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 P testing

• Reveals the actual number of LDL particles carrying cholesterol in your blood.
• Spots cardiovascular risk missed by standard cholesterol panels alone.
• Explains why some people with normal LDL cholesterol still develop heart disease.
• Guides precision treatment decisions for statin therapy and lifestyle changes.
• Tracks how well diet, exercise, or medication reduce your particle burden.
• Clarifies discordance when LDL cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol don't align.
• Best interpreted alongside ApoB and standard lipid panel for complete risk assessment.

What is LDL P?

LDL P (low-density lipoprotein particle number) is a measure of how many LDL particles are circulating in your blood, regardless of how much cholesterol each one carries. Think of it as counting the number of delivery trucks on the road, not just the total cargo they're hauling.

The particle count matters more than you think

Each LDL particle is a tiny sphere that transports cholesterol and fats through your bloodstream to cells that need them. The outer shell is made of proteins and phospholipids, while the core holds cholesterol esters and triglycerides.

More particles mean more chances for trouble

LDL P reflects your actual exposure to atherogenic particles - the ones that can infiltrate artery walls and trigger plaque formation. Two people can have identical LDL cholesterol levels but very different particle counts.

Why counting particles changes the picture

A high particle number means more opportunities for LDL to lodge in arterial walls, even when total cholesterol looks normal. This makes LDL P a more direct marker of cardiovascular risk than cholesterol content alone.

Why is LDL P important?

LDL particle number (LDL P) counts the actual number of LDL cholesterol carriers in your blood, offering a more direct measure of cardiovascular risk than standard cholesterol tests. Each particle can lodge in artery walls and trigger plaque formation, so a higher particle count means more opportunities for damage - even when total LDL cholesterol looks normal. This biomarker reveals how efficiently your liver packages and clears fat, how your vessels respond to injury, and your long-term risk for heart attack and stroke.

More particles mean more risk

Optimal LDL P sits well below 1,000 nmol/L, with lower values strongly linked to healthier arteries. When particle counts rise above 1,200 to 1,400, cardiovascular risk climbs steeply, especially if particles are small and dense. High counts often appear alongside insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and inflammation, accelerating plaque buildup in coronary, carotid, and peripheral arteries.

Low counts protect your vessels

Very low LDL P - below 700 nmol/L - reflects efficient lipid clearance and minimal arterial threat. People in this range typically have lower inflammation, better insulin sensitivity, and reduced lifetime cardiovascular events. There are no adverse effects from having too few LDL particles.

The bigger picture

LDL P integrates signals from metabolism, liver function, and vascular health. It predicts heart disease more accurately than LDL cholesterol alone and helps identify hidden risk in people with normal lipid panels. Tracking particle number over time offers insight into how diet, weight, and metabolic health shape your arterial future.

What do my LDL P results mean?

Low LDL particle number

Low values usually reflect reduced production or increased clearance of LDL particles and are generally associated with lower cardiovascular risk. Very low levels may occur with genetic lipid disorders, severe malnutrition, hyperthyroidism, or malabsorption. In most contexts, lower LDL P is considered favorable for vascular health.

Optimal LDL particle number

Being in range suggests balanced lipoprotein metabolism with efficient cholesterol transport and clearance. For cardiovascular risk assessment, optimal typically sits toward the lower end of the reference range. Most evidence supports LDL P below 1000 nmol/L as associated with reduced atherosclerotic risk, though individual targets depend on overall metabolic and inflammatory context.

High LDL particle number

High values usually reflect increased hepatic production of VLDL particles that convert to LDL, reduced LDL receptor activity, or insulin resistance driving overproduction of apoB-containing lipoproteins. Elevated LDL P is strongly associated with increased cardiovascular risk, often more predictive than LDL cholesterol alone. High particle counts frequently accompany metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and familial hypercholesterolemia.

Factors that influence LDL P levels

LDL particle number rises with age and varies by sex, with premenopausal women typically showing lower values than men. Pregnancy, acute illness, and certain medications including statins and PCSK9 inhibitors significantly alter LDL P. Assay methodology differs across labs, so serial monitoring should use the same platform when possible.