Ever heard of lipoprotein(a)? Don’t worry if you have not. That is the name of a cardiovascular risk factor that many people are genuinely unaware of.
Two experts explain why it makes sense to have this value measured with a blood test at least once, and what to do if the result turns out to be too high.
What exactly is lipoprotein(a)?
The difference is that an additional protein, apolipoprotein(a), is bound to it. According to the association, lipoproteins can be compared to “freight taxis” that transport fat and fatlike substances through the blood.
How much Lp(a) circulates in the blood is genetically determined. Diet and exercise cannot influence the level. “Lp(a) probably once had a physiological role and may even have conferred an evolutionary advantage, but today it has no known benefit,” Vogt says.