Comparison of Fasting and Non-fasting Lipid Profile in Young Healthy Adults

Background and Aim: It is necessary to find out whether fasting blood samples are must for lipid profile determination. Aim of this study to find out is there any difference between fasting and non-fasting lipid profile in young healthy adults. Methods: This study was done on 100 MBBS students of medical college. Lipid profile was done in these healthy young adults for fasting and postprandial statuses. Results: The lipid profile parameters were compared in both the groups of fasting and postprandial statuses. In fasting group, the mean total cholesterol level was 192.1 mg/dl and mean postprandial total cholesterol level was 194.98 mg/dl (P = 0.0407). The mean fasting serum triglyceride level was 121.16 mg/dl and mean postprandial serum triglyceride level was 126.18 mg/dl (P = 0.0001). The mean fasting high density lipoprotein (HDL) level was 45.08 mg/dl and mean postprandial HDL was 43.84 mg/dl (P = 0.0656). The mean fasting serum VLDL level was 24.23 mg/dl and mean postprandial VLDL level was 25.24 mg/dl (P = 0.0001). The mean fasting LDL was 122.8 mg/dl and mean postprandial LDL was 125.9 mg/dl (P = 0.0416). Conclusion: Finally, from this study we found that there is no significant clinical difference between fasting and non-fasting levels of total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, VLDL and TG. Thus, for estimation of lipid profile we can use the blood samples at any time or irrespective of mealtime.