LDL Cholesterol (Calculated) Unit Converter

Calculated LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) is an estimate of the amount of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in your blood. LDL is often called "bad" cholesterol because high levels can lead to plaque buildup in your arteries.

Rather than measuring LDL directly, most labs calculate it from your total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides using a formula. The traditional Friedewald formula estimates LDL as: Total Cholesterol minus HDL minus (Triglycerides divided by 5).

This calculated value is used in nearly all clinical guidelines and research studies for assessing cardiovascular risk and guiding treatment decisions.

Your liver produces about 70-80% of the cholesterol in your body, including the cholesterol carried by LDL particles. The remaining 20-30% comes from dietary sources such as meat, dairy, and eggs.