Advanced Lipid Testing

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a measurement of your body’s response to damaged artery walls that have become thin, cracked, and ultimately unstable due to cholesterol accumulation and inflammation. Presence of MPO is linked to increased risk of impending heart attack or stroke

hs-CRP – Elevated levels have been linked to chronic inflammation in the blood vessel wall

Oxidized LDL (oxLDL) – Oxidized LDL is damaged LDL, and it is one of the first steps in plaque build-up

F2-isoprostane is a ‘lifestyle marker’ that measures the amount of oxidation in your body that may damage your blood vessel (endothelial) lining

ADMA is a marker of endothelial damage and represents loss of nitric oxide, a molecule that protects and repairs the endothelium. An elevated ADMA is also associated with risk of insulin resistance and prediabetes.

Urine microalbumin – Microalbumin is small amounts of protein in the urine which are associated with a 3 times increased risk of cardiovascular disease. These microscopic urinary proteins represent damage to the smallest blood vessels of the arterial system called capillaries.

Apolipoprotein B is the primary protein found on the surface of LDL (ie the “bad” cholesterol) and Lipoprotein (a) (Lpa). The presence of ApoB on these atherogenic lipids makes it easier for them to get caught in the lining of the blood vessel and create deadly plaque. It is a more direct measurement of the total body burden of “bad” cholesterol than LDL or Lpa alone.

Sd-LDL – Small dense LDL is more easily oxidized, has a higher affinity for vessel walls, and remains in the circulation longer because it is less likely to be cleared by the liver, making it more atherogenic than larger LDL particles

Lp(a) is a genetically determined cholesterol-rich LDL particle that is not affected by changes in lifestyle and can increase atherosclerotic plaquing

Large studies have shown that elevated uric acid levels are associated with an increased incidence of heart disease and corresponding death.

NT-pro BNP reveals early signs of excessive stretching of heart cells and is linked to the development of congestive heart failure.

Coenzyme Q10 is crucial of muscle energy production, and is affected by use of statin drugs. Lack of healthy CoQ10 levels may be caused by insufficient dietary intake, impairment of CoQ10 biosynthesis, poor gastrointestinal absorption, and/or excessive utilization of CoQ10 by the body.

OmegaCheck measures the balance of omega fats in your diet and helps us guide treatment with these beneficial fats.

AspirinWorks– A urine test which allows us to monitor effectiveness of aspirin usage for cardiovascular prevention.

ApoE is a protein that carries lipids and cholesterol in the blood back to the liver for processing. Defects in this gene prevent normal cholesterol metabolism and may lead to increased risk for cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer’s disease

9p21 – also known as “the heart attack gene”, 9p21 increases risk for cardiovascular disease up to two fold in those who carry it by causing instability to the blood vessel wall. Knowing your risk with the gene can help you determine how aggressive your treatment approach should be.

Adiponectin – Adiponectin modulates glucose levels, insulin sensitivity, and lipid breakdown, as well as helping proper endothelial functioning and has multiple anti-inflammatory properties. Individuals with low adiponectin levels have a 3X greater risk of developing metabolic syndrome.