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LDL stands for low-density lipoprotein. It is a molecule that carries cholesterol from the liver, where cholesterol is produced, to the rest of the body.
Significance
LDL deposits cholesterol in the arteries, where it can create plaque and cause heart disease. This is why LDL is considered "bad."
Identification
Doctors measure the amount of cholesterol inside your LDL particles by analyzing blood samples.
Misconceptions
LDL is not a type of cholesterol. It is the name for the lipoprotein that carries cholesterol. The cholesterol that is carried by LDL is termed "bad" because it can deposit cholesterol in arteries. Conversely, HDL cholesterol, the cholesterol inside high-density lipoprotein particles, is called "good" because it removes cholesterol from the arteries.
Theories/Speculation
Historically, doctors have considered blood LDL cholesterol levels to be important indicators of cardiovascular health. However, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology in 2007 suggests that the number of LDL particles in the blood is a better indicator of disease risk than the amount of cholesterol inside LDL particles. As a result, some doctors now measure LDL particle numbers instead of LDL cholesterol levels.
Benefits
Although people who have high LDL cholesterol levels are at a heightened risk of developing heart disease, they are also at a lower risk of cancer compared to people who have low LDL cholesterol levels, according to a study published in 2008 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Scientists are not yet sure why low LDL cholesterol increases the risk for cancer.
Source:
More Information:
The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: What is High Blood Cholesterol?
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