cause of atherosclerosis?

For the first time, the hypothesis of cholesterol as the most important factor in the development of atherosclerosis was formulated by N. Anichkov in the early XX century (1912). To confirm the hypothesis conducted a very controversial experiment.

For some time the scientist was introduced in the digestive canal of rabbits a saturated and concentrated solution of cholesterol. As a result of "diet" on the walls of the blood vessels of animals began to form deposits of fatty alcohol. As a result of diet change on the ordinary — all was still. The hypothesis was confirmed. But this method of confirmation called strict no-no.

The only thing that was proved by the experiment — cholesterindegrading consumption of products harmful to herbivores. But man, like many other animals not grazers. A similar experiment conducted on dogs, the hypothesis is not confirmed.

A significant role in inflating the cholesterol hysteria was played by pharmaceutical giants. And although the 90-th years of the theory was declared invalid, and it was not shared by the vast majority of scientists, the concerns have been beneficial to spread false information to make hundreds of millions of dollars on the so-called statins (drugs to lower cholesterol levels in the blood).

In December 2006 in the journal "Neurology"on the cholesterol theory of the origin of atherosclerosis finally given up. The basis of the experiment took a test group of people-centenarians in the age of 100-105 years. As it turned out, almost all of them have significantly elevated levels of"bad" cholesterol in blood, atherosclerosis but none was observed.

Thus, a direct connection between the development of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases and the concentration of cholesterol in the blood to confirm and failed. If the role of cholesterol in the mechanism is, it is not obvious and has a secondary, if not far more, important.

Thus, the role ofcholesterol in the development of cardiovascular disease — no more than profitable and publicized a myth!