What do your LDL cholesterol levels mean?
The short answer
The doctors we follow don't watch LDL cholesterol. So there's no target here — they looked and moved on.
“I don't pay attention to LDL cholesterol.”
Your lab prints 0–130 mg/dL. That range exists to catch disease, not to describe your best.
What LDL cholesterol measures
The cholesterol carried on LDL particles.
It is the number most reports lead with. The doctors we cite follow the particle count instead, because two people with the same cholesterol can carry different numbers of particles.
Checked against MedlinePlus — Cholesterol Levels.
Common questions
What is a normal LDL cholesterol level?
Most US labs print 0–130 mg/dL. Your report grades you against that range. It exists to catch disease, not to describe your best.
What does your LDL cholesterol number mean?
Under 0 mg/dL, your report marks it low. Between 0 and 130 it prints as normal. Over 130, your report marks it high. Nobody we follow has drawn a line inside that range.
What does the LDL cholesterol test measure?
The cholesterol carried on LDL particles. It is the number most reports lead with. The doctors we cite follow the particle count instead, because two people with the same cholesterol can carry different numbers of particles.
Why is there no target here?
Because Dr. Peter Attia argues LDL cholesterol isn't the number to watch. The clip above is that moment.