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 HDL P testing

• Reveals the number of HDL particles carrying cholesterol away from arteries.
• Spots cardiovascular risk missed by standard HDL cholesterol alone.
• Explains why some people with normal HDL still face heart disease.
• Guides precision treatment by showing particle count, not just cholesterol load.
• Tracks how lifestyle changes or medications improve your protective particle number.
• Clarifies metabolic health when paired with ApoB and triglyceride levels.
• Best interpreted with LDL P, triglycerides, and your cardiovascular history.

What is HDL P?

HDL P stands for high-density lipoprotein particle number. It counts the total number of HDL particles circulating in your blood, rather than measuring the cholesterol cargo they carry. Each HDL particle is a tiny sphere made of proteins and fats that travels through your bloodstream.

HDL particles are cholesterol shuttles, not just cholesterol containers

These particles are produced mainly by your liver and intestines. They act as reverse transport vehicles, picking up excess cholesterol from tissues and artery walls and ferrying it back to the liver for disposal or recycling.

More particles may mean better cholesterol cleanup

HDL P reflects how many of these cleanup crews you have on patrol. A higher particle count suggests more active reverse cholesterol transport, which is generally protective against plaque buildup in arteries. Unlike HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), which measures only the cholesterol content inside the particles, HDL P tells you how many functional transporters are actually working. This distinction matters because particle number often correlates more closely with cardiovascular health than cholesterol weight alone.

Why is HDL P important?

HDL particle number (HDL P) counts the actual number of high-density lipoprotein particles circulating in your blood, offering a more precise window into cardiovascular protection than HDL cholesterol alone. Each HDL particle acts as a microscopic shuttle, pulling excess cholesterol from artery walls and ferrying it back to the liver for disposal - a process called reverse cholesterol transport. Higher particle counts generally signal more robust clearance capacity, while lower counts suggest fewer shuttles available to protect your vessels.

When particle count runs low

Fewer HDL particles mean less efficient cholesterol removal from arterial tissue, even if cholesterol content per particle appears normal. This raises risk for plaque buildup, endothelial dysfunction, and systemic inflammation. People may feel no symptoms early on, but over time the cardiovascular system bears the burden through stiffening arteries and elevated heart disease risk.

When particle count climbs high

Elevated HDL P typically reflects enhanced reverse cholesterol transport and stronger anti-inflammatory defenses along vessel walls. This is generally favorable, though extremely high counts warrant investigation for rare genetic lipid disorders. Women often carry higher HDL P than men due to estrogen's influence, and pregnancy can shift particle dynamics as metabolism adapts.

The bigger cardiovascular picture

HDL P integrates tightly with insulin sensitivity, liver function, and inflammatory tone. It complements other lipid markers - like LDL P and apolipoprotein B - to map true atherosclerotic risk. Long-term, robust HDL particle counts support vascular health, metabolic resilience, and lower lifetime cardiovascular event rates.

What do my HDL P results mean?

Low HDL particle count

Low values usually reflect reduced production or accelerated clearance of HDL particles, often seen with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, or chronic inflammation. Fewer HDL particles mean less capacity for reverse cholesterol transport, the process that moves cholesterol from tissues back to the liver. This pattern is common in people with central adiposity, sedentary habits, or diets high in refined carbohydrates. Women typically have higher HDL P than men at all ages due to estrogen's influence on lipoprotein metabolism.

Optimal HDL particle count

Being in range suggests efficient cholesterol efflux and healthy lipid trafficking between tissues and the liver. Optimal HDL P values tend to sit in the mid to upper portion of the reference range, reflecting robust particle production and turnover. This supports vascular health and balanced inflammatory signaling.

High HDL particle count

High values usually reflect enhanced HDL production or slower clearance, often associated with favorable metabolic health, regular physical activity, or genetic variants that upregulate HDL synthesis. Extremely elevated HDL P is uncommon but may occur with certain lipid disorders or cholesterol ester transfer protein deficiency.

Factors that influence HDL P

HDL particle count is influenced by sex hormones, body composition, physical activity level, and medications such as statins or fibrates. Acute illness and inflammation can temporarily suppress HDL P. Assay methodology varies across labs, so trends over time within the same laboratory are most informative.