Is an ApoB of 70 high?
An ApoB of 70 mg/dL (0.70 g/L) meets the goal at borderline or intermediate risk, under 90. It's over the goal at high risk, under 70, and after a heart attack or stroke, under 60.
- Under 60 very high risk
- Under 70 high risk
- Under 90 borderline or intermediate risk
- 120 raises risk
- 140 severe
mg/dL over g/L. Rungs from the National Lipid Association (2024), matched to the 2026 US guideline's LDL goals. Ticks from the 2026 guideline.
- Under 60 (0.60)
- NoVery high risk
- Under 70 (0.70)
- NoHigh risk
- Under 90 (0.90)
- YesBorderline or intermediate risk
- The 120 line
- Under itRaises risk, in the 2026 guideline
- The 140 line
- Under itSevere high cholesterol
- Among US adults
- 20 of 100Higher than 20 of 100 untreated US adults
What it means
ApoB is the protein on every particle that can carry cholesterol into an artery wall, one on each, so the test counts them. Your goal depends on your risk: under 90 at borderline or intermediate risk, under 70 at high risk and under 60 after a heart attack or stroke, from the National Lipid Association's table matched to the 2026 US guideline's LDL goals. The range printed on your report is a population range, not your goal. ApoB doesn't move after a meal, and two tests can differ by about 15% with nothing changed.
What moves it most
Halve the saturated fatFrom about 14% of calories to about 7%: ApoB down about 6 to 7 mg/dL in four weeks, in a feeding trial of 113 adults.
Beans, lentils, nuts and soy for meatAbout 3 to 4 mg/dL more in the same trial. Chicken raised ApoB as much as beef.Check yours against your risk
Pick the band your doctor gave you, add your LDL if you have it, and see your goal, your gap and one next step.
When to get help now
Chest pain or pressure isn't an ApoB question: call 911. An ApoB of 140 or more, or an LDL of 190 or more, is a doctor visit before any food plan. Cholesterol and ApoB rise in pregnancy, so take any number to your midwife or doctor. If you take a cholesterol medicine, your goal comes from your prescriber.
