LDL Particle Number
Lipids marker
LDL-P
LDL Particle Number
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.
When high
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
Pharmacological options (when supplements insufficient):
- LDL-P responds to the same pharmacological stack as LDL-C and ApoB; see LDL and ApoB markers for detailed protocols
- Rosuvastatin 5-20mg/day, ezetimibe 10mg/day, bempedoic acid 180mg/day, PCSK9 inhibitors (alirocumab 75mg or evolocumab 140mg subQ q2 weeks)
- Statins reduce LDL-P proportionally more than LDL-C in many users, making them particularly valuable when discordance is present
- All require physician oversight and baseline liver/CK panel
Educational information, not medical advice. Nothing here is a prescription or a treatment plan, and it does not account for your history, medications or conditions. Use it to ask better questions: bring it to your doctor and decide together. Full disclaimer.
History Chart
Reading History
Frequently Asked Questions
Reference Ranges
Standard Range
VitalMetrics Range