LDL Particle Number
Lipids marker
LDL-P
LDL Particle Number
Category: Lipids
Unit: nmol/L
Total number of LDL particles measured by NMR spectroscopy. More predictive of cardiovascular disease than LDL cholesterol concentration alone.
PED Notes
AAS significantly increase LDL particle number, even when LDL-C appears only mildly elevated. Oral 17-alpha-alkylated steroids have the most pronounced effect. Discordance between LDL-C and LDL-P is common in AAS users — LDL-P often reveals higher cardiovascular risk than LDL-C suggests. Combined with HDL suppression, this creates a highly atherogenic particle profile. Trenbolone is particularly harsh on lipoprotein particle counts.
Supplements:
- Citrus Bergamot -- 500mg 2x/day
- Omega-3 (EPA/DHA) -- 2-4g/day (reduces particle number)
- Plant Sterols -- 2g/day with meals
Lifestyle:
- Regular cardio 3-5x/week (most effective intervention for particle reduction)
- Increase dietary fibre (oats, psyllium husk)
- If LDL-P >1600 on-cycle, consider shortening cycle or dropping oral AAS
- LDL-P >2000 warrants medical evaluation regardless of cycle status
References:
- Cromwell, W. C., Otvos, J. D., Keyes, M. J., et al. (2007). LDL particle number and risk of future cardiovascular disease in the Framingham Offspring Study. Journal of Clinical Lipidology, 1(6), 583-592. DOI: 10.1016/j.jacl.2007.10.001
- El Harchaoui, K., van der Steeg, W. A., Stroes, E. S., et al. (2007). Value of low-density lipoprotein particle number and size as predictors of coronary artery disease. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 49(5), 547-553. DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2006.09.043
- Mora, S., Otvos, J. D., Rifai, N., et al. (2009). Lipoprotein particle profiles by nuclear magnetic resonance compared with standard lipids and apolipoproteins in predicting incident cardiovascular disease in women. Circulation, 119(7), 931-939. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.108.816181
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Frequently Asked Questions
Reference Ranges
Standard Range
≥ 0 nmol/L
VitalMetrics Range
≥ 0 nmol/L