HDL cholesterol

HDL (high-density lipoprotein) is the 'good' cholesterol carrier. It picks up cholesterol from your tissues and brings it back to your liver. That return trip is called 'reverse cholesterol transport'. Older studies linked higher HDL to lower heart risk. But the story is messier. Gene studies and HDL-raising drug trials show the link is not causal. It is also U-shaped: very high HDL is tied to higher death too. So how well your HDL works matters more than how much you have.

Last reviewed: June 22, 2026

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