Get tested with Superpower

If you’ve been postponing blood testing for years or feel frustrated by doctor appointments and limited lab panels, you are not alone. Standard healthcare is often reactive, focusing on testing only after symptoms appear or leaving patients in the dark.

Superpower flips that approach. We give you full insight into your body with over 100 biomarkers, personalized action plans, long-term tracking, and answers to your questions, so you can stay ahead of any health issues.

With physician-reviewed results, CLIA-certified labs, and the option for at-home blood draws, Superpower is designed for people who want clarity, convenience, and real accountability—all in one place.

Key benefits of Castelli Risk Index II Test

'- Spot your balance of “bad” (LDL) to “good” (HDL) cholesterol for heart health.- Flag early risk for heart attack or stroke, even if total cholesterol looks normal.- Explain why your cholesterol pattern may need more attention than a single number.- Guide your doctor in choosing the best lifestyle or medication plan for you.- Track how well your heart-protective changes are working over time.- Clarify if your cholesterol profile could affect fertility or pregnancy outcomes.- Protect your long-term health by identifying hidden risks before symptoms appear.- Best interpreted with your full lipid panel and personal risk factors.

What is Castelli Risk Index II Test

Castelli Risk Index II is a calculated marker that helps assess the balance between two types of cholesterol in your blood. It is derived from the ratio of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). LDL-C, often called “bad” cholesterol, is produced by the liver and carried in the bloodstream to deliver cholesterol to cells. HDL-C, known as “good” cholesterol, is also made in the liver and intestines, but it works in the opposite direction—carrying cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver for removal.

The main significance of Castelli Risk Index II is that it reflects the interplay between cholesterol that can build up in artery walls (LDL-C) and cholesterol that helps clear it away (HDL-C). This ratio gives a snapshot of how well your body is managing cholesterol transport and removal. A higher ratio suggests a greater presence of cholesterol that can contribute to artery narrowing, while a lower ratio indicates a more favorable balance. In essence, Castelli Risk Index II helps reveal the underlying dynamics of cholesterol movement in your body, offering insight into cardiovascular risk.

Why is Castelli Risk Index II Test

The Castelli Risk Index II is a powerful marker that reveals how well your body manages cholesterol balance, specifically the relationship between LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and HDL (“good”) cholesterol. This ratio offers a window into your risk for atherosclerosis—the buildup of plaque in arteries—which can affect the heart, brain, and circulation throughout the body. Unlike single cholesterol numbers, this index captures the interplay between harmful and protective cholesterol, making it a more nuanced predictor of cardiovascular health.

When the Castelli Risk Index II is on the lower end of the reference range, it suggests that HDL cholesterol is relatively high compared to LDL. This balance supports healthy blood vessels, reduces inflammation, and helps prevent cholesterol from depositing in artery walls. People with lower ratios tend to have a lower risk of heart attack and stroke, and this protective effect is especially important for women, who often have higher HDL levels before menopause.

Higher values indicate that LDL cholesterol outweighs HDL, tipping the balance toward artery damage and plaque formation. This can silently progress for years, eventually leading to chest pain, heart attacks, or strokes. The risk is particularly pronounced in men and in postmenopausal women, whose HDL levels may drop with age. Children and teens with high ratios may be at risk for early vascular changes, setting the stage for adult heart disease.

Ultimately, the Castelli Risk Index II connects cholesterol metabolism to the health of the entire vascular system. It reflects not just what’s happening in the blood, but how well your body protects itself from long-term damage. Monitoring this index helps reveal hidden risks and guides a deeper understanding of cardiovascular and metabolic health.

What insights will I get from Castelli Risk Index II Test

Castelli Risk Index II compares your LDL cholesterol to your HDL cholesterol. It is a ratio of “cholesterol that tends to deposit in artery walls” (LDL) to “cholesterol involved in reverse transport and cleanup” (HDL). This balance gives a systems-level view of how your body handles lipid traffic, which influences blood vessel integrity, heart and brain blood flow, metabolic flexibility, and, indirectly, organ oxygen delivery and resilience.

Low values usually reflect relatively low LDL and/or robust HDL-mediated clearance of cholesterol. Physiologically, this points to less lipid burden on artery walls, more efficient reverse cholesterol transport, and generally lower atherogenic pressure on the cardiovascular system. In most adults, and across sexes, lower ratios within the accepted physiological range are associated with more favorable vascular health.

Being in range suggests that the push and pull between cholesterol delivery (LDL) and removal (HDL) is reasonably balanced. This supports more stable plaque dynamics, smoother endothelial function, and better maintenance of blood flow to the heart, brain, and peripheral tissues. Many cardiology groups consider values toward the lower end of the conventional “normal” span to be more cardioprotective, especially in people with other risk factors.

High values usually reflect higher LDL relative to HDL, meaning more cholesterol is being delivered to tissues than is being cleared back to the liver. This favors formation and progression of atherosclerotic plaque, endothelial stress, and greater long-term risk of coronary disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. The impact is amplified with age, in men earlier than women, and in people with diabetes or metabolic syndrome.

Notes: Interpretation is influenced by the underlying LDL and HDL values, sex hormones, age, genetics, inflammatory status, and use of lipid-altering medications. Fasting versus non-fasting states and acute illness can modestly change the ratio.

Castelli Risk Index II Test and your health

Castelli Risk Index II compares your “bad” LDL cholesterol to your “good” HDL cholesterol, giving a snapshot of how cholesterol balance may affect blood vessels and organs throughout the body.

Heart & Circulation

- High ratio (LDL high, HDL low): Signals higher atherosclerotic risk—cholesterol is more likely to deposit in artery walls, raising chances of coronary artery disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. Often linked to insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, and sometimes hypothyroidism or kidney disease. - Low ratio (LDL low, HDL adequate): Generally favorable and associated with lower cardiovascular risk.

Energy & Muscles

A higher ratio is often seen alongside metabolic issues that impair blood flow and oxygen delivery to muscles, contributing to exertional fatigue, reduced stamina, and leg discomfort with walking (claudication).

Brain & Mood

Unfavorable ratios track with higher risk of carotid and cerebral vessel disease over time, which can impact memory, processing speed, and stroke risk. Chronic vascular risk also interacts with depression and cognitive decline.

Metabolism & Hormones

High Castelli II often accompanies central obesity, prediabetes/diabetes, PCOS, and low-grade inflammation; thyroid and liver disorders can worsen the pattern.

Monitoring Castelli Risk Index II helps detect vascular risk early, guiding lifestyle and medical strategies to protect long-term heart, brain, and metabolic health.