High levels of Apo A1 indicate better cardiovascular health and a lower risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
Measuring ApoA1 together with the levels of other blood lipids can give you information on your cardiovascular health and estimated risk value for developing cardiovascular diseases. By measuring ApoA1, you can both help identify a potential need for lifestyle changes as well as track the effectiveness of those changes.
Apolipoprotein A, also known as ApoA1, is a protein within the “good” cholesterol HDL, and helps in the process of removing bad forms of cholesterol from your body. This is done by transporting bad forms of cholesterol from the cells to the liver, where it is metabolized. By doing so, ApoA1 can help to lower your risk for cardiovascular disease.
Levels of Apo A1 are correlated to levels of HDL, which in turn are linked to the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The lower the HDL, the higher the risk. The reason behind this is that HDL helps remove cholesterol from tissue like arterial walls and bring them back to the liver for processing. Failing to do so in sufficient amounts causes cholesterol to build up. The frequency of which cholesterol is being transported to tissues is also depending on the circulating amounts of Apo B. Therefore, Apo A1 is not only important for risk evaluation alone, but in relation to Apo B as well.
Apolipoprotein A can by itself and through the effects of HDL do the following:
remove “bad” cholesterol from the blood vessels causing arteriosclerosis
apply an anti-clotting and anti-aggregatory effect on platelets (which also causes its therapeutic effect against Alzheimer’s disease)
Elevated levels of Apo A1 indicate that you have high amounts of transport proteins bringing cholesterol from tissue back to the liver for processing and elimination. This in turn most often implies a decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases.
High levels of Apo A1 can be a result of numerous factors, including genetics, regular physical activity, a healthy diet and weight loss.
There are several things that can cause your apolipoprotein A to increase, such as:
Genetics
Physical activity
Diet
Weight loss
Estrogen
That is actually unclear still, but the effect is everything but unclear. Physical activity does increase Apolipoprotein A levels. A few theories around the mechanism have been suggested:
Stimulation of the Apolipoprotein A production
Indirectly through the breakdown of fat (lipolysis) that comes from physical activity, that may lead to an increase in HDL formation and thereby increased Apolipoprotein A levels.
Improved insulin sensitivity
There are a few examples of foods that have the ability to increase levels of Apolipoprotein A:
A diet high in unsaturated fats, also known as “healthy fats”, such as fatty fish, olive oil, seeds and nuts.
A diet high in fibers, such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables
Reduced levels of Apo A1 mean that you have low amounts of transport proteins bringing cholesterol from tissue back to the liver for processing and elimination. This in turn most often implies an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. When excessive cholesterol is not brought back to the liver in the same pace as transported from the liver to tissues, the risk increases of cholesterol being built-up in arterial walls.
Low levels of Apo A1 can be seen in unhealthy lifestyle habits such as smoking, lack of physical activity and high-energy diets rich in trans fats and saturated fats, but also in medical conditions like liver disease and when medicating with beta-blockers, tiazide diuretics and anabolic steroids.
There are several things that can cause your apolipoprotein A to decrease, such as:
Genetics
Diabetes
overweight/obesity
Liver disease