HDL Cholesterol
HDL cholesterol is consistently higher in females than males at every age, and the population distribution is roughly symmetric with a modest right tail.
Unit: mg/dL · 12 slices · age and sex · 1 source
Filed under panels: Lipid Panel , Metabolic Panel · topics: Lipids , Metabolic
HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein) is measured directly in a standard lipid panel. These percentiles are derived from the full US population and include individuals on lipid-modifying therapy. The sex difference in HDL is one of the most consistent findings in lipid epidemiology and is present across all age groups. Note: 1 mg/dL is approximately 0.02586 mmol/L.
Population Distribution
Browse by Demographic
| Age (years) | male (mg/dL) | female (mg/dL) |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | 31–73 (48) | 36–83 (55) |
| 30-39 | 30.6–69 (45) | 34–87 (55) |
| 40-49 | 32–65 (46.1) | 37–84 (55) |
| 50-59 | 31–72 (47) | 38–90 (57) |
| 60-69 | 30–72 (44) | 36–92 (58) |
| 70+ | 33–76 (48) | 39–95 (59) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are HDL values higher in females than males?
Estrogen upregulates hepatic production of apolipoprotein A-I, the main structural protein of HDL particles, and increases the activity of enzymes involved in HDL metabolism. This hormonal effect produces consistently higher HDL concentrations in premenopausal females. The gap narrows somewhat after menopause but does not disappear.
Why do these percentiles include people on HDL-modifying therapies?
These are population percentiles describing the full US population distribution, not a screened healthy reference range. Including everyone gives a complete picture of what HDL values actually look like across the population.
How do I convert mg/dL to mmol/L?
Multiply by 0.02586. For example, 50 mg/dL is approximately 1.29 mmol/L.