Home › Biomarkers › Lipoprotein(a)
Doctors usually call an Lp(a) level raised at 50 mg/dL or higher. The higher the level, the greater the chance of heart and blood vessel conditions.[1]
On this page, you can read what lipoprotein(a) is, what the guidelines say about a value that is too low or too high, what affects your value and which other values are best looked at alongside it.
Also known as: Lp(a), lipoprotein(a). At the lab: LPA.
Lipoprotein(a), Lp(a) for short, is a particular fat particle in your blood. It resembles LDL cholesterol, the 'bad' cholesterol. The difference is an extra protein attached to Lp(a).[1]
Lp(a) belongs to the cholesterol particles that together are called non-HDL. Alongside LDL cholesterol, these particles also contribute to problems in the arteries. Non-HDL is your total cholesterol minus your HDL cholesterol.[1]
The extra protein can cause inflammation in the blood vessels and a greater chance of blood clots. Researchers see that Lp(a) promotes inflammation. This is partly linked to certain fats that Lp(a) carries.[1, 2]
Do you have a high Lp(a) level? Then the chance of heart and blood vessel conditions is greater. Think of problems with the blood vessels of the heart or the brain, or a narrowing of a heart valve. This can also be the case if your LDL level is normal.[1]
Research in hundreds of thousands of people from different backgrounds points to a direct and continuous link between Lp(a) and conditions of the heart and blood vessels. A high Lp(a) still counts, even if your LDL cholesterol is very low.[2]
A high Lp(a) is also linked to calcium deposits in the aortic valve, one of the valves of the heart. This applies to both small and larger deposits.[2]
The lab BioProfile works with, Labplusarts, uses a reference range of 0.0 to 0.3 g/l for Lp(a). The lab calls a level between those limits normal.[3]
| Value | What it can mean | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| 50 mg/dL or higher[1] | Raised: may point to a higher chance of heart and blood vessel conditions | Results in mg/dL, the unit doctors usually use |
| 105 nmol/L or higher[1] | Raised, measured in a different unit | Results from laboratories that measure in nmol/L |
| Higher above that threshold[1] | The higher the level, the greater the chance of heart and blood vessel conditions | Everyone with a raised level |
Source: Hartstichting, Cholesterol. The thresholds at which doctors usually call an Lp(a) level raised.[1]
According to a European expert panel, a very low Lp(a) level may be linked to a greater chance of a condition affecting blood sugar regulation. The panel considers that this link needs further research.[2]
A high Lp(a) level can point to a greater chance of heart and blood vessel conditions, even if your LDL level is normal. Lp(a) itself is hard to lower with lifestyle or medication. That is why your doctor looks at your overall risk, such as blood pressure, cholesterol and smoking.[1]
BioProfile is working on its own zones for each value, from risk to optimal. A doctor reviews those zones before they appear in your result.
Your genes determine your Lp(a). The level barely changes over your lifetime. That is why one measurement is usually enough.[1]
Lp(a) itself is hard to lower with lifestyle or medication. There are no treatments yet that specifically lower Lp(a). According to experts, research into such treatments is needed to see whether they really help.[1, 2]
Because Lp(a) is inherited, it can be worth measuring it in your family members too. This applies, for example, if you have inherited high cholesterol, if high Lp(a) runs in your family, or if family members developed a heart or blood vessel condition at a young age. Your doctor can tell you whether measuring it is useful for you.[1, 2]
Lipoprotein(a) is included in BioProfile 150.[4]
The BioProfile editorial team wrote this page on 10 October 2026 from the sources below, which we read on 10 October 2026. Every number on this page appears in one of those sources, with that source's number next to it. An expert has yet to check this page; after that check, the expert's name and the date of the check will appear at the top. This page offers explanation, not a diagnosis. Discuss a value outside the range with your GP.
