Det antages, at HDL deltager i transporten af kolesterol fra vævene tilbage til leveren for at hæmme vaskulær inflammation, der er forbundet med aterosklerose, og for at have antioxidativ og antitrombotisk effekt.
HDL is hypothesised to participate in the transport of cholesterol from tissues back to the liver, to suppress vascular inflammation associated with atherosclerosis, and to have anti-oxidative and anti-thrombotic effects.