Abstract
It is important for the dietitian to be able to interpret lipid profiles because the results usually have implications for the nutritional management of patients. The situations in which lipid measurements are requested can be divided into those occurring in non-acute settings − such as primary care and lipid out-patient clinics − and those occurring in acute settings. In non-acute settings, a lipid profile is usually requested when assessing cardiovascular (CV) risk, whereas in acute settings triglyceride alone is often measured for monitoring patients treated with nutrition support. This article discusses the interpretation of lipid results in these two settings.