Even though lipoproteins have been studied for several decades, only a few out of the 14 different lipoprotein subclasses have been routinely measured and used in research. This mini-review focuses on the benefits of advanced lipoprotein profiling, providing an overview of lipoprotein subclasses and highlighting the latest research associated with the different subclasses, as well as reviewing the available methods for measuring the full array of subclasses.
Lipoproteins are transport vehicles for lipids in the blood. Studying lipoproteins can help understand the development of metabolic diseases (such as cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes) which has brought them to the attention of numerous health studies.
Even though lipoproteins have been studied for several decades, out of the 14 lipoprotein subclasses, only a handful have been routinely measured and used in research (total-C, HDL-C, LDL-C and total triglycerides). Recent technological advancements have provided opportunities for much more in-depth analysis, which enables researchers to explore new connections. For instance, measuring the entire spectrum of subclasses can improve understanding on disease etiology, promise improved disease prediction and reveal novel disease associations.
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