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 LDL-C / ApoB testing

• Reveals your true cardiovascular risk beyond standard cholesterol numbers alone.
• Spots hidden particle burden that drives plaque buildup in arteries.
• Flags discordance when LDL-C looks normal but ApoB shows elevated risk.
• Guides precision treatment decisions for statins, lifestyle changes, or advanced therapies.
• Tracks response to interventions and confirms whether your strategy is working.
• Clarifies risk in metabolic conditions like diabetes, insulin resistance, or obesity.
• Best interpreted together: ApoB counts all atherogenic particles; LDL-C estimates cholesterol content.

What is LDL-C / ApoB?

LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) measures the amount of cholesterol carried inside LDL particles circulating in your blood. These particles are produced by the liver and transport cholesterol from the liver to tissues throughout the body. Each LDL particle is wrapped in a single molecule of apolipoprotein B (ApoB), which acts as the structural scaffold and docking key that allows the particle to deliver its cargo into cells.

Two ways to count the same delivery trucks

LDL-C estimates cholesterol content per particle, while ApoB directly counts the number of particles themselves. Because each particle carries one ApoB molecule, ApoB provides a more accurate picture of how many cholesterol-delivery vehicles are in circulation.

Why these particles matter for your arteries

LDL particles can penetrate and become trapped in artery walls, triggering inflammation and plaque buildup over time. The more particles present, especially smaller, cholesterol-light ones, the greater the risk. This makes both LDL-C and ApoB central markers of cardiovascular risk, with ApoB often revealing hidden danger that LDL-C alone might miss.

Why is LDL-C / ApoB important?

LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B measure the number and cholesterol content of particles that deposit fat into artery walls, driving atherosclerosis - the root cause of heart attacks and strokes. Every LDL particle carries one ApoB protein, making ApoB a direct count of atherogenic particles, while LDL-C estimates the cholesterol they carry. Lower values are almost always better for cardiovascular protection.

When levels stay low

Values well below population averages reflect minimal arterial threat. The body still produces enough cholesterol for cell membranes, hormones, and brain function even when LDL-C sits under 70 mg/dL or ApoB under 65 mg/dL. There are no symptoms of deficiency in healthy adults, and cardiovascular risk drops substantially.

When levels climb high

Elevated LDL-C or ApoB accelerates plaque buildup in coronary, carotid, and peripheral arteries. You feel nothing as this happens, but over years the process narrows vessels, starves tissues of oxygen, and sets the stage for clot-triggered events. Women before menopause often have lower values due to estrogen's protective effects, but risk equalizes afterward. Children and teens with familial hypercholesterolemia can develop early vascular damage.

The long view on arterial health

LDL-C and ApoB integrate tightly with metabolic health, inflammation, and endothelial function. Cumulative exposure over decades determines whether arteries age gracefully or harden prematurely. Tracking both markers offers a clearer picture of particle burden and guides strategies to preserve vascular integrity across the lifespan.

What do my LDL-C / ApoB results mean?

Low LDL-C or ApoB levels

Low values usually reflect reduced circulating apolipoprotein B particles, often due to genetic variants, malabsorption syndromes, severe liver disease, or hyperthyroidism. Very low LDL-C may accompany malnutrition or chronic inflammatory states. In rare cases, inherited conditions like abetalipoproteinemia prevent normal lipoprotein assembly. While lower LDL-C is generally associated with reduced cardiovascular risk, extremely low levels warrant investigation for underlying metabolic or absorptive dysfunction.

Optimal LDL-C and ApoB levels

Being in range suggests balanced hepatic lipoprotein production and clearance, with stable cholesterol transport to peripheral tissues. For cardiovascular health, optimal values tend toward the lower end of traditional reference ranges. ApoB provides a direct particle count and often clarifies risk better than LDL-C alone, especially when triglycerides are elevated or particle size is small. Concordance between LDL-C and ApoB supports straightforward interpretation.

High LDL-C or ApoB levels

High values usually reflect increased numbers of circulating apoB-containing particles, driven by genetic factors, insulin resistance, hypothyroidism, or nephrotic syndrome. Elevated particle burden accelerates cholesterol deposition in arterial walls, raising atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk. Discordance between LDL-C and ApoB often indicates small, dense LDL particles, which carry disproportionate atherogenic potential.

Factors that influence LDL-C and ApoB interpretation

Pregnancy typically lowers LDL-C in early trimesters then raises it in the third. Acute illness, recent weight change, and certain medications alter results. ApoB measurement is less affected by triglyceride levels than calculated LDL-C, improving accuracy in metabolic syndrome.