Small Dense Low-Density Lipoprotein as Biomarker for Atherosclerotic Diseases

Abstract

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) plays a key role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. LDL consists of several subclasses of particles with different sizes and densities, including large buoyant (lb) and intermediate and small dense (sd) LDLs. It has been well documented that sdLDL has a greater atherogenic potential than that of other LDL subfractions and that sdLDL cholesterol (sdLDL-C) proportion is a better marker for prediction of cardiovascular disease than that of total LDL-C. Circulating sdLDL readily undergoes multiple atherogenic modifications in blood plasma, such as desialylation, glycation, and oxidation, that further increase its atherogenicity. Modified sdLDL is a potent inductor of inflammatory processes associated with cardiovascular disease. Several laboratory methods have been developed for separation of LDL subclasses, and the results obtained by different methods can not be directly compared in most cases. Recently, the development of homogeneous assays facilitated the LDL subfraction analysis making possible large clinical studies evaluating the significance of sdLDL in the development of cardiovascular disease. Further studies are needed to establish guidelines for sdLDL evaluation and correction in clinical practice.

Effect of 12-Week Interventions Involving Nordic Walking Exercise and a Modified Diet on the Anthropometric Parameters and Blood Lipid Profiles in Overweight and Obese Ex-Coal Miners

“…Circulating sdLDL particles are very susceptible to multiple atherogenic modifications in blood plasma, including desilylation, glycation, and oxidation, that make them even more atherogenic. Modified sdLDL is a major trigger of inflammatory processes that accompany CVD [42,43]. Twelve weeks of exercise in the NW reduced the participants' TG levels to the upper limit of normal [35,43].…”

“…The AIP, calculated as a ratio of molar concentrations of triglycerides to HDL-C, is commonly used to assess an individual's risk of developing CVD [42][43][44][45][46], e.g., atherosclerosis or ischemic heart disease [45], with the risk increasing with the AIP value. Dobiásová [46] divided AIP values into 3 intervals representing, respectively, a low risk of CVD (-0.3 to 0.1), a moderate risk (0.1-0.24), and a high risk (> 0.24).…”

“…The reduction of daily energy intake and diet quality (Table 1) improvement in the MD resulted in a substantial 30% increase in serum HDL-C. A diet containing a large proportion of saturated fats has been reported to be associated with elevated levels of sdLDL [50], which are a better predictor of CVD than total LDL-C [42][43][44][45][46]. However, it is important to note that reducing the consumption of saturated fats is likely to lead to considerably lower levels of LDL-C and sdLDL [51,52].…”

A Comparative Study of Small Dense low Density Lipoprotein levels in the Healthy and Diabetic Adult Individuals

“…Longer circulation time increases the probability of atherogenic modifications of sd LDL in the blood plasma. Sd LDL-C concentrations were a better marker for assessment of coronary heart disease CHD 5 . Small dense LDL particles (sdLDL-C) have been related to risk of coronary events in CHD and IHD cases.…”

The beneficial effects of nutraceuticals and natural products on small dense LDL levels, LDL particle number and LDL particle size: a clinical review

“…LDL-C is one type of lipoprotein that composed of a heterogeneous group of molecules with different sizes, density, lipid composition and physical properties. Smaller and denser LDL particles are considered as an atherogenic risk factor for CVD due to their greater susceptibility to oxidation, and their permeability through the endothelium of arterial walls [5,6]. Large buoyant LDL particles (diameter ≥ 25 nm) have been considered as phenotype pattern A and small, dense LDL particles with sizes 19.0-20.5 nm have been considered as phenotype pattern B [7][8][9].…”