Lipid Panel: What It Is and Why You Need to Fast Beforehand
Cardiovascular DiseasesHigh Cholesterol
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Lipid Panel Fasting Requirements

Lipid Panel Fasting Requirements
Everyday Health
By
Dana Severson
Updated on August 28, 2025
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A lipid panel, often called a lipid profile, is a standard blood test used to determine your cholesterol levels. The test measures the amount of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglycerides in your bloodstream.

A lipid profile is the first line of defense against high cholesterol, which puts you at risk of heart attack and stroke. If your lipid profile shows that your cholesterol is too high, you and your doctor can take measures to bring your levels down to a healthy range.

To get the most accurate reading, many doctors ask you to fast before a cholesterol test.

Here are the typical requirements:

No Food

The first requirement for a fasting cholesterol test is to stop eating food for 10 to 12 hours beforehand, according to Cleveland Clinic. This includes broths, bouillons, soups, and gelatins that may be allowed before other medical tests.

Consider asking for an early morning appointment so the fasting period can largely take place while you’re asleep.

Eating food within the recommended 10- to 12-hour fasting period may not affect your levels of total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol, according to Henry Ford Health, but it can cause your triglyceride levels to rise temporarily. This is the main reason for the fasting requirement.

No Liquids Other Than Water

The only liquid you may drink during the fasting period is water, says Cleveland Clinic. That means skipping your morning coffee or tea and any other beverages, such as milk, soda, and juice.

The reason for this falls largely within the food restriction, since certain beverages may affect your triglyceride levels.

No Alcohol

It’s also important to avoid alcoholic beverages before a lipid panel. As with food and liquids other than water, alcohol can raise your triglyceride levels, according to Kaiser Permanente, which points out that you may be asked to forego alcohol for 24 hours before the blood test.

Rules for Medications and Supplements

In general, it’s safe to take any medications as usual, with water.

Before scheduling your lipid profile, ask your doctor whether any medications or supplements you’re currently taking could interfere with your cholesterol results.

They may also discuss with you that fasting for a lipid panel may not be necessary.

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Yuying Luo, MD

Medical Reviewer

Yuying Luo, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine at Mount Sinai West and Morningside in New York City. She aims to deliver evidence-based, patient-centered, and holistic care for her patients.

Her clinical and research focus includes patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction such as irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia; patients with lower gastrointestinal motility (constipation) disorders and defecatory and anorectal disorders (such as dyssynergic defecation); and women’s gastrointestinal health.

She graduated from Harvard with a bachelor's degree in molecular and cellular biology and received her MD from the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She completed her residency in internal medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she was also chief resident. She completed her gastroenterology fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital and was also chief fellow.

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Dana Severson

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Based in Minneapolis, Minn., Dana Severson has been writing marketing materials for small-to-mid-sized businesses since 2005. Prior to this, Severson worked as a manager of business development for a marketing company, developing targeted marketing campaigns for Big G, Betty Crocker and Pillsbury, among others.

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