Back to glossary
Biomarkers

LDL cholesterol

DELDL-Cholesterin

Reviewed by

LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) reflects the cholesterol carried by LDL particles in the bloodstream. Excess ApoB-containing LDL particles can enter and be retained in the arterial intima, where modification (e.g., oxidation) and inflammation drive atherosclerotic plaque formation. LDL-C is a long-established causal risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, heart attack, and stroke; lifelong genetically lower LDL-C (e.g., PCSK9 loss-of-function variants) reduces ASCVD risk dose-dependently. From a longevity perspective LDL-C is lower-is-better, ideally interpreted alongside ApoB and Lp(a), as LDL-C and ApoB can be discordant. Current reference documents include the 2025 ESC/EAS Focused Update and the 2026 ACC/AHA Dyslipidemia Guidelines.

Sources

  1. Ridker PM. (2014). LDL cholesterol: controversies and future therapeutic directions. *Lancet*doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61009-6
  2. Colhoun HM, Betteridge DJ, Durrington PN, Hitman GA, Neil HA, Livingstone SJ, et al.. (2004). Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease with atorvastatin in type 2 diabetes in the Collaborative Atorvastatin Diabetes Study (CARDS): multicentre randomised placebo-controlled trial. *Lancet*doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(04)16895-5
  3. Mach F, Baigent C, Catapano AL, Koskinas KC, Casula M, Badimon L, et al.. (2020). 2019 ESC/EAS Guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemias. *European Heart Journal*doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehz455