Lipid triad or atherogenic lipoprotein phenotype: a role in cardiovascular prevention?
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review synthesizing mechanistic concepts and clinical guidelines without systematic review methodology
PubMed 16205019 · doi:10.5551/jat.12.237
What was done
This narrative review examined the concept of the lipid triad or atherogenic lipoprotein phenotype—characterized by elevated plasma triglycerides, decreased HDL-cholesterol, and small dense LDL particles—and evaluated its clinical importance and therapeutic implications in cardiovascular disease prevention based on existing literature and National Cholesterol Education Program guidance.
What was found
The abstract reports no quantitative data or numerical effect estimates. It notes qualitatively that the atherogenic lipoprotein phenotype is common among patients with coronary artery disease, that therapies targeting triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol reduce cardiovascular risk, and that treatment-induced increases in LDL particle size correlate with the regression of coronary stenosis.
Why it matters
The paper highlights that addressing the full atherogenic dyslipidemia triad, including LDL particle size, may provide meaningful cardiovascular risk assessment and treatment targets beyond measuring standard LDL-cholesterol levels alone.
Limits
As a narrative review, it lacks a systematic search strategy, explicit study selection criteria, and formal data pooling. The abstract contains no primary data, sample sizes, or quantitative risk reduction metrics.
Cited by
- supports People with heart disease or higher heart disease risk tend to have a higher proportion of smaller, denser LDL particles, whereas healthier individuals have more large, buoyant LDL particles.