What is the significance of these numbers: my triglycerides are 79 hdl 66 ldl 126 total cholesterol is 208?

Total sl. ^/rest OK.: Your total cholesterol is slightly high. It should be <200 mg/dl, but it is not too elevated. But your triglycerides are <160 mg/dl, HDL >70 mg/dl, and LDL <130 mg/dl. You have these values at your mid 40s when it is most important to have good cholesterol levels, so with some exercise and healthy diet of more fiber/vegetables/fruits, you should have little trouble with these readings.

Get an evaluation: While the tg's and HDL are in good ranges, your total cholesterol is slightly elevated and the LDL is in teh 50th percentile ( average) not normal. What is important is viewing these results in the setting of any other cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, weight, family history, blood pressure and blood sugar. See a doctor, get a complete cardiovascular risk evaluation.

Depends on Particles: Both labs and risk factors are important in knowing cardiovascular (cvd) risk. More than cholesterol, cvd is related to the number of LDL (ldl-p) and HDL particles (hdl-p). Because cholesterol in LDL and HDL particles is highly variable cholesterol levels often disagree with particle number. When cholesterol and particle number disagree cvd risk tracks with ldl-p and hdl-p, not ldl-c or hdl-c.