Verdict
Leaning for
Lp(a) is inherited and stable through life, so one test is enough for most adults.
9 sources: 3 positive, 4 partly, 2 negative
By Arun AgrahriLast reviewed
Short answer
Most adults need at least one Lp(a) test. Benoit Arsenault, a lipoprotein researcher and guest on Peter Attia's show, calls Lp(a) inherited and stable from about age five. Roughly 1 in 5 people carry a high level, and a standard cholesterol panel often omits it. Your clinical situation decides whether you repeat the test.
Lowering ApoB lowers the risk of heart disease.
The verdict on ApoB overall. 2 sources: 2 positive
positive partly neutral negative Each researcher and each study counts once per claim, however often they come up.
Lp(a) is inherited and stable through life, so one test is enough for most adults.
9 sources: 3 positive, 4 partly, 2 negative.
Researchers say
1 positive, 1 partly
Dr. Peter Attia, 2 mentions on this claim
Positive Video
on Huberman Lab, at 14:52 · positive
“when it's genetically determined, right, this is something that, you're born with this and you only need to really check it once,”
on The Drive, at 00:30 · positive
“things that everybody needs to have checked once is LP little a”
Mark Hyman, on The Dr. Hyman Show, at 1:18:26
Partly Video · Opinion
Open the tape at 1:18:26 →“it's pretty much inherited for the most part”
Studies show
2 positive, 3 partly, 2 negative
7 papers we read
Trial or observed group, J Am Coll Cardiol, 2022, PMID 35177190
Positive Study
Read the paper on PubMed →However, our results suggest that repeat monitoring of lipoprotein(a) levels is unlikely to be clinically useful for understanding an individual patient’s residual risk of an incident cardiovascular event in the context of primary prevention.
Other primary study, Eur Heart J, 2022, PMID 36036785
Positive Study
Read the paper on PubMed →With some exceptions (e.g. kidney or liver disease, acute infections), repeated measurement is not required as it does not improve risk prediction.
Other primary study, J Am Heart Assoc, 2022, PMID 36285784
Partly Study
Read the paper on PubMed →Although the median Lp(a) change between visits for the overall cohort was modest at 3.1 mg/dL (25th, 75th percentile; 0.5, 11.8 mg/dL), change in Lp(a) concentrations was more pronounced at the higher extremes of the Lp(a) distribution, as demonstrated by the increased values for the third quartile and the 95th percentile (Figure S1 ).
Other primary study, Eur Heart J Open, 2024, PMID 39219855
Partly Study
Read the paper on PubMed →In summary, those whose values were in the high-risk and low-risk groups stayed in their categories on repeat testing, while a large proportion of those whose values were in the intermediate ‘grey-zone’ category underwent a significant transition to a different risk category ( Figure 2 ).
Trial or observed group, Lipids Health Dis, 2025, PMID 40702543
Partly Study
Read the paper on PubMed →These findings highlight the potential of serial Lp(a) level assessments to refine cardiovascular risk stratification.
Other primary study, Med Clin (Barc), 2024, PMID 39034183
Negative Study
Read the paper on PubMed →Our study suggests reconsidering the reliance on a single Lp(a) measurement for assessing cardiovascular risk.
Other primary study, Pol Arch Intern Med, 2025, PMID 40035162
Negative Study
Read the paper on PubMed →All patients with ACS showed significantly higher serum Lp(a) levels 3 months after ACS.
Dr. Peter Attia Video · positive · 2 mentions
on Huberman Lab, at 14:52 · positive · Opinion
“when it's genetically determined, right, this is something that, you're born with this and you only need to really check it once,”
on The Drive, at 00:30 · positive · Opinion
“things that everybody needs to have checked once is LP little a”
Trial or observed group, J Am Coll Cardiol, 2022, PMID 35177190 Study · positive
However, our results suggest that repeat monitoring of lipoprotein(a) levels is unlikely to be clinically useful for understanding an individual patient’s residual risk of an incident cardiovascular event in the context of primary prevention.
Other primary study, Eur Heart J, 2022, PMID 36036785 Study · positive
With some exceptions (e.g. kidney or liver disease, acute infections), repeated measurement is not required as it does not improve risk prediction.
Mark Hyman, on The Dr. Hyman Show, at 1:18:26 Video · partly · Opinion
“it's pretty much inherited for the most part”
Other primary study, J Am Heart Assoc, 2022, PMID 36285784 Study · partly
Although the median Lp(a) change between visits for the overall cohort was modest at 3.1 mg/dL (25th, 75th percentile; 0.5, 11.8 mg/dL), change in Lp(a) concentrations was more pronounced at the higher extremes of the Lp(a) distribution, as demonstrated by the increased values for the third quartile and the 95th percentile (Figure S1 ).
Other primary study, Eur Heart J Open, 2024, PMID 39219855 Study · partly
In summary, those whose values were in the high-risk and low-risk groups stayed in their categories on repeat testing, while a large proportion of those whose values were in the intermediate ‘grey-zone’ category underwent a significant transition to a different risk category ( Figure 2 ).
Trial or observed group, Lipids Health Dis, 2025, PMID 40702543 Study · partly
These findings highlight the potential of serial Lp(a) level assessments to refine cardiovascular risk stratification.
Other primary study, Med Clin (Barc), 2024, PMID 39034183 Study · negative
Our study suggests reconsidering the reliance on a single Lp(a) measurement for assessing cardiovascular risk.
Other primary study, Pol Arch Intern Med, 2025, PMID 40035162 Study · negative
All patients with ACS showed significantly higher serum Lp(a) levels 3 months after ACS.
Lp(a) is inherited and stable through life, so one test is enough for most adults.
Researchers
Dr. Peter Attia, 2 mentions on this claim
Positive Video
on Huberman Lab, at 14:52 · positive
“when it's genetically determined, right, this is something that, you're born with this and you only need to really check it once,”
on The Drive, at 00:30 · positive
“things that everybody needs to have checked once is LP little a”
Studies
Trial or observed group, J Am Coll Cardiol, 2022, PMID 35177190
Positive Study
Read the paper on PubMed →However, our results suggest that repeat monitoring of lipoprotein(a) levels is unlikely to be clinically useful for understanding an individual patient’s residual risk of an incident cardiovascular event in the context of primary prevention.
Other primary study, Eur Heart J, 2022, PMID 36036785
Positive Study
Read the paper on PubMed →With some exceptions (e.g. kidney or liver disease, acute infections), repeated measurement is not required as it does not improve risk prediction.
Researchers
Mark Hyman, on The Dr. Hyman Show, at 1:18:26
Partly Video · Opinion
Open the tape at 1:18:26 →“it's pretty much inherited for the most part”
Studies
Other primary study, J Am Heart Assoc, 2022, PMID 36285784
Partly Study
Read the paper on PubMed →Although the median Lp(a) change between visits for the overall cohort was modest at 3.1 mg/dL (25th, 75th percentile; 0.5, 11.8 mg/dL), change in Lp(a) concentrations was more pronounced at the higher extremes of the Lp(a) distribution, as demonstrated by the increased values for the third quartile and the 95th percentile (Figure S1 ).
Other primary study, Eur Heart J Open, 2024, PMID 39219855
Partly Study
Read the paper on PubMed →In summary, those whose values were in the high-risk and low-risk groups stayed in their categories on repeat testing, while a large proportion of those whose values were in the intermediate ‘grey-zone’ category underwent a significant transition to a different risk category ( Figure 2 ).
Trial or observed group, Lipids Health Dis, 2025, PMID 40702543
Partly Study
Read the paper on PubMed →These findings highlight the potential of serial Lp(a) level assessments to refine cardiovascular risk stratification.
Other primary study, Med Clin (Barc), 2024, PMID 39034183
Negative Study
Read the paper on PubMed →Our study suggests reconsidering the reliance on a single Lp(a) measurement for assessing cardiovascular risk.
Other primary study, Pol Arch Intern Med, 2025, PMID 40035162
Negative Study
Read the paper on PubMed →All patients with ACS showed significantly higher serum Lp(a) levels 3 months after ACS.
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For most adults, one Lp(a) test is enough. Most blood markers are worth re-checking because they move. LDL and ApoB answer to diet, exercise and medication.
So do blood sugar and blood pressure. Lp(a) does not. Your genes set it, and it holds steady across your life.
Benoit Arsenault, a lipoprotein researcher and guest on Peter Attia's show, dates that lock-in to early childhood: gene expression settles by around age five.
High Lp(a) is common. Roughly one in five people carries an elevated level, and the share varies by ancestry. It is a strong cardiovascular risk factor in its own right.
A standard cholesterol panel usually leaves it out, so many people never learn their number unless they ask for it. One measurement flags lifelong risk. It also matters to your relatives, because Lp(a) is inherited, though inheritance varies enough that you can't read your own level off a parent's.
Labs report Lp(a) in different units. Most prefer nmol/L over mg/dL, so two results do not always line up; check which unit yours uses. And measuring once is the general rule, but whether you need a repeat depends on your clinical situation. That call belongs to your doctor. This page reports what was said on tape and is not medical advice.
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