The LDL Calculator

This tool runs locally in your browser.

Your physiological data (LDL-C, HDL-C, TG) is never transmitted, stored, or tracked.

The LDL Estimation Engine

Friedewald vs. Martin-Hopkins

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45
250
Non-HDL Cholesterol: 165 mg/dL

The Old Math (Friedewald)

Static Divisor: 5.0

LDL: 115 mg/dL

The Superior Estimate (Martin-Hopkins)

Dynamic Divisor: 4.0

LDL: 103 mg/dL

Where the Math Comes From

This calculator does not invent new lipidology; it simply upgrades the medical establishment’s outdated 1972 math (the Friedewald equation) to the modern, peer-reviewed standard (the Martin-Hopkins method). By replacing a mathematically flawed static guess with a dynamic divisor, it translates your standard lipid panel into a biologically accurate reality. If your physician questions why this calculator overrides the LDL number printed on their standard lab report, direct them to the following foundational texts:

  • The Formula (Martin et al., 2013):

    This paper presented the initial development and validation of the Martin-Hopkins formula.

    • Reference: Martin SS, Blaha MJ, Elshazly MB, Toth PP, Kwiterovich PO, Blumenthal RS, et al. Comparison of a novel method vs the Friedewald equation for estimating low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels from the standard lipid profile. JAMA 2013;310:2061–8. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.280532

  • The Validation (Samuel et al., 2023): This validation paper compared the performance of 23 different equations estimating LDL cholesterol levels in more than 5 million patients. The Martin-Hopkins formula proved superior to all others.

    • Reference: Samuel C, Park J, Sajja A, Michos ED, Blumenthal RS, Jones SR, et al. Accuracy of 23 Equations for Estimating LDL Cholesterol in a Clinical Laboratory Database of 5,051,467 Patients. Glob Heart 2023;18. https://doi.org/10.5334/gh.1214.

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Disclaimer: This calculator is an educational and research tool. It is not a medical device. The information, analysis, and outputs provided by this software are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read here