Showing posts with label test - VAP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label test - VAP. Show all posts

Tuesday, 9 April 2013

‘All Things Lipids (Cholesterol 101)’ | Chris Masterjohn « Jimmy Moore's Livin' La Vida Low Carb Blog

Ask The Low-Carb Experts (Episode 6): ‘All Things Lipids (Cholesterol 101)’ | Chris Masterjohn « Jimmy Moore's Livin' La Vida Low Carb Blog

In Episode 6 of “Jimmy Moore Presents: Ask The Low-Carb Experts,” we have Chris Masterjohn from Cholesterol-And-Health.com who is a blogger and doctoral candidate in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Connecticut where he will be graduating this Spring.

We were so pleased to have him join us on ATLCX answering listener questions about cholesterol and lipids in EPISODE 6 on February 16, 2012.



Listen to Chris Masterjohn discuss “All Things Lipids (Cholesterol 101)”:


  • Cholesterol plays a variety of very important roles in the body


  • SLOS that underlines the importance of cholesterol to health


  • Cholesterol is essential to life and a healthy pregnancy


  • Lacking cholesterol can lead to significant health problems


  • Cholesterol has been seen as “a very bad thing” incorrectly


  • Scientists call themselves “cholesterol warriors” who oppose


  • The “cholesterol skeptics” are the ones who don’t buy it


  • He believes there is truth in both camps that have merit


  • How we can protective against oxidative degradation of lipids


  • There is a role blood lipids play for metabolic issues


  • The difference between dietary cholesterol and in the body


  • Eating a few eggs a day has no negative effect on cholesterol


  • How to counter a doctor who insists on your taking Lipitor


  • Dr. Duane Graveline who suffered mental damage from statins


  • Statins should not be used as a first line of treatment


  • There’s something concerning about total cholesterol of 300


  • Cholesterol levels of 220-250 seems to be the “normal” range


  • There is no statin deficiency when your cholesterol is high


  • Have several cholesterol readings taken over a few months


  • One high cholesterol reading isn’t a big deal to worry about


  • Keep weight stable for six months before testing for cholesterol


  • Hypothyroidism could be one reason for “high cholesterol”


  • Familial hypocholesterolemia (FH) is serious and should be tested


  • Why he is not a fan of the particle size tests (VAP, NMR)
  • VAP tests tend to give you much higher Pattern B (small) LDL
  • NMR tests tend to give you much higher Pattern A (large) LDL


  • Best predictor of heart disease risk is Total/HDL cholesterol ratio


  • Triglycerides are useful to determine insulin resistance


  • There have not been a lot of studies on particle size


  • No added info provided by particle size than Total/HDL ratio


  • Particle size should remain on “the back burner” for now


  • Whether Lp(a) can be lowered by statins


  • The ideas about Lp(a) and heart disease are controversial


  • Lp(a) could be inflammation or it could just be genetics


  • What a 461 total cholesterol means after “normal” cholesterol


  • She switched from vegetarian to a more traditional diet


  • Her weight has been stable, but her cholesterol is “high”


  • FH could provide an “exaggerated” rise from saturated fat


  • Whether age makes a difference for FH to manifest itself


  • Doctors don’t seem to care if high cholesterol is from FH


  • Homozygous FH is a risk for children from someone with FH


  • Why cholesterol numbers seem to increase during pregnancy


  • Whether MGmin LDL is the silver bullet of atherosclerosis


  • What causes small, dense LDL particles to form


  • Eating a low-carbohydrate diet leads to larger LDL particles


  • What ratio of cholesterol numbers are good vs. bad health


  • It’s ideal to have your Total/HDL cholesterol ratio under 4


  • Whether eating Paleo can drop triglycerides precipitously


  • Doctors seems to give out statins drugs “like candy”


  • Very high triglycerides (700) could be some “crazy genetics”


  • Serious metabolic issues make you ultra-sensitive to carbs


  • Fish oil can lower triglycerides but may not be a good idea


  • Triglycerides going very high from carbs should be checked


  • Kitavans have cholesterol over 200 and are healthy


  • Whether statins can inhibit the formation of arterial plaque


  • There’s some good and a lot of bad that comes from statins


  • Glycation is a misnomer referring mostly to AGEs


  • AGEs have a legitimate role in health, but not in high levels


  • How to explain higher cholesterol readings for life insurance


  • Looking for atheroschlerosis could counter statin pushers


  • Whether Lp(a) is just another way to keep statin drugs alive


  • What can be done to lower Total/HDL cholesterol ratio


  • Get measurements tested a few times over several months


  • A sign of good metabolism when Total/HDL cholesterol ratio is low


  • His response to Dr. Ray Peat’s toxicity of EFAs and PUFAs


  • “How Essential Are The Essential Fatty Acids?”


  • Omega-3/omega-6 fats aren’t necessarily “toxic” at any dose


  • What oils are the highest in PUFAs that need to be avoided


  • What connection lipid volume has with the speed of blood flow


  • Whether lower total cholesterol compromises health benefits


  • Lower cholesterol could mean it’s being used for various functions


  • If Celiac disease could lead to higher total cholesterol


  • What is being measured vs. estimated on cholesterol tests


  • The valuable reasons for testing your cholesterol


  • His story of a man who didn’t test his cholesterol


  • Red yeast rice is a statin which is a derivative of RYR


  • Lovaza is a pharmaceutical level of fish oil


  • High triglycerides and low testosterone is usually the thyroidThere are four ways you can listen to  Episode 6:
  • He is the author of two blogs, The Daily Lipid at Cholesterol-and-Health.Com and Mother Nature Obeyed at WestonAPrice.org.

    Chris Masterjohn is also a frequent contributor to Wise Traditions, the quarterly journal of the Weston A. Price Foundation.
    Chris is the author of five publications in peer-reviewed journals, including a letter to the editor of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology criticizing the conclusions of a widely publicized study about the effect of saturated fat on blood vessel function.

    Also, a letter to the editor of the American Heart Journal arguing that the effect of cholesterol ester transfer protein inhibitors on vitamin E metabolism should be studied before these drugs are deemed safe for preventing heart disease, a hypothesis published in Medical Hypotheses about the molecular mechanism of vitamin D toxicity and the involvement of vitamins A and K in this mechanism.

    Also, a pilot study in humans suggesting that vitamin E protects against some of the negative effects of sugar consumption published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, and a review published in Nutrition Reviews about the potential for green tea to prevent or treat nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases.

    Chris Masterjohn has thoroughly studied the impact of cholesterol on your health and the answers he has discovered might just surprise you. If you have questions about cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides and more then this is the podcast for you.

    1. LISTEN LIVE ON THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 7PM ET by calling (712) 432-0900 or on Skype at “freeconferencing.7124320900″–whether you call or Skype, be sure to use the access code “848908.” You can listen and even participate on the topic discussion by asking your questions directly to the featured expert.
    2. Listen at the iTunes page for the podcast:

    3. Listen and comment about the show at the official web site for the podcast:

    4. Download the MP3 file of Episode 6 [76:03m]:
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    Saturday, 6 April 2013

    Lipidologist Dr. Thomas Dayspring Explains The Truth About Cholesterol (« Jimmy Moore)

    The LLVLC Show (Episode 585): Lipidologist Dr. Thomas Dayspring Explains The Truth About Cholesterol « Jimmy Moore's Livin' La Vida Low Carb Blog

    nb: he says that LDL particle size is irrelevant, and that only particle number is relevant 

    In Episode 585 of “The Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore,” we welcome the Director of Cardiovascular Education at the Richmond, VA-based Foundation for Health Improvement and Technology (FHIT) and lipid expert Dr. Thomas Dayspring.

    Listen to Dr. Thomas Dayspring enlighten on cholesterol:




  • When he came out of medical school, there was nothing on lipids




  • How he’s tried to bring clarity to lipid health




  • The science has “so radically changed” in recent years




  • Everything that’s been taught is “pretty much dead wrong”




  • Cholesterol measurements can be “incredibly deceiving”




  • Total cholesterol was all there was in the 1970s




  • Higher cholesterol was considered a risk for heart disease




  • The Framingham Study tied heart risk with high cholesterol




  • All research started to “chase cholesterol” after this




  • It seemed if you could cut cholesterol then risk lowered




  • This started a race to create drugs to drop cholesterol




  • Why do 70% of heart events still happen despite the meds?




  • You need skeptics with anything that we’ve been told




  • New physicians will learn what they’ve learned will be outdated




  • Many young doctors tend to be a little more “open-minded”




  • Unfortunately, med students are taught by the old guard




  • Atherosclerosis is simply an accumulation of sterols




  • Growing plaque gets inflamed which leads to a clot




  • Cholesterol is the killer but only if it’s in the artery wall




  • But cholesterol is a vital element in the human body




  • Cholesterol in your plasma (blood) isn’t hurting anyone




  • If cholesterol is high in blood, people think it’s high in arteries




  • Tim Russert a prime example of cholesterol theory failure




  • Cholesterol are oils and not soluble in liquids




  • No human has lipids “floating around” in the blood




  • These oils are wrapped in proteins called lipoproteins




  • Lipids go nowhere in the human body without lipoproteins




  • This is the only way cholesterol gets into artery wall




  • A lipoprotein that “crashes your artery wall” is atherogenic




  • If particles carrying LDL cholesterol are high, lower it




  • You can have low cholesterol and a nightmare particle number




  • This is why people can die with normal cholesterol numbers




  • If statins remove LDL cholesterol, it may not get particles




  • When VLDL loses triglycerides, it becomes LDL cholesterol




  • HDL is “classically but erroneously” called “good cholesterol”




  • How total cholesterol is calculated on lipid testing




  • Doctors tend to only pay attention to LDL particles




  • If LDL is high, it’s assumed you have too many LDL particles




  • NMR Lipoprofile counts the number of LDL, VLDL and HDL particles




  • Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) is a “much better predictor of heart attack”




  • Normal ApoB is what you are looking for more than anything




  • There’s “no use” for getting a VAP test conducted




  • You need to “insist” on getting ApoB or LDL particle counts




  • Berkeley does give you an ApoB, but it focuses on wrong things




  • Small LDL particles are “irrelevant” as a risk factor




  • Familial hypercholesterolemia is horrendous on health




  • Why spend your money on useless lipid testing?




  • The treatment strategy varies according to risk degree




  • First line therapy is “always nutritional”




  • When your liver makes VLDL particles, it turns to triglycerides




  • Doctors ignore triglycerides unless they’re high–BIG MISTAKE!




  • What raises triglycerides? It’s the carbohydrates!




  • LDL cholesterol can look fine but LDL particle count is “lethal”




  • But you won’t be fine because they’re loaded with triglycerides




  • Doctors need to be telling patients to “cut the damn carbs”




  • Ignore cholesterol and check your triglycerides first




  • The total cholesterol limit of 200 is “ancient history”




  • HDL and triglycerides should both be 50




  • The HDL world is “radically changing” now too




  • CETP will pull triglycerides out of VLDL to LDL and HDL




  • The mechanism behind why triglycerides go up, HDL goes down




  • On a low-carb diet, triglycerides go down and HDL increases




  • The only thing that really matters is HDL particle count




  • If you have high HDL cholesterol but low HDL particle count…




  • You can be at greater risk for heart disease




  • Pay attention to the HDL particles you have over anything




  • There have been no goals for HDL cholesterol because of this




  • Low HDL is usually a risk factor because of high triglycerides




  • Low HDL is no risk for heart disease if triglycerides are low




  • More important: ApoB, LDL particles and HDL particles




  • The American Heart Association’s “Get With The Guidelines”




  • 136,000 people with heart disease were included in this




  • 55% had an LDL cholesterol under 100




  • 18% had an LDL cholesterol under 70




  • Flip a coin: heads you win, tails you lose




  • Average American triglyceride level: 140-150 (NOT GOOD!)




  • Get an ApoB or an LDL particle count




  • If you’re insulin resistant, read Gary Taubes‘ booksThere are four ways you can listen to Episode 585:

    1. Listen at the iTunes page for the podcast:

    2. Listen and comment about the show at the official web site for the podcast:

    3. Download the MP3 file of Episode 585 [48:35m]:

    4. Listen on the Stitcher app–NO DOWNLOADING!


    It’s not often we are privileged to have someone quite like a lipidologist with the credentials of Dr. Dayspring also from LecturePad.org joining us on the podcast. You might remember seeing him in a series of YouTube videos from Specialty Health in December 2011 with Gary Taubes.

    The way he spoke and the information he provided in those videos made me want to have him appear on my podcast.
    After being in private medical practice for 36 years helping his patients understand the importance (or lack thereof) of their cholesterol test results, Dr. Dayspring has turned his attention to educating his fellow physicians, medical school students and laypeople alike on the various intricacies of advanced lipoprotein testing like the NMR Lipoprofile test through his very popular lectures given all across the United States.

    He is THE go-to expert on the subject of lipids and what they mean as you’ll quickly hear in today’s interview. Listen in as I get Dr. Dayspring to zero in on the heart of the issue regarding what cholesterol test results really mean and the key markers you need to be aware of in determining your overall health that nobody is currently talking about. A publisher has commissioned me to write a book about a layman’s perspective to understanding your cholesterol test results and Dr. Dayspring will certainly be one of my key resources for information in researching and writing about this extremely critical subject. This podcast today is a keeper and will surely stir the pot of controversy a time or two by the end. ENJOY!

    NOTE: My apologies for the poor sound quality of this podcast interview. I have updated my recording equipment for better stability and future episodes will sound better than this. THANK YOU again for your faithful support of this podcast!
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    Thursday, 4 April 2013

    VAP/ NMR test unavailable in Australia

    VAP/ NMR test in Australia. Where/Who. Help please :)

    1. 02-15-2013, 03:03 PM #6
      mouk is offline
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      Advanced lipid testing ( NMR, VAP , ..) remains a continental US based technology.

      The samples have to be managed ( clotting and centrifugation) by a local lab before reaching the lab settings in 24 hours on ice but not frozen.


      VAP specimen collection - Atherotech

      NMR - Liposcience
      Preparation and shipment
      Last edited by mouk; 02-15-2013 at 03:16 PM. Reason: links


    1. 12-19-2012, 10:23 AM #1
      lauren_r is offline
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      VAP/ NMR test in Australia. Where/Who. Help please :)

      I am looking to get a VAP or NMR test. *I have googled and have not been able to find where to get them done or any websites from Australia with info about it.

      Can they be done by a general Dr?

      Or does it have to be done by a functional pathology company like Healthscope (they don't do it).

      I am in Melbourne Australia.

      Thanks for any tips!
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    2. 12-19-2012, 10:37 AM #2
      Coriander is online now
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      VAP/ NMR test in Australia. Where/Who. Help please :)

      I haven't been able to find one either,*and I have been to 3 doctors who don't have a clue what the test is, or why you'd want it. One doctor 'looked into it' and reported back that you can't do the test in Australia. Of course, that could be wrong too.
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    3. 12-19-2012, 10:46 AM #3
      caroline is online now
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      VAP/ NMR test in Australia. Where/Who. Help please :)

      Can you not get it from the U.S.? I have had luck with ZRT - sorry I don't know what those tests are - but if you email labs in the states?
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    4. 12-19-2012, 02:49 PM #4
      lauren_r is offline
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      VAP/ NMR test in Australia. Where/Who. Help please :)

      Coriander said
      I haven't been able to find one either,*and I have been to 3 doctors who don't have a clue what the test is, or why you'd want it. One doctor 'looked into it' and reported back that you can't do the test in Australia. Of course, that could be wrong too.
      Hmm that's not great. *I sent you a PM, as I am in Melb too.

      Will a normal blood test of HDL, LDL, TRI's be of any use? *

      Is there another test that Healthscope etc provide that is of equal use?

      I was doing it for Leaky Gut, although I do already have a stool test (CDSA-4) that showed off the chart dysbiosis, would that be enough?

      Thanks again.
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    5. 02-11-2013, 03:15 AM #5
      ashryn is offline
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      You can get the vap elements done here mostly, but the pathologist I went to said I might get a bill for the apolipoprotein part of it
      i suspect there is someone who does a full lipid profile here, but they have a different name for it..

      i there's what to get your dr to order:

      Total VLDL: Elevated VLDL levels correspond to an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes.


      Sum Total Cholesterol: The sum of HDL, LDL and VLDL levels.


      Total non-HDL: The sum of only LDL and VLDL levels; a higher value indicates a greater risk for developing heart disease.


      Total apoB100: Apolipoprotein B100 helps create, carry and deliver "bad cholesterol" to cells; measuring apoB100 levels aids in determining the type and/or cause of high cholesterol.


      Lp(a) cholesterol: Research suggests that Lp(a), which is similar to LDL, is an inherited risk factor for atherosclerosis.


      IDL: A lipoprotein of intermediate density; according to Atherotech, this number is elevated among individuals with a family history of diabetes.


      LDL-RC: LDL that is bound to C-reactive protein; this type of LDL is found at the site of atherosclerotic plaques in the body, which are one of the key features of artery disease and -- when they rupture -- the primary initiator of heart attacks.


      Sum Total LDL-C: The sum of Lp(a), IDL and LDL.


      LDL Size Pattern: Reported as one of three categories -- A, A/B or B. In pattern A, the LDL molecules are larger and less dense, making them easier for the body to remove. In pattern A/B, there is a combination of light and dense molecules. In pattern B, smaller, high-density molecules predominate. According to Atherotech, patients with small, dense LDL particles (pattern B) have a four-fold greater risk of developing heart disease than patients with LDL size pattern A.


      HDL-2: A subclass of "good cholesterol" that is particularly protective against heart disease. A low number here could mean an increased risk of coronary artery disease, even in those with otherwise normal cholesterol levels.


      HDL-3: Another subclass of HDL, which does not protect against coronary artery disease to the same degree as HDL-2.


      VLDL-3: A triglyceride-rich very low-density lipoprotein; some studies suggest a potential correlation between higher VLDL-3 numbers and the development of diabetes.


      In addition, the VAP test provides individuals with a better idea of their vulnerability to the metabolic syndrome, a combination of factors that significantly elevate the risk an individual will develop diabetes or cardiovascular disease.


      Interpret results http://www.livestrong.com/article/38...terol-profile/

      hope this helps someone..
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    6. 02-15-2013, 03:03 PM #6
      mouk is offline
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      Advanced lipid testing ( NMR, VAP , ..) remains a continental US based technology.

      The samples have to be managed ( clotting and centrifugation) by a local lab before reaching the lab settings in 24 hours on ice but not frozen.


      VAP specimen collection - Atherotech

      NMR - Liposcience
      Preparation and shipment
      Last edited by mouk; 02-15-2013 at 03:16 PM. Reason: links

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    VAP Cholesterol Testing - Life Extension

    VAP Cholesterol Testing - Life Extension

    Advanced Technology Uncovers Hidden Cardiovascular Risks
    By Michael D. Ozner, MD

    Although standard blood cholesterol tests (measuring total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides) have helped doctors to accurately assess heart disease risk in many patients, recent advances in medical science have demonstrated that conventional cholesterol testing provides only limited insight into the multiple factors that underlie cardiovascular disease. In fact, these tests identify only 40% of those at risk for coronary heart disease.

    The good news is, scientists have developed a more advanced blood test that can far more accurately gauge your risk of heart disease. The Vertical Auto Profile (VAP) test augments the standard cholesterol profile with additional measurements that can identify the risk of cardiovascular disease.

    Best of all, the VAP test not only offers a comprehensive assessment of cardiovascular risk, but also supplies vital information that can help you and your doctor formulate a customized disease-prevention program and measure its progress over time. This powerful diagnostic tool can help you take the steps necessary to avoid preventable health catastrophes—like heart attack and stroke—today.

    The baby-boom generation understands that as they age, their risk for heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular events continues to increase.1 Not content to succumb to disease and disability, this population is embracing a proactive, preventive approach to health care that includes advanced techniques of risk assessment such as the Vertical Auto Profile (VAP) cholesterol test.

    Awareness of the VAP test is important for anyone who wants to stop cardiovascular disease in its tracks, even before signs and symptoms manifest. The VAP test is performed just like a traditional cholesterol panel: a technician or nurse draws blood and submits it to a laboratory. At reasonable cost, the VAP test provides more information than routine cholesterol tests and expands on this data. The comprehensive information derived from the VAP test enables physicians to more accurately predict their patients’ risk of heart disease, and to customize more aggressive, patient-specific treatment plans.
    Even if your doctor’s office does not yet regularly utilize the VAP test, it is very likely that your physician will recognize the value of this advanced cholesterol screening tool, and will use the more detailed information it provides to devise the best treatment program to reduce your cardiovascular risk.

    How the VAP Test Works

    Routine cholesterol tests provide only the four following measurements:
    1. Total cholesterol
    2. Triglycerides
    3. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL, the “detrimental’ lipid), determined by a mathematical calculation, not by direct measurement
    4. High-density lipoprotein (HDL, the “beneficial” lipid).
    The standard lipid panel above is what physicians have relied on for years to assess their patients’ risk of cardiovascular disease. It has been a successful tool, helping physicians to lower patient cholesterol levels using a variety of medical therapies, including statin drugs, and motivating people to make lifesaving changes in their diet and lifestyle.

    However, there are serious limitations to relying solely on the standard cholesterol panel. Most important, it can identify only about 40% of patients at risk for coronary heart disease.2 The truth is, many risk factors are involved in the development of heart disease, and for some people, high cholesterol may or may not be one of them.

    The well-known Framingham Study illustrated that the higher the cholesterol, the higher the statistical risk of a heart attack.3

     Nonetheless, a frightening number of heart attacks still occur every day in people whose cholesterol values are seemingly normal. In fact, the American Heart Association reports that 50% of men and 64% of women who died suddenly of coronary heart disease had no previous symptoms!1

    Heart disease can lurk silently within, hidden and unsuspected. However, the additional information provided by the VAP test can help identify at-risk patients more accurately than routine cholesterol tests.2

    The expanded information from the VAP test includes:
    • More accurate, direct measurement of LDL.
    • Measurement of LDL pattern density. This is important because small, dense LDL (“Pattern B”) triples the likelihood of developing coronary plaque and suffering a heart attack.4
    • Measurement of lipoprotein subclasses, which include HDL2 and HDL3, intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL), very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL1, VLDL2, VLDL3), and lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], a particularly dangerous lipoprotein that can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
    Patients who test “normal” in a routine cholesterol panel often are found to be at risk for heart disease after taking the VAP test. This is crucially important, not only to diagnose a number of lipid disorders and optimize the choice of medications, but also for tracking improvement when patients are working to reduce their numbers, whether with drugs or lifestyle changes. Clearly, more information means more effective treatment, and thus better health outcomes.

    In addition, VAP is the only cholesterol profile that tests for all the present and emerging risk factors identified in the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) cholesterol guidelines.5

     

     

     

     

     

    Prevention Is Key to Cardiovascular Health

    I have performed a VAP test for the first time on many patients who have already had heart attacks or strokes, or who have undergone heart procedures such as bypass surgery or placement of a coronary stent. The results have often led me to think that if a VAP test had been performed earlier, maybe the heart attack or stroke could have been prevented, or the surgery would not have been necessary.
    Too often in the United States, medical care is reactionary. A heart attack or stroke occurs, the sufferer rushes to the emergency room, and then doctors desperately try to rise to the rescue. All the physicians and patients I know appreciate that this is not the best approach. Part of the beauty of the VAP test is that it can help reduce the likelihood of this scenario occurring. Identifying risks for cardiovascular disease—and then working to correct them in order to prevent heart and vascular disease—is a better choice than costly surgical interventions.

    Baby boomers, who have taken more hands-on responsibility for their health than any previous generation, can be even more strongly motivated to adopt wellness strategies when they better understand the specific risks facing them. It is one thing to tell patients that their cholesterol is high and they need to reduce it by changing their diet and lifestyle or by taking medication. It is something else to tell them that they can decrease their risk of heart attacks and emergency room visits by implementing strategies to adjust their cholesterol particles. The more definitively a health threat can be identified, the greater the patients’ compliance with treatment will be.

    Since the National Cholesterol Education Program recommends people begin regular cholesterol testing at age 20, young adults can take a VAP test to learn about their cardiovascular disease risk early in life. This will allow them to take aggressive steps now—including diet and exercise—to maintain a healthy heart for life. Taking a VAP test now makes infinitely more sense than waiting until a cardiovascular catastrophe occurs, and then wondering if the event might have been prevented if a more complete cholesterol profile had been obtained earlier.

    VAP Cholesterol Testing: What You Need to Know
    • Cardiovascular disease is America’s number-one cause of premature death. As adults age, their risk for heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular events escalates.
    • Cardiovascular risk assessment using conventional lipid panels (measuring LDL, HDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides) detects only about 40% of those at risk for a cardiovascular event. An advanced form of lipoprotein testing, the Vertical Auto Profile (VAP) cholesterol test, detects far more patients at risk of heart disease. The VAP test measures all the components of a standard lipid profile, as well as all cholesterol subclasses known to contribute to cardiovascular risk.
    • The data provided by a VAP test allows physicians to detect cardiovascular risk long before symptoms manifest, and to use this data to develop personalized prevention and treatment protocols for patients of all ages. Early intervention can help prevent costly hospitalizations and invasive surgery later in life.
    • All individuals who wish to fully and accurately understand their cardiovascular risk should consider a VAP test. In particular, adults at high risk—due to family history, previously diagnosed cardiovascular disease, or conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, or known lipid abnormalities—should undergo VAP testing.
    • The advanced data provided by the VAP test allow doctors and patients to proactively implement strategies to prevent cardiovascular events and mortality.

    Should Everyone Take the VAP Test?

    This question is still being debated in the medical community. It is more expensive than routine cholesterol panels, but it provides more information. It is simply the best way for physicians to learn more about their patients and identify heart disease risk earlier. As time goes by, more physicians are recognizing the limitations of conventional lipid assessment and turning to advanced lipoprotein testing for better answers.

    Certainly anyone who has reason to believe he or she may be at high risk for cardiovascular disease—because of family history, previously diagnosed coronary or vascular disease, or factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, any measure of coronary plaque, or identified abnormalities in cholesterol or triglycerides6—should strongly consider VAP testing. Even if you are simply concerned about heart disease, you can proactively encourage your doctor to perform this advanced test. It is now widely available in diagnostic laboratories around the country.

    Being proactive means being eager to learn about ways to improve your health, and working with your doctor to create a personalized prevention and treatment plan. However, when it comes to tests that involve risk—such as imaging procedures that deliver radiation—I caution you to be wary. Sometimes, being proactive can lead you down that slippery slope to unnecessary surgical intervention. Fortunately, the VAP test has the distinct advantage of providing added information without added risk.

    Understanding Your VAP Test Results
    The VAP test assesses levels of all the blood lipids measured in a standard lipid profile (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides), plus subclasses of lipids that are known or emerging risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as LDL particle size and lipoprotein(a). Below is a guide to the various components of the VAP test and their implications for the development of cardiovascular disease:
    LDL: Low-density lipoprotein; elevated levels are considered a primary cause of heart disease. LDL is the primary cholesterol target in heart disease risk management.
    HDL: High-density lipoprotein; considered protective to the cardiovascular system. Low levels are associated with increased risk for coronary heart disease.
    VLDL: Very-low-density lipoprotein; the main carrier for triglycerides. Elevated levels can be an independent risk factor for heart disease.
    Total Cholesterol: The total amount of cholesterol circulating throughout your body.
    Triglycerides: Energy-rich molecules needed for normal functions throughout the body. Elevated levels are associated with diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
    Non-HDL Cholesterol: The sum of LDL and VLDL; elevated levels are a better predictor of heart disease risk than LDL alone.
    Lp(a): Lipoprotein(a); an inherited risk factor for heart disease. It is more dangerous than other types of cholesterol, and does not respond to traditional LDL-lowering drugs.
    IDL: Intermediate-density lipoprotein; an inherited, independent risk factor for heart disease. It is often elevated in patients with a family history of diabetes.
    Real LDL: The “real” cholesterol circulating in your body, it is a component of LDL. Real LDL is calculated by subtracting Lp(a) and IDL from LDL.
    LDL Size Pattern: LDL particles vary in size, ranging from small, dense “Pattern B” particles to large, buoyant “Pattern A” particles. Smaller LDL particles are associated with an increased risk for heart disease. Small, dense LDL (“Pattern B”) is associated with insulin resistance or diabetes.
    Metabolic Syndrome: A condition characterized by a combination of several metabolic risk factors—including elevated triglycerides, low HDL, and small, dense “Pattern B” LDL particles—that increase the overall risk for heart disease.
    HDL2\ HDL3: HDL subfractions are used to predict cardiovascular risk. HDL2 is large and buoyant, and is the most protective form of HDL. Low HDL2 with normal LDL is associated with cardiovascular risk. HDL3 is not as protective as HDL 2.
    VLDL3: VLDL3 is the densest VLDL sub-fraction, and confers a greater risk factor for heart disease than both VLDL1 and VLDL2.

    Conclusion

    The VAP cholesterol test provides accurate, detailed results, identifying people at risk for cardiovascular disease—with a detection rate that is more than twice that of routine cholesterol panels. Compared to conventional lipid panels, the sophisticated VAP test enables physicians to more accurately assess their patients’ risks for cardiovascular disease, and thus to better manage their treatment. As we learn more about emerging risk factors for heart disease, advanced lipid testing will become even more crucial in helping to arrest the progression of what remains America’s leading cause of premature death
    .
    Michael D. Ozner, MD, FACC, is a board-certified cardiologist specializing in cardiovascular disease prevention, and is author of The Miami Mediterranean Diet.
    References
    1. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2006 Update. Dallas, TX: American Heart Association; 2006.
    2. Superko HR. Did grandma give you heart disease? The new battle against coronary artery disease. Am J Cardiol. 1998 Nov 5:82 (9A);34Q-46Q.
    3. Castelli WP, Anderson K, Wilson PW, Levy D. Lipids and risk of coronary heart disease. The Framingham Study. Ann Epidemiol. 1992 Jan;2(1-2):23-8.
    4. Lamarche B, TchernofA, Moorjani S, et al. Small, dense low-density lipoprotein particles as a predictor of the risk of ischemic heart disease in men. Prospective results from the Quebec Cardiovascular Study. Circulation. 1997 Jan 7;95(1):69-75.
    5. Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults. (Adult Treatment Panel III) Final Report. Washington, DC: National Institutes of Health; 2002. NIH Publication No. 02-5215.
    6. No author. The rising tide of metabolic syndrome. Foldout Feature. Postgrad Med. Dec 2004;116(6):54I-54VII.
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    Help analyzing VAP test | Mark's Daily Apple Health and Fitness Forum page

    Help analyzing VAP test | Mark's Daily Apple Health and Fitness Forum page

    Okay, I need some help analyzing my cholesterol results.  I asked my doc last week to get a VAP test, which he didn't know about.
    He freaked out at my results today and immediately wanted to get me on Lipitor. Any comments?

    I can't seem to distinguish what's Type A LDL in my results, but it does say Real LDL Size Pattern A in my results. Not sure the differences between IDL-C, Real-LCL-C, etc..

    Any input appreciated.

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    LDL Size Pattern (or particle size) - VAP Cholesterol Test

    VAP Cholesterol Test - The VAP Cholesterol Test Detects High Cholesterol

    LDL Size Pattern: Reported as one of three categories:

    • A, the LDL molecules are larger and less dense, making them easier for the body to remove.

    • A/B, there is a combination of light and dense molecules. 

    • B, smaller, high-density molecules predominate. 
    According to Atherotech, patients with small, dense LDL particles (pattern B) have a four-fold greater risk of developing heart disease than patients with LDL size pattern A.
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    VAP Cholesterol Testing - Life Extension

    VAP Cholesterol Testing - Life Extension







    Understanding Your VAP Test Results

    The VAP test assesses levels of all the blood lipids measured in a standard lipid profile (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides), plus subclasses of lipids that are known or emerging risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as LDL particle size and lipoprotein(a). Below is a guide to the various components of the VAP test and their implications for the development of cardiovascular disease:

    LDL: Low-density lipoprotein; elevated levels are considered a primary cause of heart disease. LDL is the primary cholesterol target in heart disease risk management.

    HDL: High-density lipoprotein; considered protective to the cardiovascular system. Low levels are associated with increased risk for coronary heart disease.

    VLDL: Very-low-density lipoprotein; the main carrier for triglycerides. Elevated levels can be an independent risk factor for heart disease.

    Total Cholesterol: The total amount of cholesterol circulating throughout your body.

    Triglycerides: Energy-rich molecules needed for normal functions throughout the body. Elevated levels are associated with diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

    Non-HDL Cholesterol: The sum of LDL and VLDL; elevated levels are a better predictor of heart disease risk than LDL alone.

    Lp(a): Lipoprotein(a); an inherited risk factor for heart disease. It is more dangerous than other types of cholesterol, and does not respond to traditional LDL-lowering drugs.

    IDL: Intermediate-density lipoprotein; an inherited, independent risk factor for heart disease. It is often elevated in patients with a family history of diabetes.

    Real LDL: The “real” cholesterol circulating in your body, it is a component of LDL. Real LDL is calculated by subtracting Lp(a) and IDL from LDL.

    LDL Size Pattern: LDL particles vary in size, ranging from small, dense “Pattern B” particles to large, buoyant “Pattern A” particles. Smaller LDL particles are associated with an increased risk for heart disease. Small, dense LDL (“Pattern B”) is associated with insulin resistance or diabetes.

    Metabolic Syndrome: A condition characterized by a combination of several metabolic risk factors—including elevated triglycerides, low HDL, and small, dense “Pattern B” LDL particles—that increase the overall risk for heart disease.

    HDL2\ HDL3: HDL subfractions are used to predict cardiovascular risk. HDL2 is large and buoyant, and is the most protective form of HDL. Low HDL2 with normal LDL is associated with cardiovascular risk. HDL3 is not as protective as HDL 2.

    VLDL3: VLDL3 is the densest VLDL sub-fraction, and confers a greater risk factor for heart disease than both VLDL1 and VLDL2.

    Conclusion



    The VAP cholesterol test provides accurate, detailed results, identifying people at risk for cardiovascular disease—with a detection rate that is more than twice that of routine cholesterol panels.

    Compared to conventional lipid panels, the sophisticated VAP test enables physicians to more accurately assess their patients’ risks for cardiovascular disease, and thus to better manage their treatment.

    As we learn more about emerging risk factors for heart disease, advanced lipid testing will become even more crucial in helping to arrest the progression of what remains America’s leading cause of premature death.

    Michael D. Ozner, MD, FACC, is a board-certified cardiologist specializing in cardiovascular disease prevention, and is author of The Miami Mediterranean Diet.
    References
    1. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2006 Update. Dallas, TX: American Heart Association; 2006.
    2. Superko HR. Did grandma give you heart disease? The new battle against coronary artery disease. Am J Cardiol. 1998 Nov 5:82 (9A);34Q-46Q.
    3. Castelli WP, Anderson K, Wilson PW, Levy D. Lipids and risk of coronary heart disease. The Framingham Study. Ann Epidemiol. 1992 Jan;2(1-2):23-8.
    4. Lamarche B, TchernofA, Moorjani S, et al. Small, dense low-density lipoprotein particles as a predictor of the risk of ischemic heart disease in men. Prospective results from the Quebec Cardiovascular Study. Circulation. 1997 Jan 7;95(1):69-75.
    5. Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults. (Adult Treatment Panel III) Final Report. Washington, DC: National Institutes of Health; 2002. NIH Publication No. 02-5215.
    6. No author. The rising tide of metabolic syndrome. Foldout Feature. Postgrad Med. Dec 2004;116(6):54I-54VII.

     
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