Lipoproteins Cannot Be Purchased as Vitamins
No, lipoproteins cannot be purchased as vitamins because lipoproteins are not vitamins—they are complex protein-lipid particles that transport fats and fat-soluble vitamins through the bloodstream. This is a fundamental misunderstanding of biochemistry, as lipoproteins (such as LDL, HDL, and VLDL) are endogenously produced transport molecules, not dietary supplements 1.
What Lipoproteins Actually Are
Lipoproteins are carrier molecules synthesized by the body (primarily in the liver and intestines) that transport cholesterol, triglycerides, and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) through the blood 1.
They consist of a protein shell (apolipoproteins) surrounding a lipid core, functioning as vehicles rather than nutrients themselves 1.
Vitamin A is stored in the liver and released bound to retinol-binding protein (RBP) coupled to transthyretin, demonstrating how vitamins use lipoproteins for transport rather than being lipoproteins themselves 1.
What You Can Actually Purchase
Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) are available as supplements and are the nutrients that lipoproteins transport, not the lipoproteins themselves 1.
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) can be purchased as oral supplements with recommended daily allowances of 15 mg for adults, and is the vitamin that protects lipoproteins from oxidation 1.
Vitamin A supplements are available in various forms (retinol, beta-carotene), with adult requirements around 150 μg/day 1, 2.
Clinical Context Where This Confusion May Arise
In abetalipoproteinemia, patients lack apoB-containing lipoproteins and require high-dose vitamin E supplementation (200 mg/day or higher) because they cannot absorb fat-soluble vitamins normally 3, 4.
The treatment is vitamin supplementation, not lipoprotein replacement, as the neurological damage stems from vitamin E deficiency rather than the absence of lipoproteins per se 3, 4.
Parenteral (IV) vitamin formulations exist for medical use in patients with malabsorption, but these contain vitamins, not lipoproteins 2.
Common Pitfall to Avoid
Do not confuse the transport mechanism (lipoproteins) with the cargo (vitamins)—this is like confusing a delivery truck with the package it carries. You cannot and do not need to supplement lipoproteins; your body produces them naturally to transport the vitamins you consume 1.