Lipoprotein particle analysis by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Laboratory measurements of plasma lipids (principally cholesterol and triglycerides) and lipoprotein lipids (principally low-density lipoprotein [LDL] and high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol) are the cornerstone of the clinical assessment and management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. LDL particles, and to a lesser extent very - low-density lipoprotein [VLDL] particles, cause atherosclerosis, whereas HDL particles prevent or reverse this process through reverse cholesterol transport. The overall risk for CVD depends on the balance between the "bad" LDL (and VLDL) and "good" HDL particles. Direct assessment of hpoprotein particle numbers is now possible through nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analysis.