What It Means When Your Lipoprotein Levels Are High

Lipoproteins are composed of a combination of lipid (fat) and protein. They have important roles in transporting cholesterol and triglycerides to throughout the body. A standard lipid profile blood test measures cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.

High LDL, cholesterol, or triglycerides or low HDL indicate that you could be at risk for a buildup of fatty deposits on the walls of arteries or for blood clots that could cause a heart attack or stroke. Usually, medication and lifestyle adjustments can help improve these to a healthier level.

What’s the Link Between Lipoprotein and Cholesterol?

Lipoproteins carry cholesterol and triglycerides throughout your body. Lipoproteins, cholesterol, and triglycerides are types of lipids, or fats, that have important functions and benefits for your health. These substances help regulate your hormones, energy, body temperature, and more.

Your body, especially your liver, makes lipoproteins and cholesterol from substances in your diet. Your liver breaks down cholesterol, and lipoproteins are broken down as your body uses them.

Often, excessively high or low levels of lipoproteins, triglycerides, and cholesterol occur together.

Types 

There are over 20 different types of lipoproteins. They are classified based on measurable factors, including density, size, composition, and testing characteristics. The most common way to classify lipoproteins is based on their density.

Common types of lipoproteins and their uses include:

• Chylomicron: This substance carries triglycerides and cholesterol from the gastrointestinal system throughout the body.
• HDL: High-density lipoprotein, usually described as “good cholesterol" transports fat molecules to the liver, where they are broken down.
• LDL: Low-density lipoprotein, often described as “bad cholesterol” when present in higher than recommended amounts in the blood, carries cholesterol fats throughout the body. LDL varies in size, which may be a further predictor of risks.
• VLDL: Very low-density lipoprotein carries triglycerides from the liver throughout your body for storage.
• IDL: Intermediate-density lipoprotein results from muscle and fat cells removing fatty acids (components of triglycerides) from VLDL. It is further metabolized to become LDL.
• Lipoprotein (a): Composed of apolipoprotein(a) and apolipoprotein B-100, this lipoprotein is a type of LDL. If you have a higher-than-ideal concentration of lipoprotein (a), you could be at an increased risk of heart disease.

Normal vs. Abnormal Levels

Lipoproteins have standardized levels. Levels that are not within the recommended range indicate health risks, including heart disease, stroke, and dementia. The following table is based on guidelines endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These substances are measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).

Since HDL is used to carry cholesterol to be broken down, its role is seen as a “cleanup” that lowers cholesterol and fat levels, preventing these substances from accumulating and contributing to vascular disease. Most other lipoproteins cause problems if their levels are too high.

Tests to Measure Levels

Lipoprotein levels are indicated on blood tests. A standard lipid profile test includes triglyceride levels, HDL, LDL, and total cholesterol.

Other lipids and lipoproteins, like lipoprotein (a), can be measured with special blood tests. Your healthcare providers might order them for you if you have liver disease, dyslipidemia, or problems with lipid metabolism (the buildup and breaking down of your lipids).

Associated Conditions and Risk Factors

Several medical conditions can cause abnormal lipoprotein levels. Also, abnormal lipoprotein levels can cause health problems.

Your diet contains the building blocks for lipoproteins. Sometimes, eating foods that are high in fats can contribute to high levels. You also can have a genetic predisposition that influences the amount of lipoproteins your body makes and accumulates. Multiple factors contribute to your levels and health risks.

Medical conditions that can cause abnormal lipoprotein levels include:

• Cushing's syndrome (overproduction of cortisol, a stress hormone)
• Diabetes
• Having obesity
• Hereditary hypercholesterolemia (rare disorder resulting in extremely high LDL cholesterol)
• Hyperlipidemia (abnormally high levels of fats in the blood)
• Liver disease

High lipoprotein levels can cause heart disease since the accumulation of lipids in your arteries or other blood vessels can lead to atherosclerosis, a type of blood vessel damage. This damage does not cause symptoms until it progresses, contributing to high blood pressure (hypertension) and increasing the risk of blood clots in the heart (causing a heart attack) and brain (causing a stroke).

Medical conditions caused by abnormal lipoprotein levels:

• Coronary artery disease
• Dementia
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Vascular disease
  

How to Improve Lipoprotein Levels

Your lifestyle, hereditary predisposition, medical conditions, and medication regulate lipoprotein levels. Diet, exercise, and medication can help improve HDL and LDL levels and other types of lipoproteins, triglycerides, and cholesterol. 

Strategies that can help improve your lipoprotein levels include:

• Exercise: Physical activity increases HDL levels and lowers LDL levels. 
• Diet: Deep-fried foods and those with heavy fat content can increase unhealthy lipoproteins, whereas foods that contain healthy fats, such as nuts, avocados, and beans, may help lower LDL levels and raise HDL levels.
• Managing underlying health conditions: Losing weight if you have excess weight and managing diabetes are also important ways to help improve your lipoprotein levels.
• Medication: Cholesterol-lowering medications include Lipitor (atorvastatin), Crestor (rosuvastatin), and others.
  

The best way to improve your lipoprotein levels is by combining all of these strategies.

Summary 

Your body uses lipoproteins to carry different types of fat throughout the body to for important functions—hormone regulation, energy, and insulation. You have many types of lipoproteins that carry different types of fat to and from various areas of your body.

You might get some of your lipoprotein levels checked when you go for a routine medical checkup. Normal or "healthy" lipoprotein levels reflect good health and a low risk of heart disease, vascular disease, and stroke.

If you have unhealthy lipoprotein levels, treatment to improve your health and regulate your lipoprotein levels can include lifestyle adjustments such as diet, exercise, and medication.