THE FOUR TYPES OF LIPOPROTEINS

The four types of Lipoproteins

Lipoproteins are divided into four main classes according to density: chylomicrons, VLDL, LDL, and HDL (Figure 1). Lower - density lipoproteins are characterized by a higher fat-to-protein ratio (fat is lighter) and therefore float more easily in the blood. Here are the basics about the four classes of lipoproteins in order of increasing density.
• Chylomicrons are the least dense of all the lipoproteins and are basically just big balls of fat (triglycerides), with a makeup of about 90 percent fat, a touch of phospholipids, some cholesterol, and a smidgin of protein.

• VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein) carries a great amount of fat, some phospholipids, and cholesterol. The high fat content of VLDL makes a large quantity of this lipoprotein in the blood undesirable.

• LDL (low-density lipoprotein, or "bad" cholesterol) has only a fraction of the fat and double the percentage of protein of VLDL and is very high in cholesterol. This lipoprotein carries the majority of cholesterol in the blood and is considered the unhealthy one.

• HDL (high-density lipoprotein, or "good" cholesterol) is a spherical blob of mostly protein (albeit a type different from that found in LDL), some cholesterol, phospholipids, and very little fat. The densest of all the lipoproteins, HDL is the healthy one.