What should my ApoB be?
Enter your result to see which clinical range it falls into.
At or below the < 100 mg/dL target for general primary prevention.
Targets by risk category from the article (EAS; AHA/ACC 2018). Some preventive cardiologists target < 60–70 mg/dL for optimal metabolic health. Lab “normal” (~50–120) is population-based, not optimal. Estimate for education only — not a diagnosis. Interpret lab results with your clinician.
ApoB ranges, and what each one means
These are the same thresholds the interpreter above uses.
Primary prevention
| Range | Category | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| < 100 mg/dL | At target | At or below the < 100 mg/dL target for general primary prevention. |
| ≥ 100 mg/dL | Above target | Above the < 100 mg/dL primary-prevention target. Atherogenic particle number drives risk, so lower is better — worth a conversation about lowering ApoB (diet, then statin/ezetimibe if needed). |
High risk
| Range | Category | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| < 80 mg/dL | At target | At or below the < 80 mg/dL target for high-risk patients (diabetes, 10-year CVD risk ≥ 10%, or multiple risk factors). |
| ≥ 80 mg/dL | Above target | Above the < 80 mg/dL high-risk target. Discuss intensifying lipid-lowering therapy with your clinician to reduce particle burden. |
Very high risk
| Range | Category | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| < 70 mg/dL | At target | At or below the < 70 mg/dL target for very-high-risk patients (established ASCVD, or ASCVD plus diabetes, CKD, or familial hypercholesterolemia). |
| ≥ 70 mg/dL | Above target | Above the < 70 mg/dL very-high-risk target. This group benefits most from aggressive particle reduction — a clinician conversation is warranted. |
Where these come from: Targets by risk category from the article (EAS; AHA/ACC 2018). Some preventive cardiologists target < 60–70 mg/dL for optimal metabolic health. Lab “normal” (~50–120) is population-based, not optimal.
Estimate for education only — not a diagnosis. Interpret lab results with your clinician.
The short version
- ApoB counts the total number of atherogenic lipoprotein particles in your blood — LDL, VLDL, IDL, and Lp(a) — each of which carries exactly one ApoB molecule.
- LDL-C measures cholesterol content, not particle number. Two people with identical LDL-C can have dramatically different cardiovascular risk depending on particle count.
- Discordance between LDL-C and ApoB is common in people with insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, or low total cholesterol — and it's the group most likely to be falsely reassured by standard testing.
- Most cardiovascular guidelines now recognize ApoB as a superior risk marker and recommend it for risk stratification in intermediate-risk patients.
- Target ApoB levels: <100 mg/dL for primary prevention, <80 mg/dL for high-risk patients, <70 mg/dL for very high-risk or established ASCVD.
The full guide
What Is ApoB and Why It Matters More Than LDL
12 min read · Sean Moshrefi, PharmD, MS
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