Key result
Measuring HDL functionality outperforms static HDL-C levels for assessing cardiometabolic risk across life stages.
Why the study?
Most research on HDL functional biology has focused on adults with chronic diseases, with limited research evaluating the role of HDL in childhood, pregnancy, and old age.
Evaluating HDL function rather than merely HDL-C concentration provides critical insights into health risks, disease progression, and therapeutic responses across diverse physiological states spanning the entire lifespan.
HDL function assessment may refine CV risk evaluation across life stages; leaves open prospective validation before clinical adoption.
The function of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles has emerged as a promising therapeutic target and the measurement of HDL function is a promising diagnostic across several disease states. The vast majority of research on HDL functional biology has focused on adult participants with underlying chronic diseases, whereas limited research has investigated the role of HDL in childhood, pregnancy, and old age. Yet, it is apparent that functional HDL is essential at all life stages for maintaining health. In this review, we discuss current data regarding the role of HDL during childhood, pregnancy and in the elderly, how disturbances in HDL may lead to adverse health outcomes, and knowledge gaps in the role of HDL across these life stages.
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Hong et al. (2023) conducted a review in HDL function across the lifespan (childhood, pregnancy, old age). HDL function and composition was evaluated. Measurement of HDL functionality, rather than simply HDL-C concentration, provides critical insights into metabolic health and cardiovascular risk across all life stages.
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