Density of B-VLDL is similar to which lipoprotein?

• A. VLDL
• B. LDL
• C. HDL
• D. Lp(a)

Answer: (A)

Density of lipoproteins follows their triglyceride content: the more triglyceride, the lighter the particle. VLDL particles are rich in triglycerides and therefore relatively low in density, while LDL and HDL are denser because they have less TG and more cholesterol esters and protein. Beta-VLDL is a subfraction that migrates with the beta region on electrophoresis, reflecting its apolipoprotein makeup, but its core remains triglyceride-rich. That keeps its overall density in the VLDL range, making it similar to VLDL rather than to LDL or HDL. Lp(a) resembles LDL in density, and chylomicrons are even less dense, so they don’t match B-VLDL.