The studies that blamed saturated fat? They actually showed vegetable oils increased death rates. Then the data disappeared for 40 years.
Topic
sdLDL
Small Dense LDL Particles
sdLDL (small dense LDL) refers to small, dense LDL cholesterol particles that are much more strongly associated with heart disease risk than large, fluffy LDL particles. While standard cholesterol tests only measure total LDL amount, the size and number of particles matters more. Small, dense particles can more easily penetrate artery walls and become oxidized, contributing to plaque formation. High triglycerides (above 1.7 mmol/L) and low HDL (below 1.0 mmol/L) are strong indicators you likely have more sdLDL particles. Low-carb and keto diets typically lower triglycerides dramatically and raise HDL, which usually means fewer of these dangerous small particles—even if total LDL increases. This helps explain why improved metabolic markers may matter more than LDL levels alone.
Article (1)
Research (4)
Small, dense LDL exposes hidden heart risk your standard LDL misses — check triglycerides (≥150 mg/dL / ≥1.7 mmol/L) and HDL to catch it early.
Small, dense LDL—not total LDL—best flagged future heart disease risk. Even with normal LDL, high sdLDL doubled risk.
Small, dense LDL exposes hidden heart risk: it predicts events even when LDL looks “normal.”