HDL Size

What it isThe average diameter of HDL particles, measured by NMR.

DoesLarger, more mature HDL particles are generally more functional for reverse cholesterol transport, though the relationship is not perfectly linear.

GoodMid-large HDL size tends to track functional particles and better cardiovascular outcomes.

BadVery small HDL particles can signal impaired maturation; abnormally large HDL particles have been associated with dysfunction in some contexts. Size alone is a softer predictor than particle number.