Lipidogram - what is it? How to decipher a lipid profile?

A lipidogram is a blood test that allows you to find out the state of lipid (fat) metabolism in the body. By this name is meant a series of blood tests for lipid metabolism. A blood lipid profile includes several indicators. They are important for assessing the risk of possible occurrence of atherosclerosis, ischemia and the state of the cardiovascular system as a whole.

What indicators are included in the lipid profile?

This study includes the following parameters:

• total cholesterol;
• high density lipoproteins (HDL) ;
• low density lipoproteins (LDL);
• triglycerides;
• atherogenic coefficient.

Why take a lipid analysis?

So, a lipid profile - what is it and why is such a study necessary?

1. Allows you to assess the degree of risk of cardiovascular disease.
2. To monitor the progress of treatment in the dynamics of coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and kidney disease.
3. If there were problems with hypercholesterolemia, heart attacks or strokes in the family, it is advisable to periodically take a lipid profile test to prevent the development of such health problems.
4. This study allows you to control the lipid-lowering diet and treatment.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a vital substance. He takes part in the formation of all cell membranes, the synthesis of hormones and the formation of bile. Cholesterol can be high density and low. Popularly, these fractions are called good and bad cholesterol. So it is an excess of low density cholesterol that can lead to the development of atherosclerosis. It is he who is called bad, or sticky, because of his ability to settle on the walls of blood vessels and form atherosclerotic plaques. Lipidogram - what is it? This study is a marker for the possible development of atherosclerosis.

Triglycerides

Triglycerides (TG) are complex organic compounds of fatty acids and glycerol esters that belong to the class of lipids. They are the main component of nutrition and a source of energy for the body. But an overabundance of this indicator refers to risk factors for the development of coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis.

Atherogenic coefficient (KA)

This coefficient allows you to determine the degree of risk of the possible development of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. It shows the ratio of atherogenic and antiatherogenic blood fractions. To calculate the SC, it is enough to divide the difference between total cholesterol and HDL into HDL.

How to interpret the CA indicator?

• If the CA indicator is less than 3, then the risk of atherosclerosis is minimal.
• With CA from 3 to 4, the degree of development of coronary heart disease or atherosclerosis is high.
• If the CA is 5 or higher, this fact indicates that coronary artery disease or atherosclerosis already exists, and this, in turn, increases the likelihood of developing heart and brain diseases (heart attack, stroke), as well as kidney diseases and limb thrombosis.

What is hypercholesterolemia?

Hypercholesterolemia, or elevated cholesterol, manifests itself with hyperlipidemia - an increased content of lipids (fats) in the blood. Outwardly, this does not manifest itself. In order to find out the level of cholesterol and its fractions (LDL, HDL, triglycerides, atherogenicity coefficient), it is necessary to make an analysis such as a lipid profile. What is it and what to do if the results are above the norm, we will understand this article.

In healthy people, most often, lipid profile indicators increase due to errors in nutrition or with increased synthesis of internal (endogenous) cholesterol.

What foods can increase blood cholesterol?

The bulk are animal products. These include:

• All sausages.
• Meat of fatty varieties (goose, duck, pork, etc.).
• Strong rich broths.
• Chicken, duck, etc. eggs (yolk is especially rich in cholesterol).
• All kinds of mayonnaise (even the so-called lean mayonnaise).
• Fatty dairy products (cream, butter, sour cream, milk).
• Black and red caviar of noble varieties of fish.
• Whole baking (cakes, pastries, cookies, etc.).

The cooking method also affects the level of cholesterol in foods. So, steamed or baked dishes in the oven contain much less harmful cholesterol than fried in large quantities of oil or lard.

Reasons for increased synthesis of endogenous cholesterol

• At the age of 50-55 years, the synthesis of endogenous low density cholesterol is often enhanced.
• Decreased levels of sex hormones in women (menopause).
• Various inflammatory processes that occur in liver cells or in the bile ducts enhance cholesterol synthesis.

Lipidogram: transcript in adults. Norm

Normal values ​​for this study are shown in the table below.

From this table it can be seen that in a study such as a lipid profile, the norm in women differs only in terms of high density lipoproteins, and all other data do not have gender differences.

Why is high cholesterol dangerous?

An increase in blood cholesterol inevitably leads to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in the lumen of blood vessels, and this, in turn, can lead to the development of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, such as:

• Hypertension, which is characterized by a prolonged increase in blood pressure> 140/90 mm RT. Art., this is a consequence of a decrease in the diameter of the lumen of the renal arteries due to the formation of plaques in them. In addition, the plaques themselves are capable of producing substances that increase pressure.
• IHD (coronary heart disease), which develops as a result of the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in the lumens of the coronary arteries. Through these arteries, the heart muscle is nourished. Due to the narrowing of the lumen of these arteries, the heart suffers from a lack of oxygen, which is manifested by pressing pain.
• Cerebral atherosclerosis occurs as a result of damage to atherosclerotic plaques of the cerebral vessels. This can be manifested by bouts of dizziness, impaired memory, tinnitus, or poor sleep.

How to pass a blood lipid profile?

This analysis is done in a biochemical laboratory. Blood for its conduct is taken from a vein in the treatment room. Blood is given in the morning on an empty stomach. On the eve it is advisable not to eat fatty foods, salads with mayonnaise, dinner should not be too late.

Determination of lipids in feces

Analysis for the detection of fats (lipids) in the stool is called fecal lipid profile. Such a study allows you to determine the effectiveness of the pancreas and identify diseases in which its functions are impaired.

This study includes:

• Total lipid content.
• Unesterified (free) fatty acids.
• Monoglycerides that are formed by the breakdown of phospholipids and triglycerides.
• Diglycerides are also released as a result of the breakdown of phospholipids and triglycerides with the participation of lipase.
• Cholestenone - is formed from cholesterol in the large intestine with the participation of enzymes that secrete microbial flora.
• Coprosterol - also formed from cholesterol in the large intestine.
• Coprastanon - this substance is formed with the participation of microbial flora.

Almost all of these indicators are expressed as a percentage. Standards are given in the table below:

Causes of increased lipid levels in feces

The main reasons for the increase in the percentage of lipids in the stool are only three:

1. Pancreatic lipase deficiency. Under the influence of lipase, the breakdown of fats (lipids) in the large intestine occurs.
2. Inadequate supply of bile to the large intestine. Bile activates the lipase enzyme and thus takes part in the breakdown of lipids in the large intestine.
3. Poor patency of the lymphatic pathways through which fat is absorbed can also lead to the detection of an increased content of lipids in the large intestine.

Enhanced intestinal motility can also cause an increased content of fats in the feces. In this case, undigested food passes through the small intestine too quickly, and lipids, like other food components, simply do not have time to be absorbed in it.

The feces for this study are referred to the laboratory, and the drugs taken by the patient are indicated, which can affect the result of the study. Acceptance of these medicines is agreed with the doctor.

Lipidogram - what is it? We found. Now we know that a lipid profile can be not only blood, but also feces. Let us dwell a little on the cost of these studies.

Lipidogram ("BLUE"). Price

Synevo is a European network of laboratories located in Central and Eastern Europe. Such laboratories exist in Russia. An analysis such as a lipid profile of cholesterol will cost around 1300 rubles.