Detection of subtle abnormalities of serum β- and pre-β-lipoproteins in “normal” individuals by turbidimetric and electrophoretic methods

A simple method is described for use in screening “normal” individuals for lipid abnormalities. The method is reproducible and consists of turbidimetric measurement of cholesterol of serum β-lipoproteins (β and pre-β) by use of heparin, Ca 2+, without elaborate equipment. When this method is combined with estimation of the proportion of β- and pre-β-lipoproteins (by agar gel electrophoresis), a very good and practical assessment of serum lipids can be made. Subtle lipid abnormalities in presumably healthy individuals can be detected by these methods. A relationship between the pre-β-lipoproteins and β-lipoproteins was made which can easily be related to the phenotyping of hyperlipoproteinemias, as described by Fredrickson and Lees. An evaluation of serum lipids in 69 clinically “normal” individuals is presented, showing that these lipid studies are very useful in the screening of “presumably normal” individuals and should be used for routine clinical observations. The procedures are adaptable for clinical purposes and should offer better evaluations than by total cholesterol and/or triglyceride determinations alone.