Lipidology and Blood Health

Introduction:

Lipidology is the study of lipid levels present in the blood, and it gives a total estimate of the amount of lipid profile or the amount of fat content in the bloodstream. The purpose of doing this test is to have an idea about the circulating cholesterol level, which acts as a precursor for various health profiles like heart, bone, kidney functions, etc. An increase in the number of lipids in the bloodstream can potentially lead to sedimentation of the lipids in the vessel walls, leading to a restrain in blood flow. In order to prevent this, clinical lipidology reports give insight into the blood’s current situation and its risks for progressing into cardiovascular or any such diseases. Hence, lipidology is used for aiding in the initial screening of the diseases, diagnosis, planning the treatment, and outcome.

What Are Lipids and Their Protein Precursors in the Bloodstream?

Lipids, in general, are lipoproteins (fat-forming proteins) that are inclusive of agents known as cholesterol, phospholipids, triglycerides, and protein. The lipids in the bloodstream are made up of proteins like very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), chylomicrons, intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL), low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein.

What Are the Lipid Tests Done?

The lipid profile done to assess the level of lipoprotein in the bloodstream are:

• Total Cholesterol Levels: This test is done as an overall measure of the lipoproteins present in the bloodstream, which includes the combination of low-density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoproteins.

• High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels: These cholesterols are called good cholesterol, as they help in decreasing the sedimentation of bad cholesterol.

• Low-Density Cholesterol Levels: These LDL cholesterol are also known as bad cholesterol as they tend to sediment in the blood vessels, which over some time results in plaque formation. These plaques, in the long term, can become thrombus or emboli where they occlude the blood flow from the blood vessels, decreasing penetration of oxygen and nutrients to the organs and causing a slow death of the organs.

• Very Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels: This lipoprotein is a type of cholesterol that is present in very low quantities in the bloodstream, especially in cases where the person is fasting. This lipoprotein is seen in the bloodstream through food intake and increases after food intake. Hence, an increase in the level of very low-density lipoprotein at fasting is a clear indicator of an abnormally occurring lipid metabolism.

• Triglycerides: Triglycerides are fatty substances metabolized from the food that is consumed. These triglyceride levels should be kept in check as an increase in the level of triglycerides can be dangerous and is often associated with diseases of the heart and pancreas showing inflammation.

What Is the Purpose of Lipidology?

The study of lipid contents in blood is essential to studying and understanding one’s heart health by knowing one’s cholesterol levels and the progression of health conditions. However, lipid panel analysis is included in the following ways and they are:

• A regular blood assay to know the amount of cholesterol levels, be it high, interim, or baseline, indicating the levels of risks.

• As a confirmatory test to assess the previous test to differentiate it from a false positive.

• To analyze and study the body’s level of treatment that is being planned or provided.

• To help find medical conditions like the disease of the circulatory system, nutritional deficiency, and liver function.

• To chart out diet plans and exercise plans to improve one’s lifestyle.

How Is Lipidology Done?

In order to analyze the levels of cholesterol in the blood, serum samples are collected. The samples are done by both fasting and non-fasting lipid levels, but in the case of fasting lipid analysis, the patient is asked to undergo fasting for a maximum of twelve hours with minimal water intake. The first developed tests for lipid was done in the year 1960 by a person called Friedewald Equation to test the levels of low-density cholesterol, where total and high-density cholesterol are done directly from the blood serum.

What Are the Conditions in Which a Lipid Profile Is Indicated?

Screening or study of the blood lipids varies between children and adults, According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) done in the years between 1999 and 2006, there was a twenty percent prevalence rate of improper lipid levels in adolescent children with higher lipid and BMI rates. Because of this, there was a guideline given by the United States National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) that recommended that children should be screened for their blood lipids to prevent dyslipidemia in children, especially those with a history of pronounced cholesterol levels. This prevents conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and obesity in children.

In adults, lipid levels are indicated when there is a family history of pronounced lipid conditions like hypercholesterolemia. People with an established risk for cardiovascular diseases, inflammation of the pancreas, in treatment of patients with atherosclerotic heart diseases and studies to assess ways to lower the lipid therapeutically.

What Are the Conditions That Are Seen With Lipidology?

The health conditions seen associated with increased lipid levels are:

• Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) - It is a condition of the heart characterized by long-term sclerotic deposition of fat in the blood vessels.

• Syndromes Related to Metabolic Disorders - Syndromes like kwashiorkor, marasmus, etc.

• Dyslipidemia - Abnormal blood lipid levels.

Conclusion:

In any disease, primary prevention plays a very important role as it decreases the progression of the disease. This is especially required in the case of people between the age group of 40 to 75 years. The average cholesterol levels should be 70 to 189 mg/dl in the case of LDL cholesterols. Hence, it is highly crucial to keep the cholesterol at proper levels, and to achieve this, many treatment modalities have come up. Lowering the cholesterol in the bloodstream is achieved by following a nutritious and mindful diet routine along with moderate physical activity regularly as a maintenance therapy. However, in patients with a rapid or consistent increase in lipid levels, it is brought to normal by putting the patients on anti-cholesterol or lipolytic drugs that minimize the cumulation of lipoproteins in the blood.