APOC3 and coronary artery disorder: Furthermore, apoCIII modifies the effects of other lipoproteins: HDL particles containing apoCIII have been found to be associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) risk, while HDL particles without apoCIII were protective of CAD [11]; and the risk of CAD due to elevated LDL cholesterol appeared mainly to be due to LDL particles containing apoCIII [12], which may be mediated by the above-described mechanisms.