lipid profile measurement means measurement of cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL and HDL levels individualy. each one of them have seperate impact on body metabolism thats means increase in levels of cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride carries bad impact for body but alternativly increase in HDL levels are good for normal health and vice versa. So meauring the all these lipids in a single 'total lipids' dosent gives the rationale about  present status of each of above and also body lipid status. thats why it is better to measure each parameter seperatly to analyse lipid profile accuratly and proper diagnosis of health.

Dear Annadurai,

I think you need a historical answer to your important question.

Around one hundred years ago, searching about risk factor for CVD, scientist found lipid trace in this disorders. SO they considered total lipid as risk factor of CVD.

After a short time, and reporting some patients with high total lipid and without CVD and also low total lipid and exist CVD, the thought about total lipid components.

They found relation between Cholesterol and CVD. So they consider  Cholesterol as a risk factor of CVD.

After a short time, and again reporting some patients with high total Cholesterol and without CVD and also low total Cholesterol and exist CVD, the thought about Cholesterol components.

They found relation between LDL-C and CVD. So they consider LDL-C as a risk factor of CVD.

After a short time, and again reporting some patients with high LDL-C and without CVD and also low LDL-Cholesterol and exist CVD, the thought about LDL-Cholesterol components.

They found relation between Ox-LDL and CVD. So they consider Ox-LDL as a risk factor of CVD.

Some researchers found recently relation between TG and CVD too.

So, Final decision was measuring major components of total lipid for assessing CVD risk factors.

And now we measure Total Cholesterol, TG, HDL-c and LDL-C routinely and in some cases Ox-LDL and modified LDL. too.

best

mehdi 

Interesting

Cardiovascular risk is a composite of many factors, recently the risk was reduced for 10 years and calculated based on LIPID profile.

Age: years

Gender: Female Male

Total Cholesterol: mg/dL

HDL Cholesterol: mg/dL

Smoker: No Yes

Systolic Blood Pressure: mm/Hg

Are you currently on any medication to treat high blood pressure. No Yes

RISK Percent %

My risk percent is 24% THAT means Risk Score* 24%

Means 24 of 100 people with this level of risk will have a heart attack in the next 10 years. Hence it is based on probability with high specificity and sensitivity as per the FRAMINGHAM study.

Once you KNOW the person risk score YOU can initiate preventive measures to reduce the RISK score e.g. smokers quit smoking, BUT age YOU cannot change (Modifiable versus non modifiable factors)

The more you control BLOOD pressure and LIPID profile (LDL-c) the more you reduce your chances of having CVDs, stroke, MI, etc... what is refer to as major cardiovascular events - MACE

[email protected]

MY own opinion

1. Triglycerdies is more dangerous than cholesterol (specially for diabetes patients)

2. Lipid is a natural component of all body, it is not BAD.

BUT the agly face is to have in access of what is needed (cut-off values of lipid panel)

3. Excercise and weight control and diet free of direct LIPIDS is the main stay in management of risk or overt dyslipidemia-atherosclerosis etc...+ medication IF compelling indication.

thanks

ASIM

Apo A1 and Apo B1       are they measured in LAB 

they deserve more attention to predict CV risk (Apo B1 if HIGH it is too bad)

Very interesting observation.

It's true that "Total lipids" measurement is normally not asked for by the Clinicians as part of "Lipid Profile" vis-a-vis Cardiac Risk Factors and/or Diabetic ailments.

Dr. Tanaji More , Dr. Mehdi Hedayati and Dr. Asim Ahmad Elnour, in the earlier mentioned comments have indeed dealt upon this question in a real comprehensive manner and I fully agree with their views.

We also in our Institution do not include 'Total Lipids" as part of Lipid Profile measurements for patient care as this may not provide any significant input.

I agree with the excellent previous answers. The rational lipid profile is the measurement of different components of lipoproteins. LDL, VLDL, HDL,. Those lipoproteins are  expressed by its content of cholesterol. LDL- cholesterol and Ox.LDL are CVD risk factors, but HDL-Cholesterol is better when HDL transport more plasma cholesterol( for example 50 mg/dL vs 25 mg/dL) because HDL, as a molecule containing Apo A1 and associated enzymes like Cholesterol Ester Transport Protein,   is a protectve factor against LDL oxidation.. Triglycerides are  the main  components  of VLDL, but Triglycerides-rich HDL are dysfunctional and shows that  those protective antioxidant function decrease. Phospholipids are components of all lipoproteins, but its measurement do not add by itself any value although they transport Fatty acids with different functions in the oxidative stress mechanisms. As you can see, total lipids do not add a new input in Internal medicine and Clinical biochemistry.

Excellent added input by Dr. Regina Wikinski certainly emphasize that "Total Lipids" measurements may not be of much significance as Risk Factor/ Diagnostics.

Lipids include components that may have a negative impact on health and others with beneficial effects. Therefore lipid ratios (good:bad) may be of more significance.

Total lipids were measured years ago, However this test is not very specific. Total lipids do ot even distinguish between cholesterol and triglycerdies.With the growing knowledge about VLDL, LDL and HDL this test was dismissed and I do no think that there is any reason to-day to use it again

I agree with the answers from other collegues.   I just want to add some information. Please return to classification of lipids. There are several types of lipids, cholesterol belongs to neutral lipid. In general and according to the epidemiological data for instance Framingham Heart Study, the lipids of concern in terms of risk factors for coronary heart disease is cholesterol. Since cholesterol molecule is hydrophobic, it must transported in the blood in the form of lipoprotein. It is in the form of lipoprotein that we can classify lipoprotein into LDL (bad cholesterol), HDL (good cholesterol), IDL, VLDL etc. Total lipid is not important as a risk factor for coronary heart disease.  Thank you 

Simply, because it is not informative as it the sum of all lipid profiles includ, TG, TC, LDL, HDL

Based on my earlier comments alongwith those of other Scientists worldwide, I think it is very clear that measurements of Total Lipids would not be beneficial as Risk Factors/ Diagnostics . Hence the comments/answers to this particular question may now be not extended further. This is just a suggestion.

Total lipid refereed to the plasma lipid profile is meaningless; you will be mixing different species and different properties (good and bad cholesterol),.

I entirely agree with Llit and Juan that total lipids is no valuable parameter for risk assessemnt and that it has no place in today's diagnostics

 I entirely agree with Walter and others.In addition to that measure as an indicator of MDA to lipid profile test 

when LDL and HDL are measurable , why Total lipid?

In continuation to my previous comments I again mention that measuring Total lipids would be of no value.