Lp(a) - Kidney & Heart Health. And... food!

There's much you can do yourself to try to lower this marker, if elevated.

There is a growing appreciation that as renal function falters, heart disease becomes more possible and dangerous.

There is a molecule that is part of this newly appreciated kidney-heart link.

This comes from British researchers (Clinical Trial Service Unit & Epidemiological Studies Unit,^* Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom and the Medical Research Council Population Health Research Unit,^† Oxford, United Kingdom).

The new culprit? Lipoprotein (a) or called lipoprotein little a.

Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is a type of fat in the body that can deposit cholesterol inside arteries. Promoting plaque.

Lp(a) is a genetically inherited risk factor for heart disease.

But we are now learning that it also can form more often in patients with kidney disease.

Lp(a)’s structure is similar to low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol, but they are different lipoproteins with unique characteristics.

Lp(a) levels can range from less than 1 mg/dl to more than 1,000 mg/dl.

Elevated levels are correlated with cardiovascular disease. And stroke.

However, there's no evidence that mild to moderate elevations (below 50 mg/dL) lead to an elevated risk of heart disease or stroke.

The kidney has a role in keeping Lp(a) levels healthy. How? The kidney breaks down Lp(a) or oversees its catabolism.

This means that Lp(a) levels go up when kidney function goes down.