Knowing your overall cholesterol and lipoprotein levels is sometimes not enough to determine if you are at risk for cardiovascular diseases. Some physicians perform an advanced lipoprotein analysis that measures a specific type of lipoprotein that can cause heart disease, according to Dr. William Davis, medical director of Milwaukee Heart Scan. This test can determine the precise type and level of your low-density liproteins, or LDLs, and high-density lipoproteins, or HDLs.
Types
LDLs carry cholesterol from your liver and digestive tract into various body parts, while HDLs carry cholesterol into your liver, according to dietitian Mary Grosvenor. Both are made up of fats and proteins to form a spherical compound. HDLs are the smallest in size among all lipoproteins, while LDLs are the second smallest. Other types of lipoproteins include chylomicrons, intermediate-density lipoproteins and very-low-density lipoproteins.
Density Pattern B
LDL density pattern B is one of two types of high LDL readings from the advanced lipoprotein analysis. According to Dr. Davis, this simply means that you have a high number of abnormally small LDL particles that measure about 24 nanometers. One nanometer is one-millionth of a meter and is a standard unit of measurement for most cells. Because of their small size, they stay in your blood vessels longer and are not picked up by HDLs easily. This increases your risk for heart disease. Standard cholesterol tests do not identify density pattern B.
Causes
A diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol and low in healthy unsaturated fats trigger LDL formation, according to Grosvenor. Other causes of high LDL density pattern B include smoking, alcoholism, stress and genetics. You can reverse the process by consuming foods that trigger higher HDL production, such as whole-grain foods, vegetables, cold-water fish, like salmon and trout, legumes, nuts and seeds. These foods contain fiber and unsaturated fats that reduce LDLs and increase HDLs.
Treatment
If diet and exercise alone do not help lower overall LDL levels, MayoClinic.com recommends that you take cholesterol lowering medications. Statins are a common prescription drug that blocks a substance in your liver from making LDLs. Bile acid-binding resins block cholesterol absorption in your intestines. Always consult with your physician before taking any medications.
Levels
A high, healthy HDL level reading is above 60 mg per deciliter, according to MayoClinic.com. This is equivalent to one or two grains of sand per half cup of blood.
Dr. Davis recommends that you keep your LDL density pattern B level between 30 to 50 percent of your total LDL level, and your total LDL level below 100 mg per deciliter.
References
- "Nutrition From Science to Life"; Mary Grosvenor; 2001
- HealthCentral.com; What is "LDL pattern B"?; William Davis, MD
- MayoClinic.com; Cholesterol
