Lipoproteins refer to complexes of cholesterol, TG, and proteins that transport lipids in the aqueous environment of the blood stream.
There are 4 major classes of lipoproteins that are defined by density and size-CM (chylomicron), VLDL (very low density lipoprotein), LDL (low density lipoprotein), and HDL (high density lipoprotein).
The importance of lipoprotein profiling analysis
LDL cholesterol (the level of cholesterol in LDL) and total TG levels are measured in health checks as risk markers of cardiovascular diseases because an increase in their levels is correlated with an increased incidence of diseases such as coronary artery diseases.
However, recent studies have shown that LDLs with small particle sizes or small dense LDLs are easily absorbed into the vascular endothelium, and they remain there for a long time. Therefore, they are susceptible to denaturation by free radicals, thus enhancing atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis results in complications such as stroke and myocardial infarction. It has been suggested that the measurement of lipoprotein particle size is important for the prevention, early detection, and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
