What is the difference between LDL and VLDL?

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Mon, November 03, 2008

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If you are trying to sort out everything regarding cholesterol and make an informed treatment decision that's best for your health, you may be feeling overwhelmed. I've already given steps to raise HDL and lower triglycerides, now I'd like to move into VLDL versus LDL. Let's star...

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pcardiff

10/ 7/09 9:29am

This is a very well-written account of what's going on inside the blood. Very easy for me to understand, and I never got past HS biology!

I'm trying to understand how it's possible that I can exercise like a fiend and eat vegetables and fruits like they're going out of style, and still have high ldl readings. Doc says it's family history but parents are still alive (78,77). I'm a statistician and I'm trying to control for other effects - I'm male and 50, too. I dunno, just keep up the good work. If I can recommend anything, it would be to be sensitive to outliers (like me).

Lisa Nelson, RD, LN

10/ 7/09 6:11pm

Hi Pcardiff,

Thanks for the positive feedback. I recommend you consider a comprehensive lipid panel to learn if your LDL particle sizes are "good" or "bad". Yes, I know that probably sounds odd, but there are good and bad forms of LDL and good and bad forms of HDL cholesterol. The only way to know your particle size(s) is through a comprehensive lipid panel. If you've never heard of this it's discussed a little in the following post - Lipoprotein(a) - Influenced by Genetics and Linked to Heart Disease.

All the best,

Lisa Nelson RD

KILAPH

2/10/10 4:45am

The other feedback you got re getting a "panel lab" is a great idea. I (at one time) had horrific macro numbers (ie, hi LDL / lo HDL), BUT right-sized them (as you have tried) thru diet/lifestyle. Finis, eh? NO! I also had a so-called "VAP" panel done (relatively inexpensive), and found that I had some some "derivative" LDL metrics that were just awful. These are configured "inside" the LDL number, so they are cloaked and you are unaware! Things such as "L(p)A", "L(p)A(2)", "Particle Size"(size matters here), "VLDL3", "Apo(B)100", etc. From there I was able to find - after much searching - (two) compounds to handle my "L(p)A", and "Particle A/B" issues found in the VAP, over and above the conventional (1) statin AND (2) niacin go-to stategems. Good Luck! (Stats day-in, day-out for a livin': w-o-w.)

Anonymous

12/27/09 6:38am

?? LDL is "less dense" than VLDL:

should be the other way round ,

since vldl is very low density lipoprotein; ldl is low density lipoprotein....

What is the difference between LDL and VLDL?

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