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Biomarkers

HDL cholesterol

DEHDL-Cholesterin

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HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) measures the cholesterol carried by HDL particles, which transport cholesterol from tissues back to the liver in reverse cholesterol transport. Population studies historically associated higher HDL-C with lower cardiovascular risk, but Mendelian randomization and HDL-raising drug trials show the relationship is non-causal and U-shaped: very high HDL-C is also linked to increased mortality. HDL functionality matters more than its concentration alone.

Sources

  1. Barter P, Gotto AM, LaRosa JC, Maroni J, Szarek M, Grundy SM, et al.. (2007). HDL cholesterol, very low levels of LDL cholesterol, and cardiovascular events. *New England Journal of Medicine*doi:10.1056/NEJMoa064278
  2. Rader DJ, Tall AR. (2012). The biology of HDL: implications for novel therapies. *Nature Medicine*doi:10.1038/nm.2715