What is a Lipidologist?

What Are Lipidologists? Lipidologists Can Help You To Prevent Heart Disease

From Betsy Lee-FryeUpdated December 27, 2009About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board (LifeWire)

- Lipidologists are doctors that help manage your cholesterol and find treatments that will fit your needs. In the United States, nearly one-third of individuals over the age of 20 have high cholesterol, a risk factor for both heart attacks and stroke. It is no surprise then that a new type of medical specialist has emerged to treat the legions of patients who have this potentially life-threatening cardiovascular condition. These new specialists in the medical field are called lipidologists.A lipidologist is a doctor who has received additional training in cholesterol management, cardiovascular risk assessment and intervention. In addition to a medical degree, a lipidologist has a written certificate attesting to the completion of this special training. As this field is still very young, fewer than 400 certified lipidologists nationwide. The American Board of Clinical Lipidology, the group that oversees this certification curriculum, recognized its first graduating class in 2005. However, lipidologists have yet to be recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties, a governing organization of medical specialty groups.Nevertheless, the field of lipidology, or the study of fatty substances in the blood, is certainly a growing specialty. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, a division of the National Institutes of Health, has developed a National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP). This program was formed in an effort to address how cholesterol works, and how to check and maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Currently, most individuals only learn about their cholesterol levels by having a blood sample drawn during a yearly checkup.

When to Consult a Lipidologist According to the American Heart Association, the ideal level of total cholesterol should be less than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) of blood. Cholesterol levels between 200 and 240 mg/dL are considered a moderate health risk, while levels higher than 240 mg/dL are a major risk for cardiovascular disease. Of the different types of cholesterol, the low-density lipids (LDL) should be below 100 mg/dL; the high-density lipids (HDL) should be above 60 mg/dL.For most people battling high cholesterol levels, a primary care physician will first suggest lifestyle changes, such as adhering to a low-fat diet and increasing physical activity levels. The NCEP recommends trying a three month lifestyle change before starting any cholesterol medication.If these lifestyle changes are not enough, the NCEP then recommends beginning a LDL-lowering drug therapy program under the guidance of a primary care physician. If this medication regimen has not effectively lowered cholesterol levels to a healthy level within 12 weeks, the group then advises seeing a lipidologist. A cardiologist should be consulted if the primary care physician or patient has immediate concerns about heart disease, or if the patient has other risk factors, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. Patients should also check with their insurance company to confirm that an appointment with a lipidologist will be covered.

More Sophisticated Testing A lipidologist will likely recommend advanced cholesterol testing. Standard cholesterol testing identifies three lipid categories: HDL, LDL and triglycerides, another type of fat found in the body. Advanced cholesterol tests provide a magnified look at cholesterol subclasses, providing 13 measurements of cardiovascular risk.These 13 measurements include cholesterol particle size, a newly discovered risk factor for heart disease, and levels of apolioprotein B100, a protein that helps the body deliver and remove cholesterol to cells.Using this advanced cholesterol test, the lipidologist can then provide specialized interventions. For example, some individuals may require medication designed to enhance the transfer and removal of LDL cholesterol. Other individuals may simply require more specialized dietary changes, such as limiting salt, increasing soluble fiber, or consuming less than 7% of total daily calories from fat.A lipidologist, depending upon the needs of the individual, may also recommend an MRI to determine the amount of fat present in the muscle tissue. Research suggests that high muscle lipid levels are associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease.Though certified lipidologists have been through specialized training for cholesterol management, the same medical tests and treatments they recommend can also be prescribed by a primary care physician or a cardiologist. In fact, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recommends that a lipidologist work in conjunction with a patient's primary care physician, registered dietician, nurse and pharmacist. This will allow each team member to be aware of all recommendations provided to the patient. The patient can also encourage communication between team members by keeping a cholesterol management journal, which records dietary changes, exercise, medications and test results.

To find a lipidologist, visit the National Lipid Association Web site at http://www.learnyourlipids.com/resources.php.Sources: "Eligibility Criteria." A Certification Program for Clinical Lipid Specialists. 2008. The American Board of Clinical Lipidology. 6 Apr 2008. <www.lipidboard.org/criteria.php>.

"Emerging Therapies for Reverse Cholesterol Transport and High-Density Lipoprotein." American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session 2007. Mar. 2007. American College of Cardiology. 6 Apr. 2008. <www.cardiosource.com/rapidnewssummaries/index.asp?EID=26&DoW=Tues&SumID=210>.

"The Examination." A Certification Program for Clinical Lipid Specialists. 2008. The American Board of Clinical Lipidology. 6 Apr. 2008 <www.lipidboard.org/exam.php>.

Goodpaster, Bret., et. al.. "Skeletal Muscle Lipid Concentration Quantified by Magnetic Resonance Imaging." The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 79. 5. May 2004. 748-754. 5 Apr. 2008. <www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/79/5/748>.

"Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults." National Guideline Clearinghouse. 31 Mar. 2008. 6 Apr. 2008 <www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?doc_id=5503>.

"Tipsheets: Next Steps." Cholesterol Lowering Medications. 2007. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. 6 Apr. 2008. <www.nhlbi.nih.gov/chd/Tipsheets/nextsteps.htm>.

"About ABCL." A Certification Program for Clinical Lipid Specialists. 2008. The American Board of Clinical Lipidology. 6 Apr. 2008 <www.lipidboard.org/about.php>.

"Verify Status." A Certification Program for Clinical Lipid Specialists. 2008. The American Board of Clinical Lipidology. 6 Apr. 2008. <www.lipidboard.org/lookup.php>. LifeWire, a part of The New York Times Company, provides original and syndicated online lifestyle content. Betsy Lee-Frye is an independent journalist living in Kansas City, Mo. Her work has appeared in The Dallas Morning News, Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publications and Kansas City Magazine.