Small Dense LDL
Small Dense LDL is a clinical biomarker on the Cardiometabolic panel, reported in mg/dL. Standard reference range: 0–50 mg/dL. Functional (optimal) range used by integrative practitioners: 0–20 mg/dL.
What is Small Dense LDL?
Small dense LDL (sdLDL-C) measures the cholesterol mass carried within the smallest, densest LDL subfractions (diameter <25.5 nm, pattern B). These particles are more oxidation-prone, have longer plasma half-lives, penetrate the arterial intima more readily, and bind proteoglycans more avidly than large buoyant LDL — making sdLDL-C an independent predictor of coronary heart disease even when total LDL-C is within normal range.
Reference ranges
| Range type | Value (mg/dL) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (lab) | 0–50 | Typical Quest / LabCorp adult reference |
| Functional (optimal) | 0–20 | Integrative / functional medicine consensus |
How SomaVue interprets Small Dense LDL
SomaVue maps every result for Small Dense LDL against four clinical lenses — nutrient cofactors, toxin exposure, infection drivers, and circadian/hormonal context — and connects each interpretation to specific peer-reviewed citations. Pre-mapped clinical reasoning and cross-marker pattern detection are available inside the practitioner workspace.
See the full interpretation
Upload a patient PDF or enter values manually to see the four-lens analysis, cross-marker patterns, and cited evidence for Small Dense LDL and 205 other markers.
Try it freeEducational reference only. Reference ranges vary by laboratory, assay method, age, sex, and clinical context. Functional ranges represent integrative-medicine consensus and are not regulatory thresholds. SomaVue does not diagnose, treat, mitigate, or prevent disease. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider.