Causes of High Density Lipoprotein
High density lipoprotein (HDL) is considered "good cholesterol" as its levels are inversely proportional to CAD. It is regarded as a positive cardiac risk factor if the levels are below 35 mg/dL or total cholesterol to HDL ratio in > 5.0 (in men) or total cholesterol to HDL ratio in > 4.5 (in women). When the levels are above 60 mg/dL it is considered a negative cardiac risk factor. Causes of HDL are listed as follows:

Drugs
Desogestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol
Niacin
Fibrates
Statins

Chronic alcoholism: Alcohol consumption raises HDL cholesterol levels by possibly increasing the transport rate of apolipoproteins A-I and A-II. Alcohol consumption of 30-40 g/day (1-3 drinks/day) or more has been shown to increase HDL-C levels.
-- Extensive aerobic exercise
-- Alcoholic liver disease
-- Weight loss: For every 1 kg weight loss serum HDL increases by 0.35 mg/dL
-- Hyperalphalipoproteinemia
-- Oral estrogen replacement therapy
-- CETP deficiency (single gene defects in 16q21)
-- Early stage primary biliary cirrhosis