Comparison of two methods for very low density and low density lipoprotein cholesterol determination.

It is shown that VLDL-cholesterol cannot be calculated from serum triacylglycerol at elevated triacylglycerol concentrations (above 2 g/l). Using the method of Friedewald et al. ((1972) Clin. Chem. 18,499-502), VLDL-cholesterol is usually overestimated in these sera and, consequently, LDL-cholesterol underestimated. Quantitative lipoprotein electrophoresis according to Wieland & Seidel ((1979) Innere Medizin 5,290-300), on the other hand, yields VLDL-cholesterol values which correspond to ultracentrifugation data within narrow limits, even in sera with high triacylglycerol contents. A nomogram has been developed for the evaluation of electropherogram.