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"&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Lipoprotein(a), also known as Lp(a), is a low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or \u201Cbad\u201D cholesterol) that has another form of protein, called a glycoprotein, bonded to it. (The name of this glycoprotein is &amp;lt;em&amp;gt;apolipoprotein(a).&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;)&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Researchers are still working to understand lipoprotein(a) and the ways it may affect your health. However, some studies suggest\u00A0that having high levels of lipoprotein(a) circulating in your blood could put you at a higher risk for developing heart disease.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;What Does Lipoprotein(a) Do?&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Made in your liver and then entering your bloodstream, lipoprotein(a) has been shown to build up under the inner lining of arteries. This buildup may contribute to the development of\u00A0atherosclerosis\u00A0\u2014formation of fatty plaques in your arteries that can lead to heart disease, heart attack, and stroke\u2014by promoting\u00A0arterial inflammation (redness and swelling) and formation of foam cells, fatty cells that attach to atherosclerotic plaques. In addition:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;High levels of lipoprotein(a) are believed to be most damaging to arterial walls when a person&amp;amp;#39;s level of LDL (\u201Cbad\u201D) cholesterol is also high.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Higher lipoprotein(a) levels have been shown to lower the chances of survival in a person who\u2019s had a heart attack.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;What Levels of Lipoprotein(a) Are Considered Normal?&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Blood test findings for levels of lipoprotein(a) are expressed in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). A level of 30 mg/dL is considered normal. Findings higher than 30 mg/dL may indicate a 2- to 3-fold increased risk for heart disease.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;However, lipoprotein(a) levels aren\u2019t part of the routine lipid panel blood test, which measures levels of &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-a-total-cholesterol-level-698073&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;total cholesterol&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, LDL and HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides (a form of fat found throughout the body). That\u2019s because 1) not enough is known about lipoprotein(a)\u2019s effect on heart health and 2) it\u2019s found in only about 15% of the general population, with persons of non-Hispanic Caucasian, Chinese, and Japanese origins having the lowest levels.&amp;lt;br/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;br/&amp;gt;That said, there are a few situations where it may be best to routinely check lipoprotein(a) levels. Mainly, these are when a person has:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Diagnosed heart disease and normal levels of HDL, LDL, and triglycerides&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;A strong family history of heart disease but, again, normal HDL, LDL, and triglyceride levels&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Continuing high LDL levels despite receiving aggressive treatment&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;\u201CShould I Try to Lower My Lipoprotein(a) Levels?\u201D&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Unfortunately, because lipoprotein(a) levels are mainly influenced by your genes, the usual recommendations \u2013 a healthy diet, regular exercise, and (most) &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/drugs-for-cholesterol-and-triglycerides-1745831&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;cholesterol-lowering medications&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;\u2014do not have much effect on lowering them. Niacin has shown some promise in clinical studies for lowering lipoprotein(a) levels. However, it\u2019s not routinely used for that purpose.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If you\u2019re trying to lower your risk of developing heart disease, it\u2019s best to put lipoprotein(a) on the treatment \u201Cback burner\u201D for now and focus instead on methods for reducing the well-established\u00A0risk factors for heart disease. As you probably know, these include lowering your blood pressure if it\u2019s too high, lowering high\u00A0LDL\u00A0cholesterol, and raising low\u00A0HDL\u00A0cholesterol. Multiple studies have shown that targeting these risk factors can help reduce your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Sources:&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Erquo S, Kaptoge S, Perry PL et al. Lipoprotein(a) concentration and the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and nonvascular mortality. JAMA 2009; 302:412-423.&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Boffa MB, Koschinsky ML, Berglund L. Lipoprotein(a): a unique risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Clin Lab Med 2006;26:751-772.&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;\u201CTest ID: LIPA-lipoprotein (a) serum.\u201D Mayo Clinic-Mayo Medical Laboratories (2016).\u00A0&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Kang S. \u201CWhat is lipoprotein (a) and what does it mean for you?\u201D HealthCentral (2008).\u00A0 \u00A0&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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