Table 2.

Desirable levels for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and lipoprotein(a) levels in the fasting or non-fasting state

	Patients with CVD and/or diabetes	Other patients and individuals	Highest level of evidence for treatment
LDL cholesterol	<2 mmol/La (<77 mg/dL)	<3 mmol/La (<116 mg/dL)	Ia: meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials of statin treatment
Lp(a)	<80th percentile (<∼50 mg/dLb)	<80th percentile (<∼50 mg/dLb)	Ia: meta-analysis of randomised, controlled trials of niacin treatmentc

^aAccording to the 2007 European guidelines.³⁵

^bThe 80th percentile roughly corresponds to 50 mg/dL in Caucasians (Figure 2).

^cThe evidence is for the effect of niacin treatment, not specifically for Lp(a) lowering.