Editing Lipoprotein (section)

===By density===
Lipoproteins may be classified as five major groups, listed from larger and lower density to smaller and higher density. Lipoproteins are larger and less dense when the fat to protein ratio is increased. They are classified on the basis of [[electrophoresis]], [[ultracentrifugation]] and [[nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy]] via the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkKn4pLY3AU   Vantera Analyzer].<ref>{{cite web|title=Vantera Clinical Analyzer - MDEA 2013 Finalist|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkKn4pLY3AU|website=YouTube.com|publisher=LipoScience, Inc. <!--|archive-url=https://www.google.com/#q=LipoScience+Inc.-->|location=2500 Sumner Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27616}}</ref>
* [[Chylomicron]]s carry triglycerides (fat) from the intestines to the liver, to [[skeletal muscle]], and to adipose tissue.
* [[Very-low-density lipoprotein]]s (VLDL) carry (newly synthesised) triglycerides from the liver to adipose tissue.
* [[Intermediate-density lipoprotein]]s (IDL) are intermediate between VLDL and LDL. They are not usually detectable in the blood when [[fasting]].
* [[Low-density lipoprotein]]s (LDL) carry 3,000 to 6,000 fat molecules (phospholipids, cholesterol, triglycerides, etc.) around the body. LDL particles are sometimes referred to as "bad" lipoprotein because concentrations of two kinds of LDL (sd-LDL and LPA), correlate with atherosclerosis progression. In healthy individuals, most LDL is large and buoyant (lb LDL).
** large buoyant LDL (lb LDL) particles
** small dense LDL (sd LDL) particles
** [[Lipoprotein(a)]] (LPA) is a lipoprotein particle of a certain phenotype
* [[High-density lipoprotein]]s (HDL) collect fat molecules from the body's cells/tissues and take them back to the liver. HDLs are sometimes referred to as "good" lipoprotein because higher concentrations correlate with low rates of atherosclerosis progression and/or regression.

For young healthy research subjects, ~70&nbsp;kg (154&nbsp;lb), these data represent averages across individuals studied, percentages represent % dry weight:
{| cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 border=1 style="border-collapse:collapse"
|bgcolor="#cccccc"| '''Density''' (g/m[[Litre|L]])
|bgcolor="#cccccc"| '''Class'''
|bgcolor="#cccccc"| '''Diameter''' (nm)
|bgcolor="#cccccc"| '''% protein'''
|bgcolor="#cccccc"| '''% cholesterol & cholesterol ester'''
|bgcolor="#cccccc"| '''% phospholipid'''
|bgcolor="#cccccc"| '''% triglyceride<br />'''
|-
| >1.063
| [[High-density lipoprotein|HDL]]
| 5–15
| 33
| 30
| 29
| 4-8
|-
| 1.019–1.063
| [[Low-density lipoprotein|LDL]]
| 18–28
| 25
| 46-50
| 21-22
| 8-10
|-
| 1.006–1.019
| [[Intermediate-density lipoprotein|IDL]]
| 25–50
| 18
| 29
| 22
| 31
|-
| 0.95–1.006
| [[VLDL]]
| 30–80
| 10
| 22
| 18
| 50
|-
| <0.95
| [[Chylomicrons]]
| 75-1200
| 1-2
| 8
| 7
| 83-84
|} <ref>''Biochemistry'' 2nd Ed. 1995 Garrett & Grisham</ref><ref>''Principles of Biochemistry'' 2nd Ed. 1995 Zubay, Parson and Vance</ref> However, these data are not necessarily reliable for any one individual or for the general clinical population.