Medically reviewed by Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Haseeb, M.B.B.S., F.C.P.S. (Haematology), Consultant Haematologist, Al-Nasar Lab & Diagnostic Centre. Updated August 2026.
Quick answer: A lipid profile is a blood test measuring the fats in your blood. The four numbers that matter are total cholesterol, LDL (the harmful one), HDL (the protective one) and triglycerides. Fasting for 9 to 12 hours is usually advised, though many laboratories now accept a non fasting sample for routine screening.
Book a lipid profile: call 0300 0341944, or arrange home sample collection across Lahore on 0309 1166944.
What does a lipid profile measure?
Cholesterol is not a poison. Your body needs it to build cell walls and produce hormones. The problem is the way it travels. Cholesterol moves through the blood attached to proteins, and the type of carrier determines whether it helps you or harms you.
| Marker | What it does | Desirable range |
|---|---|---|
| Total cholesterol | The overall amount in your blood | Below 200 mg/dL |
| LDL cholesterol | Carries cholesterol into artery walls, where it builds up | Below 100 mg/dL |
| HDL cholesterol | Carries cholesterol away from arteries to the liver | Above 40 in men, above 50 in women |
| Triglycerides | A separate fat, strongly affected by diet, alcohol and sugar | Below 150 mg/dL |
| Non HDL cholesterol | Total minus HDL. Captures every harmful particle in one number | Below 130 mg/dL |
Ranges vary between laboratories, and your own target depends on your overall risk. Always read the reference range printed on your report and discuss the target with your doctor.
What is the difference between LDL and HDL?
The simplest way to think about it is direction of travel. LDL delivers cholesterol to the tissues, and when there is more than the body needs it is deposited in artery walls, where it hardens into plaque and narrows the vessel. HDL collects excess cholesterol and returns it to the liver for disposal.
This is why a high HDL is genuinely good news and a high LDL is not, and why two people with the same total cholesterol can carry very different risk depending on how that total is divided.
Do you need to fast for a lipid profile?
Traditionally yes, for 9 to 12 hours, with water allowed. In recent years many guidelines have accepted non fasting samples for routine screening, because total cholesterol, LDL and HDL change very little after eating.
Triglycerides are the exception. They rise substantially after a meal, sometimes for several hours. So if your doctor is specifically monitoring triglycerides, if you are already on treatment, or if a previous result was borderline, fast beforehand. When in doubt, fast, since a fasting sample is valid in every situation while a non fasting one is not.
Why do South Asians need to pay closer attention?
People of South Asian origin develop heart disease earlier and at lower cholesterol levels than European populations. The pattern typically seen is a combination of higher triglycerides, lower HDL and smaller denser LDL particles, which is more damaging to arteries than the numbers alone suggest.
Combined with the high rate of diabetes in Pakistan, this means a result described as borderline on an international reference range may deserve action rather than reassurance. It is also why lipids are best interpreted alongside HbA1c and blood pressure rather than in isolation.
Who should have a lipid profile and how often?
- Every adult should have a baseline test, generally from the age of 20, repeated every four to six years if normal and risk is low
- Anyone with diabetes or prediabetes, at least annually
- People with high blood pressure, excess weight or who smoke
- Anyone with a family history of early heart attack or stroke, particularly a parent or sibling affected before 55 in men or 65 in women
- Patients already on cholesterol lowering treatment, usually 6 to 12 weeks after starting or changing a dose, then periodically
- After a heart attack, stroke or stent, as directed by your cardiologist
What can change your numbers?
Lipids respond well to change, which is what makes the test worth repeating rather than treating as a verdict. Triglycerides in particular can fall sharply within weeks of reducing sugar, refined carbohydrates and alcohol. LDL responds to reduced saturated fat, weight loss, regular activity and, where needed, medication. HDL rises modestly with exercise and with stopping smoking.
Several conditions also affect the result, including an underactive thyroid, kidney disease and poorly controlled diabetes. If your lipids are unexpectedly abnormal, your doctor may check thyroid function before assuming diet is the cause.
Lipid profile testing at Al-Nasar Lab
Al-Nasar Lab & Diagnostic Centre has provided laboratory testing in Lahore since 1996 and holds ISO 15189:2022 accreditation from the Pakistan National Accreditation Council. Lipid profile testing is available at our main Johar Town campus and at every collection centre, with home sample collection and same day digital reports.
Because a lipid profile is usually ordered alongside blood sugar, thyroid and kidney tests, all of these can be taken from a single sample during one visit. Find your nearest collection centre, browse our full test list, or contact us to book.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a normal cholesterol level?
Total cholesterol below 200 mg/dL is generally considered desirable, with LDL below 100 and HDL above 40 in men or 50 in women. Your personal target may be lower if you have diabetes or existing heart disease.
Do I have to fast for a cholesterol test?
Fasting for 9 to 12 hours is the safest approach. Non fasting samples are now accepted for routine screening, but triglycerides rise after eating, so fasting is preferred if those are being monitored.
Can cholesterol be lowered without medication?
Often yes, particularly when levels are mildly raised. Diet, weight loss, physical activity and stopping smoking all help. Whether that is sufficient depends on your overall cardiovascular risk, which is your doctor’s judgement.
Is high cholesterol something you can feel?
No. It produces no symptoms at all until it causes a complication such as a heart attack or stroke. That is precisely why periodic testing matters.
How soon after changing my diet should I retest?
Usually about three months, which allows enough time for a genuine change to appear. Triglycerides can improve considerably faster than LDL.
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for medical advice. Please discuss your results with a qualified doctor.
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