Plasma lipoproteins are categorized from high density lipoproteins, intermediate density lipoproteins, low density lipoproteins, and very low density lipoproteins according to their density, and abnormal levels of any of these suggest the possibility of disease.
Plasma lipoproteins are the form in which lipids are present, transported and metabolized in the blood. Ultra-high speed centrifugation classifies lipoproteins into several categories, including high-density lipoprotein HDL, intermediate-density lipoprotein IDL, low-density lipoprotein LDL, and very-low-density lipoprotein VLDL, according to their density, which gradually decreases.
The density of lipoproteins is mainly related to the ratio of proteins to lipids they contain; the more triacylglycerol and cholesterol they contain, the lower their density.
Abnormalities in the levels of these lipoproteins indicate an increased likelihood of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease and require prompt intervention.