LDL-5 (small dense LDL)
lipoproteinSmall dense LDL particles are preferentially retained and oxidized in the arterial intima, driving early atherosclerotic lesion formation.
Pathway placement
Cascade stepLipid retention & oxidation
Confidencehigh
RationaleSmall dense LDL; highly atherogenic ApoB-lipoprotein variant.
Druggability
Not assessed (no mapped human gene target).
Assay & specimen
Specialized reference method
Specimen
Serum or plasma (EDTA)
Collection tube
K2/K3-EDTA (lavender-top) · Serum separator (gold/red-top, SST)
Method / principle
NMR lipoprotein particle analysis or density-gradient ultracentrifugation
Reagent / substrate
No chemical reagent — NMR spectral deconvolution of lipid methyl signals (or ultracentrifugal separation by density)
Platform
NMR (LabCorp NMR LipoProfile) / analytical ultracentrifuge
Turnaround · availability
Send-out · Specialized reference lab
Literature evidence(1)
- Association of lipoprotein subfractions with incidence of type 2 diabetes among five U.S. Race and Ethnic groups: The Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) and Multi-Ethnic study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).Diabetes research and clinical practice · 2023 · PMID 37777016 · doi