AALP APO A1

Serum

Other names: Apolipoprotein A-1 on HDL Particles

check icon Optimal Result: 181.36 - 359.23 nmol/L.

 

AALP ApoA1 measures the main protein on HDL—often called the “good cholesterol.” It’s part of the HDL Function Panel, which looks at how well your HDL works, not just how much HDL cholesterol you have.

This test uses an advanced lab method and reports results in nmol/L (not mg/dL like the standard ApoA1 test).

Why it matters

HDL helps protect your heart by picking up extra cholesterol from artery walls and carrying it to the liver for removal (this is called cholesterol efflux). ApoA1 is the “workhorse” protein that helps HDL do that job.

  • Higher AALP ApoA1 generally suggests HDL is working better.

  • Lower AALP ApoA1 can mean HDL isn’t removing cholesterol as effectively—even if your regular HDL cholesterol number looks “normal.”

Typical reference ranges (nmol/L)

  • Men: 181–359 nmol/L

  • Women: 215–421 nmol/L

These values use a different method and cannot be compared to the standard ApoA1 test reported in mg/dL.

How the lab measures it

The lab enriches HDL particles that carry ApoA1 and then measures the proteins on them with a precise mass-spectrometry method. The results contribute to models that estimate HDL function and a heart artery disease risk score (HDLfx pCAD Score).

How to read your result

If your AALP ApoA1 is higher (within or above the reference range):

  • This often points to better HDL function and lower heart disease risk, especially when other markers agree (healthy LDL/ApoB, lower triglycerides, good blood sugar, and a favorable HDL Function Panel score).

If your AALP ApoA1 is lower:

  • This may reflect less effective HDL function. It’s commonly seen with insulin resistance, extra weight around the middle, higher triglycerides, or ongoing inflammation. Your clinician will look at AALP ApoA1 alongside your LDL/ApoB, triglycerides, blood pressure, blood sugar, and the rest of the HDL Function Panel.

What can influence AALP ApoA1

  • Metabolic health: Insulin resistance, central weight gain, and high triglycerides can weaken HDL’s performance.

  • Inflammation or illness: Ongoing inflammation can reduce HDL’s protective effects.

  • Medications & lifestyle: Statins, fibrates, niacin, GLP-1/weight-management therapies, exercise, and nutrition changes can shift HDL function (effects vary by person).

How this fits into the HDL Function Panel

AALP ApoA1 is one of several HDL-related proteins measured together. These results help calculate:

  • Predicted cholesterol efflux (pCEC): an estimate of how well your HDL removes cholesterol.

  • HDLfx pCAD Score: a score that helps your clinician judge artery-disease risk even when standard cholesterol looks okay.

No single result diagnoses heart disease. Your provider interprets this marker in context with your history, exam, and other tests.

What to do next (practical steps)

  • Bring your report to your clinician and review AALP ApoA1 with your LDL/ApoB, triglycerides, blood pressure, blood sugar (A1c), and the full HDL Function Panel.

  • Ask about targets and follow-up: Should you focus on weight management, triglyceride reduction, or inflammation control?

  • Lifestyle basics that support HDL function:

    • Routine aerobic + resistance exercise

    • Weight management (especially waist circumference)

    • Triglyceride-friendly eating (reduce added sugars and refined carbs; emphasize fiber-rich plants, lean proteins, and unsaturated fats)

    • Sleep, stress, and smoke-free living

  • Medication review: If you’re on statins or other therapies, ask whether adjustments could help your overall risk profile.

FAQs

Is AALP ApoA1 the same as the standard ApoA1 test?
No. The standard test measures all ApoA1 in mg/dL. AALP ApoA1 measures ApoA1 on HDL particles using a different method and reports nmol/L. The numbers can’t be compared.

If my AALP ApoA1 is “good,” am I protected?
It’s a positive sign, but heart risk depends on many factors. Your clinician will interpret this result with your other labs and your overall health picture.

Why would my AALP ApoA1 be low if my HDL cholesterol is normal?
HDL function and HDL quantity don’t always match. This test helps explain that mismatch and can guide more personalized prevention.

All Your Lab Results.
One Simple Dashboard.

What does it mean if your AALP APO A1 result is too low?

A low AALP ApoA1 result means there is less ApoA1 protein on your HDL particles than expected for your sex. Because ApoA1 helps HDL remove cholesterol from artery walls (a process called cholesterol efflux), lower levels can reflect less effective HDL function. On the Cleveland HeartLab panel, a low AALP ApoA1 often travels with a lower predicted efflux (pCEC) and may contribute to a less favorable HDLfx pCAD Score. It does not diagnose heart disease by itself, but it can signal higher cardiovascular risk when viewed with your other results.

Note: AALP ApoA1 is measured in nmol/L using a different method than the standard ApoA1 test (mg/dL). The two tests use different units and cannot be compared directly.


Common reasons AALP ApoA1 can be low

  • Insulin resistance / prediabetes / type 2 diabetes

  • High triglycerides and the “high-TG/low-HDL-C” pattern

  • Central weight gain (larger waist circumference) or metabolic syndrome

  • Chronic inflammation or illness (autoimmune conditions, infections, poor oral health)

  • Lifestyle factors: limited physical activity, smoking, highly refined/high-sugar diet

  • Hormone/thyroid issues: untreated hypothyroidism can depress HDL quality

  • Liver or kidney problems that affect lipoprotein protein balance

  • Medications: some drugs can lower HDL quantity or quality; review your list with your clinician

  • Genetics: rare variants affecting ApoA1 or HDL metabolism


Why it matters for heart health

  • ApoA1 is the workhorse protein of HDL. When it’s low on HDL particles, the system that pulls cholesterol out of arteries may be less efficient.

  • In people whose standard cholesterol numbers look “okay,” a low AALP ApoA1 can reveal residual risk that merits attention.

  • The finding is most useful together with other markers—ApoB/LDL-C, triglycerides, glucose/A1c, blood pressure, hs-CRP, and the rest of the HDL Function Panel.


What else to check (with your clinician)

  • Within the HDL Function Panel: pCEC (predicted efflux), HDLfx pCAD Score, AALP ApoC1/C2/C3/C4

  • Atherogenic burden: ApoB, LDL-C, non-HDL-C

  • Metabolic health: fasting glucose or A1c, triglycerides, waist circumference

  • Inflammation & thyroid: hs-CRP, TSH (and thyroid panel if indicated)

  • Liver/kidney tests: to rule out secondary causes

  • Imaging when appropriate: coronary artery calcium (CAC) or other studies based on overall risk


What you can do (evidence-aligned, practical steps)

Lifestyle foundations

  • Exercise: Aim for 150–300 minutes/week of moderate aerobic activity plus 2–3 days/week of resistance training.

  • Nutrition for triglyceride control:

    • Cut back on added sugars and refined carbs; favor high-fiber plants, legumes, nuts, fish, and unsaturated fats.

    • Emphasize balanced meals to steady blood sugar.

  • Weight management: Even 5–10% weight loss (if overweight) can improve HDL function.

  • Inflammation care: Treat gum disease, manage autoimmune flares, and prioritize sleep and stress reduction.

  • Tobacco: If you smoke, cessation meaningfully improves HDL metrics over time.

  • Alcohol: If you drink, discuss a reduction plan with your clinician—alcohol can raise triglycerides and impair HDL function in many people.

Medical management (personalized with your clinician)

  • Lower ApoB/LDL-C to guideline-appropriate targets; this reduces overall risk even if HDL is suboptimal.

  • If triglycerides are elevated, ask about targeted strategies (nutrition, glucose control; occasionally medications if appropriate).

  • Screen and treat hypothyroidism or other secondary causes.

  • Review your medication list for agents that may worsen HDL quality and discuss alternatives if clinically appropriate.

  • Decide on follow-up testing after changes are made.


Retesting guidance

  • Recheck AALP ApoA1 (and the rest of the HDL Function Panel) in 8–12 weeks after meaningful lifestyle or treatment changes.

  • Use the same lab/method, fast 10–12 hours unless told otherwise, and avoid testing during acute illness, which can temporarily lower HDL-related measures.


FAQs about low AALP ApoA1

My HDL cholesterol is normal. Why is my AALP ApoA1 low?
HDL quantity (HDL-C) and HDL function are not the same. AALP ApoA1 focuses on the protein that enables cholesterol removal; it can be low even when HDL-C looks normal.

Does a low AALP ApoA1 mean I have heart disease?
No. It’s a risk signal, not a diagnosis. Your clinician interprets it with your full risk profile and, if needed, may order follow-up tests.

Can supplements fix a low AALP ApoA1?
Evidence is mixed. Focus first on exercise, nutrition, weight, triglycerides, inflammation, and LDL/ApoB control. Discuss any supplements or medication changes with your clinician.

Laboratories

Bring All Your Lab Results Together — In One Place

We accept reports from any lab, so you can easily collect and organize all your health information in one secure spot.

lab corp logo
genova diagnostics logo
quest diagnostics logo
dutch test logo
doctors data logo
vibrant america logo
diagnostic solutions logo
zrt laboratory logo
the great plains laboratory logo
cyrex laboratories logo
spectracell logo

Pricing Table

decoration

Personal plans

$15/ month

Complete Plan

Access your lab reports, explanations, and tracking tools.

  • Import lab results from any provider
  • Track all results with visual tools
  • Customize your reference ranges
  • Export your full lab history anytime
  • Share results securely with anyone
  • Begin with first report entered
  • Cancel or upgrade anytime

$250/ once

Unlimited Account

Pay once, access everything—no monthly fees, no limits.

  • Import lab results from any provider
  • Track all results with visual tools
  • Customize your reference ranges
  • Export your full lab history anytime
  • Share results securely with anyone
  • Receive 10 reports entered for you
  • Skip the $15/month subscription — no recurring payments ever

$45/ month

Pro Monthly

Designed for professionals managing their clients' lab reports

  • Import lab results from any provider
  • Track lab results for multiple clients
  • Customize reference ranges per client
  • Export lab histories and reports
  • Begin with first report entered by us
  • Cancel or upgrade anytime

About membership

What's included in a Healthmatters membership

microscope icon Import Lab Results from Any Source

person icon See Your Health Timeline

book icon Understand What Your Results Mean

textbook icon

textbook icon Visualize Your Results

folder icon

folder icon

card icon Securely Share With Anyone You Trust

Let Your Lab Results Tell the Full Story

What Healthmatters Members Are Saying

5 stars rating

I have been using Healthmatters.io since 2021. I travel all over the world and use different doctors and health facilities. This site has allowed me to consolidate all my various test results over 14 years in one place. And every doctor that I show this to has been impressed. Because with  any health professional I talk to, I can pull up historical results in seconds. It is invaluable. Even going back to the same doctor, they usually do not have the historical results from their facility in a graph format. That has been very helpful.

Anthony

Unlimited Plan Member since 2021

5 stars rating

What fantastic service and great, easy-to-follow layouts! I love your website; it makes it so helpful to see patterns in my health data. It's truly a pleasure to use. I only wish the NHS was as organized and quick as Healthmatters.io. You've set a new standard for health tracking!

Karin

Advanced Plan Member since 2020

5 stars rating

As a PRO member and medical practitioner, Healthmatters.io has been an invaluable tool for tracking my clients' data. The layout is intuitive, making it easy to monitor trends and spot patterns over time. The ability to customize reports and charts helps me present information clearly to my clients, improving communication and outcomes. It's streamlined my workflow, saving me time and providing insights at a glance. Highly recommended for any practitioner looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly solution to track patient labs!

Paul

Healthmatters Pro Member since 2024

Use promo code to save 10% off any plan.

Frequently asked questions

Healthmatters is a personal health dashboard that helps you organize and understand your lab results. It collects and displays your medical test data from any lab in one secure, easy-to-use platform.

  • Individuals who want to track and understand their health over time.
  • Health professionals, such as doctors, nutritionists, and wellness coaches, need to manage and interpret lab data for their clients.

With a Healthmatters account, you can:

  • Upload lab reports from any lab
  • View your data in interactive graphs, tables, and timelines
  • Track trends and monitor changes over time
  • Customize your reference ranges
  • Export and share your full lab history
  • Access your results anytime, from any device

Professionals can also analyze client data more efficiently and save time managing lab reports.

Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 4000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:

  • The GI Effects® Comprehensive Stool Profile,
  • GI-MAP,
  • The NutrEval FMV®,
  • The ION Profile,
  • Amino Acids Profile,
  • Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH),
  • Organic Acids Test,
  • Organix Comprehensive Profile,
  • Toxic Metals,
  • Complete Blood Count (CBC),
  • Metabolic panel,
  • Thyroid panel,
  • Lipid Panel,
  • Urinalysis,
  • And many, many more.

You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.

If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.

shield icon

We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.

At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.

gdpr compliance image hipaa compliance image