Apo B: The B is Not for Better

Apolipoprotein B (Apo B) is the protein portion of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the primary carrier for cholesterol in the blood. Apo B is also found in other lipoproteins including IDL, VLDLs, and Lp(a). The Apo B molecule can get oxidized and contribute to atherosclerosis and blood vessel damage, making these lipoproteins potentially "atherogenic."

Levels of Apo B are found to correlate with the risk and severity of coronary artery disease and may be more important to clinical assessment than LDL-cholesterol. Research in patients receiving statin drugs observed increased all-cause mortality when LDL-cholesterol decreased but Apo B increased.

Increasing levels of Apo B are associated with heart disease, kidney disease, hypothyroidism, diabetes, and diabetic retinopathy. Low Apo B can be associated with hyperthyroidism, malnutrition, anemia, pulmonary disease, and inflammatory joint disease. 

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