The study, published Nov. 12 in the Archives of Internal Medicine, found the amount of time a person spent fasting prior to a cholesterol test had little impact on the end results.
“This finding suggests that fasting for routine lipid level determinations is largely unnecessary,” wrote the authors.
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A cholesterol test, also called a lipid panel or lipid profile, measures the four types of lipids (fats) found in the blood. It measures low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, sometimes called “bad cholesterol” because high levels of it could lead to plaque buildup in the arteries, potentially causing a heart attack and stroke.
The test also measures high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, sometimes called “good cholesterol” because it helps carry LDL away from the blood. Cholesterol tests also measure total cholesterol and triglycerides, a type of fat found in the blood. People are typically told to have no food or liquids other than water for nine to 12 hours before the exam.