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 Large HDL P testing

• Measures the number of large HDL particles that remove cholesterol from arteries.
• Spots protective cholesterol transport even when standard HDL cholesterol looks normal.
• Flags cardiovascular risk more precisely than HDL cholesterol alone.
• Guides lifestyle and medication decisions to boost heart-protective particle function.
• Tracks how diet, exercise, or treatment improves your cholesterol clearance over time.
• Explains why some people with "good" HDL levels still face heart disease.
• Best interpreted with ApoA1, small HDL P, and lipid panel results.

What is Large HDL P?

Large HDL P (large high-density lipoprotein particle concentration) measures the number of the biggest HDL particles circulating in your blood. These particles are made primarily in the liver and intestines, then mature as they travel through the bloodstream, picking up cholesterol from cells and tissues.

The body's most efficient cholesterol collectors

Large HDL particles are considered the most effective form of HDL at reverse cholesterol transport. This is the process by which excess cholesterol is pulled from artery walls and other tissues and shuttled back to the liver for disposal or recycling.

Size matters in the HDL family

Unlike smaller, denser HDL particles that are still maturing, large HDL particles represent the fully functional form. They carry more cholesterol per particle and interact more efficiently with cell surface receptors. Their concentration reflects how well your body is managing cholesterol removal from the periphery, making them a window into the active cleanup work happening in your cardiovascular system.

Why is Large HDL P important?

Large HDL particles are the most mature, cholesterol-rich form of HDL and serve as the primary vehicles for reverse cholesterol transport - the process that pulls excess cholesterol from artery walls and tissues back to the liver for disposal. Higher counts of large HDL particles generally reflect a well-functioning system for clearing cholesterol and reducing cardiovascular risk. Optimal values tend to sit toward the higher end of the reference range.

When large HDL particles run low

Fewer large HDL particles suggest impaired cholesterol clearance and often accompany insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, or chronic inflammation. This pattern is common in people with central obesity or prediabetes. Over time, reduced large HDL can leave cholesterol stranded in vessel walls, raising the risk of atherosclerosis even when total HDL cholesterol appears normal.

When large HDL particles are elevated

Higher counts of large HDL particles indicate robust reverse cholesterol transport and are associated with lower cardiovascular risk. This pattern is often seen in people who are physically active, maintain healthy body composition, and have favorable metabolic health. Women typically have higher large HDL particle counts than men, partly due to estrogen's influence on HDL maturation.

The bigger cardiovascular picture

Large HDL particle count offers a more precise window into heart health than HDL cholesterol alone, because it reflects the actual number of functional cholesterol transporters. It connects closely with insulin sensitivity, liver function, and systemic inflammation, making it a valuable marker for long-term metabolic and cardiovascular resilience.

What do my Large HDL P results mean?

Low values of large HDL particles

Low values usually reflect reduced reverse cholesterol transport capacity and less efficient removal of cholesterol from peripheral tissues. This pattern often appears alongside metabolic dysfunction, insulin resistance, or chronic inflammation, where HDL particles become smaller and less functional. Women typically have higher large HDL particle counts than men across all life stages. Low counts may signal increased cardiovascular risk even when total HDL cholesterol appears normal, because particle size and function matter more than cholesterol content alone.

Optimal values of large HDL particles

Being in range suggests robust reverse cholesterol transport and healthy HDL metabolism. Large HDL particles are the most mature and functionally active form, efficiently shuttling cholesterol back to the liver for excretion. Optimal values tend to sit in the mid to upper portion of the reference range and correlate with lower cardiovascular risk and better metabolic health.

High values of large HDL particles

High values usually reflect enhanced reverse cholesterol transport and are generally considered protective. Extremely elevated counts are uncommon but may occur with certain genetic variants affecting lipid metabolism or with medications that increase HDL particle size. Very high levels are rarely associated with adverse outcomes.

Factors that influence large HDL particle levels

Pregnancy, hormone therapy, alcohol intake, and medications like statins or fibrates can all shift HDL particle size distribution. Acute illness and inflammation temporarily reduce large HDL particles. Advanced lipoprotein testing methods vary by laboratory, so trends over time within the same assay are most informative.