A lipid profile detects the amount of cholesterol in your body, helping your doctor determine your risk of heart disease. Your doctor will tell you what you can and cannot eat prior to this test, which can impact the results. You must follow his instructions exactly as he prescribes, as they are for a good reason.
The Lipid Profile
A lipid profile is a group of tests your doctor orders to check your levels of total, LDL and HDL cholesterol, along with your triglycerides. The test is performed in a laboratory, either in your doctor's office or the hospital he is affiliated with. The technician generally finds a vein in your arm to draw one or two viles of blood from. The entire procedure lasts approximately five minutes.
Significance of Fasting
Fasting nine to 12 hours prior to your test gives your doctor the most accurate results, helping him determine if you require treatment for high cholesterol, or if your current treatment requires adjustment. Dietary fat is digested in your stomach and small intestine. It takes between six and eight hours after you eat for this to occur, explains Michael Picco, M.D., gastroenterologist with the Mayo Clinic. This time frame is why fasting is necessary. The only exceptions to fasting are your total and HDL cholesterol. Neither require fasting to deliver accurate results.
Your Dinner
Dinner is your final meal before your cholesterol test; therefore, timing is of the essence. If your doctor requires a 12-hour fast and your test is scheduled for 7 a.m., plan your dinner for 6 p.m. the night before. This may help ward off hunger. The purpose of this 12-hour fast is to give your body time to break down the food you eat the night before, so eat as you normally would. Do not take advantage, though. A dinner higher in fat than usual may take your body longer to process. One exception is alcohol. The Harvard Medical School recommends fasting from alcohol for 24 hours; it can cause your triglyceride levels to surge and remain high longer than the rest of the fats in your blood.
Considerations
Although you have to abstain from all food and drink, you can enjoy water. This may not sound as appetizing as a bowl of ice cream, but when you drink enough, it can make you feel full. Going to bed earlier than usual the night before your test may make it easier to handle the fast. If you are sleeping, you have no time to think about food. On the morning of your blood draw, prepare a baggie of snacks and a thermos of your favorite morning drink. Take them with you and delve in as soon as the technician places the band-aid on your arm.
