Very low density lipoprotein is one of the three major lipoprotein particles. The other two are high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL). Each particle contains a mixture of cholesterol, triglyceride and protein, but in varying amounts unique to each type of particle. VLDL contains the highest amount of triglyceride and is called a triglyceride rich lipoprotein. VLDL particles are released into the blood by the liver and circulate in the bloodstream, ultimately being converted into LDL as they lose triglyceride having carried it to other parts of the body.There’s no simple, direct way to measure VLDL which is why it’s normally not measured during routine lipid testing.The VLDL cholesterol concentration can be measured directly using a technique called ultracentrifugation. However, this technique is not straightforward and not usually done in clinical laboratories. This test is generally carried out in specialist laboratories, most often for research purposes.See MoreSee Less
