Included in your membership
Total Cholesterol
All NiaHealth tests are processed in Canadian-certified labs, which are highly trusted by the medical community for their accuracy and reliability. Blood and urine samples are collected by licensed medical professionals and processed using state-of-the-art equipment. NiaHealth is SOC2 Type 2 certified.
What is it?
Cholesterol is an essential nutrient which is found in many different foods and which is also made by the liver. It has many roles in the body, including aiding in fat digestion and participating in essential metabolic processes, as well as being used to produce hormones such as oestrogen, testosterone, vitamin D, and cortisol. However, having too much cholesterol can lead to the development of atherosclerosis and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. This test measures the total amount of cholesterol in the blood, where it is bound to proteins called lipoproteins.
Why it matters
Elevated cholesterol is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and contributes substantially to heart attacks and strokes worldwide. Reducing high cholesterol levels is an important part of preventing cardiovascular disease.
In Canada, high cholesterol remains common, particularly with increasing age, and many people are unaware that their cholesterol levels are elevated. Monitoring total cholesterol can help identify individuals who may benefit from further cardiovascular risk assessment or follow-up testing.
Reference ranges
We place less weight on your total cholesterol than on other lipid measures such as LDL-C and HDL-C when calculating your cardiovascular risk. The ranges presented below align with typical laboratory reference ranges and are not typically used for making decisions about management.
CDC. (2025, July 23). High cholesterol facts. Cholesterol. https://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/data-research/facts-stats/index.html
Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration, Di Angelantonio, E., Sarwar, N., Perry, P., Kaptoge, S., Ray, K. K., Thompson, A., Wood, A. M., Lewington, S., Sattar, N., Packard, C. J., Collins, R., Thompson, S. G., & Danesh, J. (2009). Major lipids, apolipoproteins, and risk of vascular disease. JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, 302(18), 1993–2000.
This information is educational and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Your results should be interpreted with a qualified healthcare professional in the context of your health history.
