oxidized LDL Cholesterol OXLDL

LDL cholesterol oxidized from SERUM (code OXLDL)

By request of acupuncturist: "Years ago, Professor Paul Holvoet of the Department of Atherosclerosis and Metabolism at the Faculty of Medicine in Leuven developed a blood test to measure oxidized LDL. Unfortunately, this test is not done in the Netherlands. It is an important test that can predict cardiovascular disease. My cholesterol, especially the LDL, is highly elevated and I cannot tolerate statins, so for me (and for a lot of other people) this would be a great test."

Blood test predicts cardiovascular disease
LEUVEN 30-6-2006 At K.U.Leuven, Professor Paul Holvoet of the Department of Atherosclerosis and Metabolism has developed a blood test that can detect the risk of cardiovascular disease earlier. This is a world first.
Professor Holvoet's team designed a test that can detect oxidized LDL cholesterol in the blood for the first time. The researchers applied the test to more than 3,000 blood samples. It showed that people with elevated oxidized LDL cholesterol are at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease within 10 years, even if their normal LDL and HDL cholesterol levels are completely normal. The study thus also confirms the suspicion that LDL cholesterol definitely becomes harmful when oxidized.

To calculate heart disease risk, one normally looks at the ratio of high density lipoprotein (HDL) to low density lipoprotein (LDL). Those with too much LDL in their blood are at higher risk. This is only partially true, according to the studies of the Leuven scientists.

It had been suspected for some time that LDL itself is not bad, Professor Holvoet said, Experiments in animals did show that it plays a role in the development of cardiovascular disease when oxidized. The problem was that this suspicion could not be confirmed in humans because there was no specific test to detect oxidized LDL in the blood. So that test now exists.

LDL oxidizes when certain substances are released into the blood. Smoking and elevated glucose levels contribute to this. A healthier lifestyle can lower oxidized LDL, which can be done from as young as 15 years of age.

Avoid the following at least 24 hours before the blood test: cocoa, black tea, coffee and liquorice.