WEDGE
Friedewald LDL-C
Estimate LDL-C from total cholesterol, HDL, and triglycerides using Friedewald 1972.
Markdown: /docs/friedewald.md · Canonical: https://magentlab.com/docs/friedewald
Not a medical device. Not a diagnosis, dose, or listing recommendation.
What it computes
Estimate LDL-C from total cholesterol, HDL, and triglycerides using Friedewald 1972.
When to use
When an agent needs Friedewald LDL arithmetic and must not invent a VLDL factor or mix mg/dL with mmol/L.
When not to use
- Not a diagnosis and not a statin order. Direct LDL assay is out of scope.
- Triglycerides above 400 mg/dL (or 4.5 mmol/L) are rejected. The paper's VLDL estimate of TG/5 is for typical specimens only.
Formula
ldl_c_mg_dl = total_cholesterol_mg_dl - hdl_mg_dl - (triglycerides_mg_dl / 5); ldl_c_mmol_l = total_cholesterol_mmol_l - hdl_mmol_l - (triglycerides_mmol_l / 2.2)
Citation
- Title
- Estimation of the concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma, without use of the preparative ultracentrifuge
- Authors
- Friedewald WT, Levy RI, Fredrickson DS
- Source
- Clin Chem. 1972;18(6):499-502
Worked example
TC 200, HDL 50, TG 150 mg/dL
Given:
hdl_mg_dl=50total_cholesterol_mg_dl=200triglycerides_mg_dl=150
- VLDL = 150 / 5 = 30 mg/dL
- LDL-C = 200 - 50 - 30 = 120.0 mg/dL
Try
Opens the live endpoint. Unpaid browser requests show the paywall; agents should send Accept: application/json.
/api/calc/friedewald?total_cholesterol_mg_dl=200&hdl_mg_dl=50&triglycerides_mg_dl=150
Full URL: https://api.magentlab.com/api/calc/friedewald?total_cholesterol_mg_dl=200&hdl_mg_dl=50&triglycerides_mg_dl=150
x402 V2 curl
Expect HTTP 402 and a PAYMENT-REQUIRED
header until you retry with PAYMENT-SIGNATURE. Incomplete query params return HTTP
400 before any quote or charge. HTTP 503 after a signature: retry the same
PAYMENT-SIGNATURE
— that is not a new 402.
curl -i -H "Accept: application/json" "https://api.magentlab.com/api/calc/friedewald?total_cholesterol_mg_dl=200&hdl_mg_dl=50&triglycerides_mg_dl=150"
Cursor mcp.json
Intended config for @magent/mcp. This is not npm @x402/fetch
(a payment fetch wrapper).
{
"mcpServers": {
"magent": {
"args": [
"-y",
"@magent/mcp"
],
"command": "npx",
"env": {
"X402_PRIVATE_KEY": "0xYOUR_SPENDING_KEY"
}
}
}
}
Parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
total_cholesterol_mg_dl |
number | optional | Total cholesterol in mg/dL (50-500). Provide the full mg/dL set or the full mmol/L set, not mixed. |
hdl_mg_dl |
number | optional | HDL cholesterol in mg/dL (5-150). Same unit system as the other lipids. |
triglycerides_mg_dl |
number | optional | Triglycerides in mg/dL (10-400). Values above 400 are rejected; Friedewald VLDL is TG/5 for typical specimens only. |
total_cholesterol_mmol_l |
number | optional | Total cholesterol in mmol/L (1.3-12.9). Converted as mg/dL = mmol/L * 38.67. Do not mix with mg/dL keys. |
hdl_mmol_l |
number | optional | HDL cholesterol in mmol/L (0.1-3.9). Converted as mg/dL = mmol/L * 38.67. |
triglycerides_mmol_l |
number | optional | Triglycerides in mmol/L (0.1-4.5). Cap is the SI stand-in for 400 mg/dL (mg/dL = mmol/L * 88.57). SI LDL uses TG/2.2. |
Bulk (POST)
POST the same path with a JSON items array. Price is n times the GET unit. Invalid items return HTTP 400 before settlement.
- 1 to 25 items. Each item uses the same keys as the GET query parameters.
- The first invalid item fails the whole request (index in the 400 JSON). You are not charged.
- HTTP 200 is {count, path, items}. Each items[i] is the GET 200 body for that row.
- Catalog misses (empty matches, found=false) stay paid 200s inside that slot.
- x402 resource URL is this path plus n and body_sha256. Browsers that prefer text/html get the same paywall as GET; Pay retries POST with the same items.
Example request (fixture)
{
"items": [
{
"hdl_mg_dl": "50",
"total_cholesterol_mg_dl": "200",
"triglycerides_mg_dl": "150"
},
{
"hdl_mg_dl": "50",
"total_cholesterol_mg_dl": "200",
"triglycerides_mg_dl": "150"
}
]
}
Opens a two-item fixture on the API host. Unpaid browsers get the same MetaMask paywall as GET; Pay retries POST with those items.
Example 200 (fixture)
{
"count": 2,
"path": "/api/calc/friedewald",
"items": [
{
"unit": "mg_dl",
"disclaimer": "Not a medical device. Deterministic published-formula or published-code output for autonomous agents. A licensed clinician remains responsible for patient care and billing submissions.",
"citation": {
"authors": "Friedewald WT, Levy RI, Fredrickson DS",
"doi": "10.1093/clinchem/18.6.499",
"id": "friedewald-1972",
"source": "Clin Chem. 1972;18(6):499-502",
"title": "Estimation of the concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma, without use of the preparative ultracentrifuge"
},
"formula": "friedewald",
"formula_expression": "ldl_c_mg_dl = total_cholesterol_mg_dl - hdl_mg_dl - (triglycerides_mg_dl / 5)",
"hdl_mg_dl": 50.0,
"ldl_c_mg_dl": 120.0,
"ldl_c_mmol_l": 3.1,
"total_cholesterol_mg_dl": 200.0,
"triglycerides_mg_dl": 150.0
},
{
"unit": "mg_dl",
"disclaimer": "Not a medical device. Deterministic published-formula or published-code output for autonomous agents. A licensed clinician remains responsible for patient care and billing submissions.",
"citation": {
"authors": "Friedewald WT, Levy RI, Fredrickson DS",
"doi": "10.1093/clinchem/18.6.499",
"id": "friedewald-1972",
"source": "Clin Chem. 1972;18(6):499-502",
"title": "Estimation of the concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma, without use of the preparative ultracentrifuge"
},
"formula": "friedewald",
"formula_expression": "ldl_c_mg_dl = total_cholesterol_mg_dl - hdl_mg_dl - (triglycerides_mg_dl / 5)",
"hdl_mg_dl": 50.0,
"ldl_c_mg_dl": 120.0,
"ldl_c_mmol_l": 3.1,
"total_cholesterol_mg_dl": 200.0,
"triglycerides_mg_dl": 150.0
}
]
}
Response
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
formula |
string | friedewald |
formula_expression |
string | Exact expression used |
unit |
string | mg_dl or mmol_l, the unit system supplied |
total_cholesterol_mg_dl |
number | Total cholesterol in mg/dL (converted when SI inputs are used) |
hdl_mg_dl |
number | HDL cholesterol in mg/dL (converted when SI inputs are used) |
triglycerides_mg_dl |
number | Triglycerides in mg/dL (converted when SI inputs are used) |
ldl_c_mg_dl |
number | Estimated LDL-C in mg/dL, 1 decimal |
ldl_c_mmol_l |
number | Estimated LDL-C in mmol/L, 1 decimal |
citation |
object | Friedewald Clin Chem 1972 citation |
disclaimer |
string | Not-a-device notice |
Example JSON
Machine form of the same example. Frozen fixture. Not a live lookup.
{
"unit": "mg_dl",
"disclaimer": "Not a medical device. Deterministic published-formula or published-code output for autonomous agents. A licensed clinician remains responsible for patient care and billing submissions.",
"citation": {
"authors": "Friedewald WT, Levy RI, Fredrickson DS",
"doi": "10.1093/clinchem/18.6.499",
"id": "friedewald-1972",
"source": "Clin Chem. 1972;18(6):499-502",
"title": "Estimation of the concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma, without use of the preparative ultracentrifuge"
},
"formula": "friedewald",
"formula_expression": "ldl_c_mg_dl = total_cholesterol_mg_dl - hdl_mg_dl - (triglycerides_mg_dl / 5)",
"hdl_mg_dl": 50.0,
"ldl_c_mg_dl": 120.0,
"ldl_c_mmol_l": 3.1,
"total_cholesterol_mg_dl": 200.0,
"triglycerides_mg_dl": 150.0
}
Errors
| HTTP | Code | When |
|---|---|---|
| 400 | invalid_cholesterol |
provide all of total_cholesterol_mg_dl (50-500), hdl_mg_dl (5-150), and triglycerides_mg_dl, or all of total_cholesterol_mmol_l (1.3-12.9), hdl_mmol_l (0.1-3.9), and triglycerides_mmol_l, not mixed. Returned before settlement; you are not charged. |
| 400 | invalid_triglyceride |
triglycerides_mg_dl must be 10-400; triglycerides_mmol_l must be 0.1-4.5 (~400 mg/dL). Friedewald is not applied above 400 mg/dL. Returned before settlement; you are not charged. |
| 400 | invalid_lipid_inputs |
computed LDL-C would be negative; check total cholesterol, HDL, and triglycerides. Returned before settlement; you are not charged. |
| 400 | invalid_items |
POST body must be a JSON object with only an items array Returned before settlement; you are not charged. |
| 400 | invalid_item_count |
items must be an array of 1 to 25 objects Returned before settlement; you are not charged. |
| 400 | invalid_item |
each items entry must be a JSON object Returned before settlement; you are not charged. |
| 402 | payment_required |
Missing or invalid PAYMENT-SIGNATURE; decode the PAYMENT-REQUIRED header |
| 409 | payment_in_progress |
The same authorization nonce is already being settled; retry shortly |
| 429 | rate_limited |
Too many requests from this client |
| 503 | settlement_uncertain |
Settlement is unconfirmed; retry with the same PAYMENT-SIGNATURE |
| 503 | settle_failed |
Settlement failed; retry with the same PAYMENT-SIGNATURE shortly |
| 503 | facilitator_unavailable |
Payment facilitator unavailable |
| 503 | facilitator_misconfigured |
Payment facilitator is not configured |
| 503 | facilitator_unauthorized |
Payment facilitator rejected credentials |
| 503 | ledger_unavailable |
Payment ledger unavailable |
| 503 | payment_unavailable |
Payment processing unavailable |
Related tools
- A1C ↔ eAG — Convert A1C percent to estimated average glucose, or the reverse, using Nathan/ADAG.
Also searched as
- Friedewald equation
- LDL-C estimate
- calculated LDL cholesterol
- VLDL triglycerides/5
- Friedewald 1972
- estimated LDL-C
Payment
Required query parameters must be present and valid. Invalid params return HTTP 400 JSON before settlement. magent does not charge. Fix the params, then request a new 402 quote for that complete URL. Catalog misses (empty matches, found=false) are valid paid 200s. Unpaid valid requests return HTTP 402 with a base64
PAYMENT-REQUIRED
header. HTTP 503 is not a new quote: retry the same PAYMENT-SIGNATURE. Full handshake
and shared payment errors: Payments.
Guarantees
- Invalid query parameters return HTTP 400 before settlement. You are not charged.
- Settlement finishes before the tool executes. Uncertain or failed settlement fails closed (HTTP 503). Retry the same PAYMENT-SIGNATURE.
- HTTP 402 is unpaid only. Do not sign a second authorization because of a 503.
- Execution is timeout-bounded and concurrency-capped.
- Calculator inputs are not persisted. Request logs store path without query.