II. Physiology
- See Lipoprotein
- Very light (0.93 to 1.006 g/ml), large (30-80 nm) Lipoproteins whose cores are primarily Triglycerides
- Surface is a phospholipid and Cholesterol monolayer with embedded apolipoprotein B, E and C
- Transport Triglycerides from the liver to Muscle and fat cells
- As Triglycerides and Apo C are off-loaded, VLDL becomes intermediate density Lipoprotein (IDL), and then LDL Cholesterol
III. Components
- Triglycerides
- Cholesterol and Cholesterol esters
IV. Interpretation: Normal
- Normal: 10-31 mg/dl
- Calculation
- VLDL Cholesterol = (Triglycerides / 5)
V. Causes: Increased
- Idiopathic increased hepatic secretion of VLDL
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Obesity