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@amysep67
I am familiar with LDL, HDL and triglycerides but not apo b, Lp (a). Can you explain what that is? I don't remember seeing anything on my Mayo lab test that have that.
I take a statin for Cholestrol, fish oil for tryglicerides per my heart failure doctor. My cholestrol and trygleridies are excellent after started taking the medication and supplement.
The statin has my LDL very low and my tryglerides were cut in half by the fish oil. My HDL is around 60.
Replies to "@amysep67 I am familiar with LDL, HDL and triglycerides but not apo b, Lp (a). Can..."
Mayo didn’t actually test those markers. I had asked my pcp to do my particle numbers, and then I joint Function Health, which is a lot of tests that get more into newer research, functional medicine (finding reason why)…
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ApoB is a protein, Lp(a) is a lipoprotein:
ApoB is a protein that carries fats, while Lp(a) is a specific lipoprotein particle containing apoB and apo(a). o
Lp(a) is a subset of ApoB-containing particles:
Lp(a) is one type of apoB-containing particle, but it is not the only one. o
Lp(a) is an independent risk factor:
Lp(a) levels are a separate predictor of cardiovascular risk, independent of total LDL cholesterol or apoB levels. • Genetic Influence:
Lp(a) levels are largely determined by genetics, while ApoB levels are influenced by lifestyle and other factors.
Importance of both measures:
Measuring both ApoB and Lp(a) can provide a more comprehensive assessment of cardiovascular risk than measuring LDL
cholesterol alone. "
In summary: ApoB is a marker for the number of atherogenic lipoproteins, while Lp(a) is a specific lipoprotein particle that is a distinct risk factor for heart disease. Both measures are important for assessing cardiovascular risk.
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Here's my understanding: the LDL number is really just a calculation from the total cholesterol and HDL. LDL is made up of a number of different particles of which apo b and Lp(a) are ones often tested. Every molecule of apo b carries 1 molecule of cholesterol which can be deposited where it doesn't belong (arteries, etc), so for people with risk factors, such as my family history, getting the apo b number down was key. Lp(a) is hereditary (well, most of this is), and another risk factor.
Being on a statin got my LDL number to around 100, but with my family history and CAC score, it was determined it needed to be far lower. Added the Repatha injections to the mix and now my LDL is at 17 and my apo b in the normal range.