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Total Cholesterol

Lipid Unit: mg/dL

Total blood cholesterol level

Also known as: TC,Cholesterol Total

Reference Ranges

Clinical Reference 0.0 – 200.0 mg/dL

Optimal Range 150.0 – 200.0 mg/dL

Critical Range > 300.0 mg/dL

Desirable <200

Related Conditions

Hyperlipidemia High

Cardiovascular Disease High

Metabolic Syndrome High

Food & Lifestyle Recommendations

🍎 Food Increase soluble fiber: oats, beans, lentils, apples, flaxseed Soluble fiber reduces cholesterol absorption; 10g/day can lower LDL by 5-10%

🍎 Food Replace saturated fats with unsaturated: olive oil, avocado, nuts, seeds Replacing saturated with unsaturated fats reduces LDL cholesterol by 5-10%

🍎 Food Include plant sterols/stanols from fortified foods (2g/day) Plant sterols block cholesterol absorption, reducing LDL by 8-10%

🏃 Exercise Aim for 150+ minutes/week of moderate aerobic exercise Regular exercise raises HDL and reduces total cholesterol by 5-10%

Evidence-Backed Supplements

When High

Omega 3 Tier A May Decrease

Moderate evidence; omega-3 primarily lowers triglycerides but may modestly reduce total cholesterol in hyperlipidemic patients.

Fish oil (EPA+DHA) 1000–2000 mg EPA+DHA/day With meals

PMID 30019766 PMID 32114706 PMID 30480773
Niacin Tier A May Decrease

Strong evidence; niacin reduces total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides while raising HDL. Well-established in clinical trials.

Niacin (immediate-release) or inositol hexanicotinate 500–2000 mg/day (titrate up slowly) With meals

PMID 28616955 PMID 23511950 PMID 25038074
Red Yeast Rice Tier A May Decrease

Strong evidence; contains monacolin K (lovastatin analogue). Meta-analyses show 15-25% total cholesterol reduction.

PMID 36259545 PMID 37375586 PMID 28749884
Garlic Tier A May Decrease

Moderate evidence; meta-analyses show modest total cholesterol reduction (5-10%) with aged garlic extract.

PMID 22895963 PMID 38223588 PMID 21473867
Green Tea Tier A May Decrease WESTERN

Moderate evidence; catechins in green tea may reduce total cholesterol. Meta-analyses show modest effect.

PMID 36036958 PMID 30513889 PMID 32118296
Berberine Tier A May Decrease WESTERN

Strong evidence; meta-analyses show berberine reduces total cholesterol by 15-25%, comparable to statins.

Berberine HCl 500 mg 2–3x/day With meals

PMID 30466986 PMID 35623810 PMID 36805484

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

Given my high total cholesterol, should I have a full lipid panel with LDL, HDL, and triglycerides? Total cholesterol alone is insufficient; a full lipid panel with LDL, HDL, and triglycerides is needed for risk assessment.

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