Get tested with Superpower

If you’ve been postponing blood testing for years or feel frustrated by doctor appointments and limited lab panels, you are not alone. Standard healthcare is often reactive, focusing on testing only after symptoms appear or leaving patients in the dark.

Superpower flips that approach. We give you full insight into your body with over 100 biomarkers, personalized action plans, long-term tracking, and answers to your questions, so you can stay ahead of any health issues.

With physician-reviewed results, CLIA-certified labs, and the option for at-home blood draws, Superpower is designed for people who want clarity, convenience, and real accountability - all in one place.

Key benefits of Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) testing

• Reveals your cardiovascular risk by comparing protective to harmful cholesterol particles.
• Flags small, dense LDL patterns that standard cholesterol panels often miss.
• Guides personalized diet and lifestyle changes to lower heart disease risk.
• Tracks how well your interventions are shifting your lipid balance over time.
• Clarifies metabolic syndrome risk when combined with glucose and waist measurements.
• Identifies insulin resistance early, before prediabetes or diabetes develops.
• Best interpreted alongside triglycerides, HDL, and fasting glucose for full metabolic insight.

What is Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP)?

The Atherogenic Index of Plasma is a calculated marker that reflects the balance between protective and harmful cholesterol particles in your blood. It's derived from the ratio of triglycerides to HDL cholesterol, two standard lipid measurements. This simple calculation captures something important: the size and behavior of the cholesterol-carrying particles circulating in your arteries.

A window into particle size and artery risk

AIP helps estimate whether your LDL cholesterol particles are small and dense or large and fluffy. Small, dense LDL particles penetrate artery walls more easily and promote plaque formation. High triglycerides and low HDL tend to create more of these dangerous small particles.

Why it matters for cardiovascular health

This index reflects your metabolic state, particularly how well your body handles fats and sugars. It integrates information about insulin resistance, inflammation, and lipid metabolism into a single number. A higher AIP suggests a more atherogenic (plaque-promoting) lipid profile, signaling increased cardiovascular risk beyond what standard cholesterol numbers alone reveal.

Why is Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) important?

The Atherogenic Index of Plasma is a calculated ratio that reveals how aggressively your lipid profile is driving plaque formation inside artery walls. It compares triglycerides to HDL cholesterol, capturing the balance between fat-carrying particles that promote inflammation and those that protect against it. Lower values, typically below 0.1, signal a cardiovascular system under less oxidative stress, while values above 0.5 indicate heightened risk for atherosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke.

A window into particle size and inflammation

When AIP sits in the optimal range, your body is efficiently clearing triglycerides and maintaining larger, less dangerous LDL particles. Blood vessels remain flexible, inflammation stays low, and insulin sensitivity tends to be preserved. This metabolic harmony reduces the likelihood of plaque rupture and clot formation.

What rising numbers reveal about metabolic drift

Elevated AIP reflects a shift toward small, dense LDL particles that burrow into arterial walls more easily, triggering immune responses and chronic inflammation. Triglycerides climb when the liver is overwhelmed by excess carbohydrates or insulin resistance takes hold. Women after menopause and men over 40 often see AIP rise as hormonal protection wanes and visceral fat accumulates.

The long view on vascular aging

AIP integrates information that standard cholesterol panels miss, offering early warning of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and silent coronary disease. It connects lipid metabolism to endothelial health, clotting risk, and systemic inflammation, making it a powerful lens for understanding how your cardiovascular system is aging from the inside out.

What do my Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) results mean?

Low AIP values

Low values usually reflect a favorable lipid profile with larger, more buoyant LDL particles and higher protective HDL cholesterol relative to triglycerides. This pattern indicates lower cardiovascular risk and suggests efficient lipid metabolism with reduced tendency toward arterial plaque formation. Very low values are generally protective and not associated with adverse health effects.

Optimal AIP values

Being in range suggests balanced lipid metabolism with appropriate particle size distribution and reduced atherogenic potential. Most evidence indicates that optimal values sit at the lower end of the reference range, typically below 0.11, reflecting a lipid profile associated with minimal cardiovascular risk and healthy metabolic function.

High AIP values

High values usually reflect elevated triglycerides relative to HDL cholesterol, indicating a shift toward smaller, denser LDL particles that penetrate arterial walls more easily. This pattern signals increased cardiovascular risk and often accompanies insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, or chronic inflammation. The higher the index, the greater the atherogenic burden and metabolic dysfunction.

Factors that influence AIP interpretation

AIP responds rapidly to metabolic changes including recent meals, weight fluctuations, and acute illness. It tends to rise with age and may be temporarily elevated during pregnancy. Certain medications affecting lipid metabolism can shift the ratio independently of cardiovascular risk, so interpretation should consider the broader clinical and metabolic context.