Understanding cholesterol: going beyond total LDL + HDL | Ronald Krauss
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The oversimplified view that high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is good, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is bad has led to misunderstandings of the relationship between cholesterol and cardiovascular disease risk. Research suggests that people with evidence of heart disease tend to have more small dense LDL particles, whereas healthy individuals tend to possess more large buoyant LDL particles. Even though small dense particles carry less cholesterol, they are more apt to deposit in the artery wall and become oxidized, thus leading to artery damage. In this clip, Dr. Ronald Krauss discusses that in clinical practice, cholesterol particle size may be more relevant than the amount of cholesterol.
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A circulating lipoprotein that picks up cholesterol in the arteries and deposits it in the liver for reprocessing or excretion. HDL is often referred to as the "good cholesterol."
A type of lipoprotein. LDL is formed in the liver and transports lipid molecules to the cells. Often referred to as the “bad cholesterol,” LDL can drive the progression of atherosclerosis if it becomes oxidized within the walls of arteries. LDL particles exist in different sizes, ranging from large, fluffy molecules to small, dense molecules. Some evidence suggests that LDL particles increase the risk of developing heart disease, whereas the large, fluffy type of LDL may be cardioprotective.[1]
- ^ Redon, Josep; Chaves, F. Javier; Tellez-Plaza, Maria; Monleon, Daniel; Pichler, G.; Amigo, N., et al. (2018). LDL Particle Size And Composition And Incident Cardiovascular Disease In A South-European Population: The Hortega-Liposcale Follow-up Study International Journal Of Cardiology 264, .
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