Clinical Information

Measurement of serum cholesterol levels can serve as an indicator of liver function, biliary function, intestinal absorption, propensity toward coronary artery disease, and thyroid function. Cholesterol levels are important in the diagnosis and classification of hyperlipoproteinemias. Stress, age, gender, hormonal balance, and pregnancy affect normal cholesterol levels.1The Adult Treatment Panel of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) recommends that all adults 20 years of age and over should have a fasting lipoprotein profile (total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglyceride) once every five years to screen for coronary heart disease risk.