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CNN Live At Daybreak
Know Your ApoB
Aired October 28, 2003 - 06:55 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Here's a health question for you, do you know your ApoB levels? Maybe you should.
Dr. Sandra Fryhofer here now to tell us why.
This isn't the first time that most people have heard about it, but I have to admit, I'm not very familiar.
DR. SANDRA FRYHOFER, CNN MEDICAL CONTRIBUTOR: Well the message here, Heidi, is you need to get to know what ApoB is. And ApoB is short for apolipoprotein B. A new study in circulation the "Journal of the American Heart Association" says that this blood marker predicts heart disease better than the bad cholesterol. ApoB is one of the proteins that coats LDL cholesterol particles. Remember that's the bad cholesterol. LDL is a cholesterol that causes build up of atherosclerosis which clogs up arteries.
Now the tricky part is that there are different types of LDL particles and some are worse than others, so just measuring the LDL may not give you all the information you need. Small dense LDL particles are more dangerous than larger, fluffy LDL particles. And a high ApoB level means that you have more of the small, dense, dangerous kind. It's sort of like quality versus quantity. So a higher ApoB means you have more of the worst kind of bad cholesterol.
COLLINS: All right. So does this mean that we don't have to worry about getting our cholesterol level checked anymore?
FRYHOFER: No, you still got to get your cholesterol checked, sorry about that. But the American Heart Association is not currently recommending that ApoB levels be tested. Of course that could change. National Guidelines in Canada started recommending the ApoB test about two years ago. The test is relatively inexpensive. And unlike checking the LDL levels, you don't have to fast and you can eat breakfast before you go to the doctor, and people always like to do that.
COLLINS: Yes, all right, Dr. Sandra Fryhofer.
FRYHOFER: Especially this kind of -- time of morning, right?
COLLINS: Yes. Thanks so much for that. Interesting stuff.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 28, 2003 - 06:55 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Here's a health question for you, do you know your ApoB levels? Maybe you should.
Dr. Sandra Fryhofer here now to tell us why.
This isn't the first time that most people have heard about it, but I have to admit, I'm not very familiar.
DR. SANDRA FRYHOFER, CNN MEDICAL CONTRIBUTOR: Well the message here, Heidi, is you need to get to know what ApoB is. And ApoB is short for apolipoprotein B. A new study in circulation the "Journal of the American Heart Association" says that this blood marker predicts heart disease better than the bad cholesterol. ApoB is one of the proteins that coats LDL cholesterol particles. Remember that's the bad cholesterol. LDL is a cholesterol that causes build up of atherosclerosis which clogs up arteries.
Now the tricky part is that there are different types of LDL particles and some are worse than others, so just measuring the LDL may not give you all the information you need. Small dense LDL particles are more dangerous than larger, fluffy LDL particles. And a high ApoB level means that you have more of the small, dense, dangerous kind. It's sort of like quality versus quantity. So a higher ApoB means you have more of the worst kind of bad cholesterol.
COLLINS: All right. So does this mean that we don't have to worry about getting our cholesterol level checked anymore?
FRYHOFER: No, you still got to get your cholesterol checked, sorry about that. But the American Heart Association is not currently recommending that ApoB levels be tested. Of course that could change. National Guidelines in Canada started recommending the ApoB test about two years ago. The test is relatively inexpensive. And unlike checking the LDL levels, you don't have to fast and you can eat breakfast before you go to the doctor, and people always like to do that.
COLLINS: Yes, all right, Dr. Sandra Fryhofer.
FRYHOFER: Especially this kind of -- time of morning, right?
COLLINS: Yes. Thanks so much for that. Interesting stuff.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
