Understand your number

Your 'cholesterol level' is a measurement of the number of millimoles of cholesterol per litre of blood (mmol/l).

The medical opinion in the UK is that the adult level should be no more than 5.0 mmol/l*.

If you have diabetes or a family history of heart disease you should consider targeting a lower level#. Discuss this with your doctor.


Look at all your numbers. Try the 531 rule: 5 your total cholesterol should be below 5, 3 your LDL cholesterol should be below 3, 1 your HDL cholesterol should be above 1

get some practical advice >

* - Second Joint Task Force of European and other Societies on Coronary Prevention 1998 suggest that healthy total cholesterol level should be below 5.0 mmol/l and LDL cholesterol level should be below 3.0 mmol/l.

# - Laker MF. Cardiovascular disease prevention: the new Joint British Societies' guidelines. Joint British Societies. 2006.