Food
What you eat, above all fats.
Science, app and laboratory: Apolipoprotein B
- What we test
- Heart and vessels
- Apolipoprotein B
- Science, app and laboratory
04 · Why it matters
Why Apolipoprotein B matters.What the science says, in three ideas.
- 01
It counts particles, not just cholesterol
VLDL, IDL, LDL and Lp(a) each carry a single ApoB. So your ApoB equals the total number of those particles.1
- 02
What matters is how many there are
Cholesterol only enters the wall of your arteries inside these particles. The more that circulate, the more can stay there. The cholesterol each one carries varies.1
- 03
European guidelines use it
The ESC and EAS lipid guidelines consider it useful for assessing cardiovascular risk, above all with high triglycerides, diabetes or obesity.2
05 · In the app
This is how you will see your Apolipoprotein B.Three screens, step by step.
Your results
You see every value with its status. Tap ApoB to open it.
Your ApoB
Your value, its optimal range and how it has moved since your last blood test.
Your plan
Clear steps to keep it there. And Santé AI for your questions.
Real app screens with example values. Santé AI does not diagnose. If this is an emergency, call 112.
06 · Compared with
Apolipoprotein B against other markers.What each one counts and what it misses.
| Marker | What it measures | What it adds | What it misses |
|---|---|---|---|
| ApoB | The number of particles that carry cholesterol to your arteries. | A single figure that counts them all, VLDL and Lp(a) included. | It does not say how much cholesterol each particle carries. |
| LDL cholesterol | The cholesterol inside LDL particles. | The most used figure, and the one with the most studies behind it. | If your particles are small, it can undercount how many there are. |
| Non-HDL cholesterol | All your cholesterol minus HDL. | It includes VLDL and remnants. It is calculated without fasting. | It still measures cholesterol, not particles. |
| Lp(a) | One specific particle type that carries ApoB, largely inherited. | Guidelines advise measuring it at least once in a lifetime. | Your habits barely change it. |
| ApoB/ApoA1 ratio | The balance between ApoB particles and HDL. | It sums the balance up in one number. | It is always read with the rest of your lipids. |
We measure all five in your yearly blood test. Your clinician reads them together.1, 2
07 · How we measure it
In the laboratory.Your sample never leaves Barcelona.
- Sample
- Blood (serum).
- Analyzer
- Our biochemistry analyser.
- Where
- Santé Labs, Barcelona. The same day.
- Unit
- g/L.
- Fasting
- ApoB does not need it.1 We ask you for 10–12 hours for other markers in your blood test.
08 · What can influence it
What moves it.Four factors, without doses or recipes.
Physical activity
Moving every day and training.
Genetics
Your family history counts.
Medication
Some medicines change it.
Your clinician reads your value alongside these factors and leaves you a note. Your action plan takes them into account. And you can ask Santé AI anything about your result.
09 · Related
Related markers.They are read together with Apolipoprotein B.
BiomarkerWhat it shows
- LDLThe cholesterol travelling inside LDL particles to your tissues.
- Non-HDL cholesterolAll your cholesterol minus HDL.
- Lp(a)A particle type that depends above all on your genetics.
- ApoB/ApoA1 ratioCompares the particles that carry cholesterol to your tissues with the ones that bring it back.
10 · Sources
- Sniderman AD, Thanassoulis G, Glavinovic T, et al. Apolipoprotein B particles and cardiovascular disease: a narrative review. JAMA Cardiology. 2019;4(12):1287–1295. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2019.3780
- Mach F, Baigent C, Catapano AL, et al. 2019 ESC/EAS Guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemias. European Heart Journal. 2020;41(1):111–188. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehz455
- Lab Tests Online UK. Apolipoprotein B. Reviewed in 2024. labtestsonline.org.uk
- Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. EP28-A3c: Defining, Establishing, and Verifying Reference Intervals in the Clinical Laboratory. 3rd ed. CLSI; 2010.
This content is educational and does not replace an assessment by a health professional. It does not diagnose.
