Key facts. A cholesterol (or lipid profile) blood test looks at the levels of cholesterol and other fats in your blood. You might need this test if your doctor wants to assess your risk of heart disease and stroke. You will usually need to fast for 8 to 12 hours before having this test.
A 2016 study by researchers at Harvard Medical School revealed that cholesterol levels did not vary significantly between fasting and nonfasting states. “The only part of the cholesterol panel that is affected is the triglycerides,” says Rachel Bond, MD, a cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital.
You're generally required to fast, consuming no food or liquids other than water, for nine to 12 hours before the test.
Nonfasting samples are more convenient for patients, and there is no appreciable difference between fasting and nonfasting results for total cholesterol or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
We conclude that, in nonobese subjects, fasting is accompanied by increases in serum cholesterol, LDL and apo B concentrations, whereas IGF-I levels are decreased.
Lipids have traditionally been drawn after a fast for two main reasons. The first was to minimize variation, since eating can affect some lipid levels. The second was to produce a better calculation of LDL-cholesterol, which is often derived from an equation thought to provide highly distorted results after eating.
Does what you eat before the test matter? Consuming a double cheeseburger, fries, and a milk shake right before having your blood drawn for a cholesterol test may lead to a follow-up fasting test if the triglycerides are very high. But eating normally has little effect on your lipid levels, including triglycerides.
High cholesterol levels are considered: too high: between 5 and 6.4mmol/l. very high: between 6.5 and 7.8mmol/l. extremely high: above 7.8mmol/l.
Research on intermittent fasting is mixed. Some studies say that it may decrease low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the "bad" cholesterol. Intermittent fasting also may improve the body's response to a hormone called insulin.
While coffee does not contain cholesterol, it can affect cholesterol levels. The diterpenes in coffee suppress the body's production of substances involved in cholesterol breakdown, causing cholesterol to increase. Specifically, coffee diterpenes may cause an increase in total cholesterol and LDL levels.
Black coffee is probably fine for most patients on the morning of a cholesterol test. One cup of coffee will not likely affect your test results by more than a couple of points of total cholesterol, measured in mg/dL, at most.
Alcohol Consumption
Even occasional heavy drinking can negatively affect your cholesterol scores. 11 Most experts advise that you avoid alcohol for 24 hours before your test.
Even if you eat right and exercise, you can still have high cholesterol if you have inherited a genetic form of high cholesterol from your parents called familial hypercholesterolemia. Even though it cannot be prevented, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help keep the condition under control.
Like many other blood tests, cholesterol tests require a fasting period beforehand. According to the CDC, most cholesterol tests (called “lipid panel” or “lipid profile”) require you to fast for 8 to 12 hours.
Levels of LDL cholesterol higher than 130 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) are linked to an increased risk for ischemic stroke.
Lisa Matzer: Stress is known to increase cholesterol levels and in particular the bad LDL cholesterol. The amount of stress in your life isn't as important as how you deal with it. The more anger and hostility that stress produces in you, the higher (and worse) your LDL and triglyceride levels tend to be.
The bad cholesterol is called LDL and the good cholesterol is called HDL. When people have high cholesterol their LDL (bad) is high and their HDL (good) is low. Eating healthy, regular exercise and drinking plenty of water will help to bring down cholesterol levels within 2-3 weeks.
Eating a lot of foods high in saturated fats raises “bad” LDL cholesterol levels. Saturated fats are found in fatty cuts of meat and dairy products. No more than 10% of your daily calories should come from saturated fats. Smoking lowers HDL cholesterol, particularly in women, and raises LDL cholesterol.