For nearly 60 years, checking cholesterol levels in a person’s blood has been the main way doctors identify who might be at risk of heart disease. But a new study from researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden and Harvard University in the U.S. shows there may now be a better way to predict this risk—and it could save lives.
Instead of focusing only on cholesterol levels, the study found that measuring certain types of particles in the blood—called lipoproteins—can give a more accurate picture of heart disease risk. These particles carry cholesterol through the bloodstream, and when they are present in large numbers, they can lead to serious health problems.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Many cases could be avoided through healthy lifestyle changes, like not smoking, eating nutritious food, and staying active. But it’s also important to catch risks early, before any symptoms appear, so that people can take action to protect their health.
This study, which is the largest of its kind so far, looked at more than 200,000 people in the UK who had no history of heart disease. The researchers used blood samples to measure the size, type, and number of lipoproteins that carry cholesterol. They followed participants for up to 15 years to see who developed heart problems like heart attacks.
Cholesterol itself is a fatty substance that the body needs in small amounts to build cells and make certain hormones. But too much cholesterol in the blood can be dangerous.
It can stick to the walls of blood vessels, forming plaques that block blood flow and increase the risk of heart attacks or strokes. However, cholesterol can’t move through the blood on its own. It has to be carried by lipoproteins.
There are four main types of lipoproteins, and three of them carry what’s known as “bad cholesterol.” These three types all have a protein on their surface called apolipoprotein B, or apoB for short. The fourth type, which carries “good cholesterol,” helps clean out extra cholesterol from the body.
Doctors usually test for cholesterol by measuring how much is in the blood. But this doesn’t tell them how many lipoproteins are carrying it. And since damage to the blood vessels depends more on the number of these carriers than the total cholesterol level, focusing on the carriers—especially the ones with apoB—may give a clearer picture of someone’s real risk.
The study showed that the total number of apoB-carrying particles is the most important marker for predicting heart disease.
Even two people with the same cholesterol level could have different levels of risk depending on how many particles are transporting that cholesterol. Researchers also found that the size and type of the particles didn’t matter as much as the total number.
Another important finding from the study was about a specific type of lipoprotein called lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a). This is another kind of “bad cholesterol” particle. While most people have very low levels of Lp(a), others have much higher levels due to their genetics.
People with high Lp(a) are at greater risk of heart disease, even if their regular cholesterol levels look normal. So testing for Lp(a) as well as apoB could help spot hidden risks.
Overall, the researchers say that a blood test that measures both apoB and Lp(a) could become a better way to check for heart disease risk than current cholesterol tests. The good news is that these tests are already available and aren’t expensive, which means they could be used widely in healthcare systems.
In conclusion, switching to a test that measures the number of cholesterol-carrying particles—especially apoB—could help doctors find people who are at risk of heart disease earlier and more accurately. This could lead to better treatment, fewer heart attacks, and potentially, more lives saved.
If you care about heart disease, please read studies that herbal supplements could harm your heart rhythm, and how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies that apple juice could benefit your heart health, and results showing yogurt may help lower the death risks in heart disease.
The research findings can be found in European Heart Journal.
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