Cholesterol Test For Heart Disease Promising
VAP Test Provides Additional Cardio Markers to Assess Risk
Apr 17, 2009
The VAP, Vertical Auto Profile, developed by Atherotech, Inc., a cardio-diagnostic company is proving to be a more useful marker for assessing true cholesterol levels and risk for heart disease than routine screenings.
Scientists at the University of Maryland through the HAPI (Hereditary and Phenotype Intervention) Heart Study, uncovered a gene mutation in 5% of the participants that prevents the production of a heart disease risk protein (apoC-III), a protein that leads to higher rates of artherosclerosis. ("VAP cholesterol test helps find link between a rare gene mutation and heart protection," News-Medical Net, February, 17, 2009)
VAP Cholesterol Test More Detailed
Routine blood cholesterol screenings only measure overall levels of the "good" HDL cholesterol (high density lipoproteins), the "bad" LDL cholesterol (low density lipoproteins), and tryglycerides, a compound consisting of three molecules of fatty acid esterified to glycerol; a neutral fat that is the usual storage form of lipids in the body.
The VAP cholesterol test however, is a more sensitive marker because it identifies more than 90% of people at risk for cardiovascular disease, compared to 40% for routine cholesterol screenings. While the standard screening reports four components of blood cholesterol, The VAP includes twenty.
Researchers for the HAPI study found that the VAP profile revealed that people who carry a particular mutation in their gene have much lower levels of remnant, (leftover) lipoprotein, the particles created during the absorption and clearance of tryglcerides from dietary fat.
The VAP test measures, among a number of other factors, the size and pattern of the LDL cholesterol which determines how easily the body can remove it. LDL can occur in an A, A/B or B pattern. In A pattern, the LDL molecules are larger, less dense allowing them to move more easily through the body. In an A/B pattern, the LDL molecules are a mixture of light and dense. In the B pattern, there are mostly small, high density LDL molecules, making it harder for the body to eliminate them. Someone with a B pattern has four times the risk of developing heart disease than someone with an A pattern.
In addition the VAP test further breaks down the HDL "good" cholesterol into HDL-2, the most heart protective form of HDL and HDL-3, the less heart protective form.
Endorsed By Diabetes and Cardiology Associations.
Atherotech, Inc. reports that the advanced lipid profile VAP complies with current recommendations for more accurate, direct low-density lipoprotein (LDL) measurement. VAP tests report all three lipoprotein measures endorsed by the American Diabetes Association and American College of Cardiology expert consensus guidelines. This advanced lipid profile has also been named as one of Forbes.com's list of "Ten Ways to Live Longer" and one of "Five Tests Worth Paying For" by the Wall Street Journal.
Who Should Get the VAP Test?
Half of all patients who have had heart attacks had normal cholesterol levels. While many people believe eating healthy, exercising, being a woman, or scoring a "normal" on their routine cholesterol puts them at low risk for heart disease, these are actually cholesterol and heart disease myths.
The following factors put someone at increased risk for heart disease:
- Tryglycerides greater than 50
- HDL lower than 40
- LDL greater than 130
- Total cholesterol greater than 200
- Diabetes or family history of diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Thyroid problems
- Obstructive liver disease
- Kidney failure
- Abdominal obesity
VAP Cholesterol Test Result Implications
VAP's expanded cholesterol profile may help researchers develop heart disease risk-lowering drugs and identify people at higher risk of heart disease. "The VAP Test, which is covered by most insurance carriers and Medicare, provides physicans with direct measurement of LDL, HDL and all relevant cholesterol subclasses. ("Vap Cholesterol test helps find link between rare gene mutation and heart protection," News-Medical Net, February 17,2009).
VAP results provide a more a more sensitive and accurate cholesterol and heart disease assessment than routine cholesterol screens. Armed with this information people at risk can begin lipid-lowering therapies such as statins, niacin, fish oil, exercise and losing weight.
Additional Resources:
The Edge Effect: Balancing Your Brain For Optimal Health & Avoiding Disease
Psychological Distress, Inflammation and Disease
Magnesium: The Missing Health Supplement
 |
