Indicator Explainer
High Density Lipoprotein
The smallest and densest lipoproteins, containing a high proportion of protein. They are synthesized in the liver as empty proteins and they pick up cholesterol and increase in size as they circulate through the bloodstream. Because HDL can remove cholesterol from the arteries, and transport it back to the liver for excretion, they are seen as "good" lipoproteins.
This page explains what the indicator is and how results are interpreted in general terms. Reference ranges depend on the laboratory, the method, and your own situation — no single “normal value” applies to everyone. This page is health information, not a diagnosis. For symptoms, treatment, or urgent concerns, contact a healthcare professional.
When it is tested
Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C25186. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0. Source identity and definition checked automatically on 2026-10-18. No individual clinical interpretation or human reviewer is asserted.
Reading results
Reference intervals and interpretation depend on the laboratory, specimen, method and clinical context. This source definition is educational information; it does not establish a diagnosis, product approval or suitability for an individual.
Also Known As
References
- NCI Thesaurus 26.09d — High Density Lipoprotein (C25186)
- Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C25186. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0.
- The cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and glucose index and its derivatives related to obesity and inflammation as novel metabolic markers for predicting new-onset cardiovascular-liver-metabolic multimorbidity: A prospective cohort study. — J Diabetes Investig, 2026-10-09 (PMID 42852842; literature)
- Association between platelet-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and incident stroke among adults with hypertension: A longitudinal CHARLS cohort study. — J Int Med Res, 2026-10-08 (PMID 42850237; literature)
- Corrigendum to "The prognostic value of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in patients with decompensated cirrhosis: a propensity score matching analysis," (Journal of Clinical Lipidology [2022] 16, 325-334]. — J Clin Lipidol, 2026-10-06 (PMID 42838770; literature)