LDL Particle Number

What is LDL Particle Number?

LDL Particle Number (LDL-P) measures the total count of LDL particles in your blood, regardless of their size or cholesterol content. This advanced lipid marker provides different information than standard LDL cholesterol, which only measures the amount of cholesterol carried within those particles. Two people can have identical LDL cholesterol levels but vastly different particle counts.

Why is it Tested?

LDL-P is ordered to provide a more accurate assessment of cardiovascular risk, particularly when standard lipid results don’t clearly indicate risk level. Research shows that particle number often correlates better with heart disease risk than cholesterol content alone, especially in people with diabetes, metabolic syndrome, or discordant lipid patterns.

Normal Ranges

What do Abnormal Results Mean?

Abnormal results are not a diagnosis. Always discuss your results with a qualified healthcare provider before making any medical decisions.

Low LDL-P

Lower particle numbers indicate fewer atherogenic particles available to penetrate artery walls and cause plaque formation. This is generally associated with reduced cardiovascular disease risk and is the target of most lipid management strategies.

High LDL-P

Elevated particle counts suggest increased cardiovascular risk and may indicate:

• Insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome
• Genetic predisposition to high particle numbers
• Need for more aggressive lipid management
• Discordance with LDL cholesterol (small, dense particles)

How to Track Over Time

Monitoring LDL-P trends helps evaluate the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions and medications on actual particle burden. Changes in particle number often occur before significant changes in LDL cholesterol, making LDL-P useful for tracking early response to treatment and long-term cardiovascular risk management.