Remnant cholesterol is composed primarily of VLDL, IDL and chylomicron remnants
Remnant cholesterol, also known as remnant lipoprotein and triglyceride-rich lipoprotein cholesterol is an atherogeniclipoprotein composed primarily of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL) with chylomicron remnants.[1][2][3] Elevated remnant cholesterol is associated with increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and stroke.[3][4]
Remnant cholesterol is the cholesterol content of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, which consist of very low-density lipoproteins and intermediate-density lipoproteins with chylomicron remnants.[2][5] Remnant cholesterol is primarily chylomicron and VLDL, and each remnant particle contains about 40 times more cholesterol than LDL.[6]
Remnant cholesterol corresponds to all cholesterol not found in high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C). It is calculated as total cholesterol minus HDL-C and LDL-C.[7]
Health effects
Elevated remnant cholesterol is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, chronic inflammation, myocardial infarction and stroke.[4][5][8][9] Remnant cholesterol is especially predictive of coronary artery disease in patients with normal total cholesterol.[10][11]
High plasma remnant cholesterol is associated with increased plasma triglyceride levels.[12] Hypertriglyceridemia is characteristic of high plasma remnant cholesterol, but persons with high plasma triglycerides without high remnant cholesterol rarely have coronary artery disease.[13]
Remnant cholesterol has about twice the association with ischemic heart disease as LDL cholesterol.[14] Although remnant cholesterol tends to be higher in people who are overweight (high body mass index), normal-weight persons with high remnant cholesterol tend to have a higher risk of myocardial infarction.[15]
Lowering remnant cholesterol
Vupanorsen, an ANGPTL3 inhibitor has been shown to lower remnant cholesterol up to 59%.[16]
↑"Premature myocardial infarction is strongly associated with increased levels of remnant cholesterol". Journal of Clinical Lipidology9 (6): 801–6.e1. 2015. doi:10.1016/j.jacl.2015.08.009. PMID26687701.
↑"Association of remnant-like particle cholesterol with coronary artery disease in patients with normal total cholesterol levels". American Heart Journal139 ((2 Pt 1)): 305–310. 2000. doi:10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2008.05.024. PMID10650304.
↑"Triglycerides and remnant particles as risk factors for coronary artery disease". Current Atherosclerosis Reports8 (2): 107–110. 2006. doi:10.1007/s11883-006-0047-3. PMID16510044.
↑"Remnant lipoproteins as strong key particles to atherogenesis". Journal of Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis16 (3): 145–154. 2009. doi:10.5551/jat.E598. PMID19556722.
↑"Remnant cholesterol as a causal risk factor for ischemic heart disease". Journal of the American College of Cardiology61 (4): 427–436. 2013. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2012.08.1026. PMID23265341.
↑"Remnant Cholesterol and Myocardial Infarction in Normal Weight, Overweight, and Obese Individuals from the Copenhagen General Population Study". Clinical Chemistry64 (1): 219–230. 2018. doi:10.1373/clinchem.2017.279463. PMID29021326.