LDL Cholesterol (Direct)

Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C), often called "bad" cholesterol, measures the cholesterol content within LDL particles. While a standard marker for cardiovascular risk, it can sometimes be discordant with particle number (ApoB or LDL-P). High LDL-C contributes to atherosclerosis. For longevity and aggressive risk reduction, optimal targets are often set much lower than standard guidelines. Ranges assume no underlying medical conditions such as prior heart disease (in which case, targets like <55 mg/dL may be appropriate).