Which lipid parameter is commonly measured in a basal fasting lipid panel?

• A. Glucose
• B. Triglycerides
• C. Cholesterol
• D. Electrolytes

Answer: (B)

Fasting lipids are measured to get stable, baseline levels of circulating lipids. Triglycerides are the parameter routinely measured in this panel because they reflect the amount of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (like VLDL) and are highly affected by recent meals. Measuring them after fasting reduces variability and also allows LDL cholesterol to be estimated accurately using the common calculation that uses triglyceride values. Glucose and electrolytes are not lipids, so they aren’t part of a lipid panel. Total cholesterol is a lipid, but the characteristic emphasis of a basal fasting lipid panel is on triglycerides due to their fasting-dependent variability and their role in calculating LDL-C.