Epidemiology
Review examines Lp(a)'s paradox in diabetes: high levels compound cardiovascular risk, but low levels may themselves predict diabetes (Curr Diab Rep 2024)
Original title: Exploring the Interplay between Diabetes and Lp(a): Implications for Cardiovascular Risk
This review describes the relationship between Lp(a) and diabetes as cardiovascular risk factors, covering both their synergy and a separate, paradoxical association. Elevated Lp(a) is associated with increased atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk, and coexisting diabetes confers an even higher risk than either factor alone. Separately, epidemiological and genetic studies have suggested a relationship between low to very low Lp(a) levels and the presence of diabetes itself, a finding the authors describe as paradoxical given Lp(a)'s genetic, largely fixed origin and still-unknown biological function. With new pharmacological strategies emerging to lower Lp(a), the review argues these dual, seemingly contradictory aspects of Lp(a)'s relationship with metabolic disease need to be clarified to guide how aggressively Lp(a)-lowering therapy should be pursued in diabetic patients.
Original abstract
Purpose Of Review: The objective of this manuscript is to review and describe the relationship between Lp(a) and diabetes, exploring both their association and synergy as cardiovascular risk factors, while also describing the current evidence regarding the potential connection between low levels of Lp(a) and the presence of diabetes.
Recent Findings: Epidemiological studies suggest a potential relationship between low to very low levels of Lp(a) and diabetes. Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is an intriguing lipoprotein of genetic origin, yet its biological function remains unknown. Elevated levels of Lp(a) are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular atherosclerosis, and coexisting diabetes status confers an even higher risk. On the other hand, epidemiological and genetic studies have paradoxically suggested a potential relationship between low to very low levels of Lp(a) and diabetes. While new pharmacological strategies are being developed to reduce Lp(a) levels, the dual aspects of this lipoprotein's behavior need to be elucidated in the near future.
Summary written by lp-a.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.