Fig. 1: Illustrating the difference between total, direct, and indirect effects, using a hypothetical diagram of intermediate-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and coronary heart disease.

IDL-C intermediate-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-C low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, CHD coronary heart disease, and common causes (confounders) represented by U.