What does the Apolipoprotein B test measure?

Why is Apolipoprotein B measured?

Apo-B is increasingly recognised as a more accurate marker of cardiovascular risk than LDL-cholesterol or non-HDL-cholesterol, because it enumerates the number of atherogenic particles rather than their cholesterol content. Patients with discordance — high particle number despite moderate LDL-cholesterol — carry greater risk, a pattern common in metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and hypertriglyceridaemia. International lipid guidelines now position Apo-B as a preferred target for risk assessment and treatment decisions, particularly when LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides do not align or when residual risk persists despite statin therapy.

Reference ranges

Standard reference

Approximately 40–125 mg/dL; varies by age, sex, and assay.

Functional medicine optimal

Contemporary guidelines suggest Apo-B <80 mg/dL for high-risk patients and <100 mg/dL for moderate-risk individuals; thresholds continue to evolve as evidence accumulates.

Units

mg/dL, g/L

Reference ranges vary by laboratory and assay platform. Interpret in context of the issuing laboratory's stated range.