Help to understand blood test results...

[Gaby]

There is a great documentary on the issue of statins:

Statin Nation by Justin Smith
http://www.sott.net/article/261354-Statin-Nation-by-Justin-Smith

Highly recommended! Hopefully more people and folks in the medical profession will watch it and catch up on the problem of statins.

It was made for those who don't use internet to catch up with research in mind. Most will recognize their stories in the testimonial interviews of statin users. That stuff is pure poison and doesn't make any sense from a physiological and bodily biochemical point of view. On the contrary, if people knew how statins work they will all dump it out.

 

[Nienna]

There is a great documentary on the issue of statins:

Statin Nation by Justin Smith
http://www.sott.net/article/261354-Statin-Nation-by-Justin-Smith

Highly recommended! Hopefully more people and folks in the medical profession will watch it and catch up on the problem of statins.

It was made for those who don't use internet to catch up with research in mind. Most will recognize their stories in the testimonial interviews of statin users. That stuff is pure poison and doesn't make any sense from a physiological and bodily biochemical point of view. On the contrary, if people knew how statins work they will all dump it out.

For me when trying to play the video, it says, "The video is private".

 

[LQB]

There is a great documentary on the issue of statins:

Statin Nation by Justin Smith
http://www.sott.net/article/261354-Statin-Nation-by-Justin-Smith

Highly recommended! Hopefully more people and folks in the medical profession will watch it and catch up on the problem of statins.

It was made for those who don't use internet to catch up with research in mind. Most will recognize their stories in the testimonial interviews of statin users. That stuff is pure poison and doesn't make any sense from a physiological and bodily biochemical point of view. On the contrary, if people knew how statins work they will all dump it out.

For me when trying to play the video, it says, "The video is private".

That is a very good video - I sent the link out to a lot of folks when the sott article came out. I hope it has not been removed!

 

[Gaby]

That is a very good video - I sent the link out to a lot of folks when the sott article came out. I hope it has not been removed!

It was made available for a temporary amount of time, it seems that window is closed now. Anyway, it is worth purchasing as a gift for friends or family members with a statin prescription. It is a documentary that is very well made. That along a paleo diet documentary, and voilà.

 

[msante]

That is a very good video - I sent the link out to a lot of folks when the sott article came out. I hope it has not been removed!

It was made available for a temporary amount of time, it seems that window is closed now. Anyway, it is worth purchasing as a gift for friends or family members with a statin prescription. It is a documentary that is very well made. That along a paleo diet documentary, and voilà.

The video seem to is here _http://vimeo.com/65517435 on Vimeo (I think it is the same). I'm download it to upload after to my youtube account.

 

[Gaby]

The video seem to is here _http://vimeo.com/65517435 on Vimeo (I think it is the same). I'm download it to upload after to my youtube account.

Yes, that is the one! :)

 

[Mike]

Blood results: (First reading Dec 2012 to second reading early May 2013)

Triglycerides – 112 to 154 (150 is the high side of the range)
Bad (LDL) - 118 to 134 (borderline hight)
Good (HDL) - 34 to 27 (low)
serum ferritin – won’t do unless other iron readings abnormal
fasting serum iron – won’t do unless other iron readings abnormal
total iron binding capacity (TIBC) – 189
iron saturation – 72

Liver - a little abnormal (I didn’t get the specific readings)

Kindeys - normal

The above are my lab results. I’ve been back on the paleo diet since late February (no gluten and dairy – besides butter) eating almost exclusively eggs, meats and fats. I haven’t been exercising much at all for two months due to a leg injury and I take Niacin (slow release) that is supposed to help with my HDL. So my blood work is a little out of sorts and it has been this way since I can remember having readings. With my medical coverage (Veteran Affairs) it is like pulling teeth to get things done and actually receiving the results and readings. Then there is that the Nurse Practitioner is saying to give up red meats and fats which I just say Ok to and not try to explain why I eat the way I eat. Mostly I look at and have the medical car in case of an emergency like a broken leg, but thought I would make sure I’m reading the results properly or missing something.

Another reason I’m writing is that since where I have medical coverage won’t test for serum ferritin or fasting serum iron unless the other iron readings are abnormal I’m going to get the lab test done myself via the link provided in the Hemochromatosis and Autoimmune Conditions thread. Wish I had known this since I’ve wasted a good three weeks working with the VA. I recently had my mercury amalgams removed and have started reading up on heavy metal detox, so I’m a little worried about detoxing with my liver readings being a little abnormal. Should I get a baseline reading via Liver function test when I get my iron tested before considering detox? I’ll post in the HM detox thread with any further questions once I’m done reading it and reading the detox book mentioned.

 

[Mal7]

Quotes from Primal Body, Primal Mind by Nora T. Gedgaudas (2011 edition).

page 95:

As the population gets less and less healthy and everything gets averaged out [. . .], many lab ranges have become too broad to be meaningful to a major portion of the population. They don't tell you in the least how you compare with 'normal and healthy.' The lab ranges are exclusively meant to reveal pathologic conditions, which may or may not be accurately represented. As such, many functional or subclinical dysregulations of, for instance, thyroid markers and other markers commonly go unnoticed by your doctor.

from pages 80-81:

Again, it is important to realize that HDL and LDL are not actual cholesterol at all, but merely the protein transport mechanisms for cholesterol. All Cholesterol is Exactly the Same. LDL takes cholesterol away from the liver to the extremities and other organs for various purposes, including the manufacture of important steroidal hormones and vitamin D. HDL merely returns the same spent cholesterol to the liver, where it can be recycled. LDL also serves as a transport mechanism for critical fat-soluble nutrients, including vitamin D and antioxidants as well as certain fats.

from pages 81-83:

Furthermore, cholesterol is the human body's version of duct tape. It travels to areas where there has been arterial damage and patches up lesions. Higher serum levels of cholesterol can serve as a message that 'something is going on' for which it is needed. Serum cholesterol is simply an indicator, not a diagnosis. Allegedly high cholesterol is in no way a form of a pathologic condition, in and of itself. But it may be telling you something, much like the engine warning light illuminating the dashboard of your car. Unscrewing the bulb (i.e. taking stain drugs) isn't going to fix the engine. You need to dig deeper. What has been deemed high cholesterol by some, however (i.e., anything over 200 mg/dL) is an entirely arbitrary and unscientifically derived number fabricated solely by pharmaceutical interests. Levels approaching 250 to 300 mg/dL might be an indication to look under the hood to see why serum cholesterol seems to be going up. Rest assured, however, that cholesterol isn't being sent there like an evil villain to cause you trouble; it's simply trying to do its job. In my view, it is important to simply let it, while pursuing the trail of evidence to its more meaningful source.

Going in with statin drugs to stamp out cholesterol is the equivalent of preventing the firemen who arrive to put out a fire from doing their job - and blaming them for the fire.

[. . .]

Many people are unaware that cholesterol is also an antioxidant or that levels that are too low (below 150 mg/dL) actually increase your risk for cancer, hormonal imbalances, depression, sexual dysfunction, memory loss, Parkinson's disease, stroke (yes, stroke), suicide, and violent behaviour. I personally worry far more about someone with cholesterol levels that are too low than someone whose levels are supposedly too high. In addition, normal hormonal production and balance are utterly dependent on the availability of cholesterol in the body. Cholesterol is the primary building block of many hormones. It is also essential for normal cognitive functioning and brain development. We cannot live of function optimally without it.

 

[zim]

I would like some help with this Blood results (this are my first results before the Iron test the doctor didnt allow the iron before... :/)

Hemoglobina 10.1
Hematocrito 35%
promedio de la concetracion de la hemoglobina corpuscular 29 g/dl
promedio volumen corpuscular 76 fl
promedio de la hemoglobina corpuscular 22 pg
recuento eritrocitos 5
recuento leucucitos 4700 U/L

fosfata alcalina 36 U/L

Glucosa 80

TSH 1.70 uUi/ml


It appears all these results are very low, next step made another test...

 

[Gaby]

It appears all these results are very low, next step made another test...

That is right, with those results you need to know specifically about ferritin, transferrin, total iron binding capacity and iron. In short, see how iron deposits look like.

:)

 

[Eboard10]

I did a blood test back in December after going to the dermatologist as I have eczema which in my case seems to be inflammatory in nature. Though my acne has improved considerably since going ketogenic, I still have some occasional outbreaks. Though I never really gave much attention to these results, I thought I’d have a look through to see if there was anything abnormal that could help me identify some issues. I have to admit that at the time I had gone off ketosis as I was staying at my parents and had eaten some carbs for about a week before taking the test.

Urine test
pH 5.0 5.0 - 8.0
Density 1.032 1.002 - 1.030
Albumin Traces Absence
Haemoglobin Traces Absence

Sedimentation Rates
Leucocytes 7 /mm3 < 10
Erythrocytes 8 /mm3 < 5
Rare Epithelial Cells
Numerous Calcium Oxalate Crystals
Quite Numerous Mucous Filaments

Heamatology
Leucocytes 5.3 G/L 4.0 - 10.0
Erythrocytes 4.83 T/L 4.20 - 5.80
Haemoglobin 13.8 g/dL 13.0 - 17.0
Haematocrit 40.1 % 37.0 - 50.0 %
M.C.V. 83 fL 82.0 - 98.0
M.C.H. 28.6 pg 27.0 - 34.0
M.C.H.C. 34.4 g/dL 32.0 - 36.0
Platelets 206 G/L 150 - 400

Sedimentation Speed 4 mm < 15
Folates 3.1 ng/mL 3.0 - 17.6
Blood Sugar 93 mg/dL 70 - 105

Cholesterol
Total Cholesterol 212 mg/dL < 190
HDL 75 mg/dL > 40
HDL/Total 35 %
non HDL 137 mg/dL
LDL 125 mg/dL < 115
Triglycerids 59 mg/dL < 150

GGT 11 UI/L 12 - 64
CRP (C-reactive protein) < 1 mg/L < 5

Thyroid
TSH 1.1 mUI/L 0.35 - 4.5
T4 free 1.1 ng/dL 0.7 - 1.5

25-OH Vitamin D2-D3 26.2 ng/mL > 30.0

Having done some reading, it's quite clear that I have some sort of inflammation going on. The results that really stand out are low pH levels, high ESR (erythrocytes sedimentation rate) as well as low Folates (B12), Vitamin D3 and GGT.

From my understanding, a low pH levels indicates that I’m in acidosis and that my body cannot effectively assimilate minerals and vitamins and is therefore forced to take the minerals from bones and organs. I also have a high sedimentation rate which is a clear mark of inflammation. I wonder if there is any connection between the two or are they separate issues?

I have low Vitamin D3 levels which doesn’t surprise me given the weather we've had in the UK. The cold weather inflames my facial skin and I also get dry hands which could be a sign of dehydration. Dehydration seems to be linked to low pH levels too.

I was, however, surprised to see that my folate levels are that low given that I follow a meat-based diet (mainly bacon, pork and bone broth) which is supposed to be high in vitamin Bs. What concerns me the most is that Vitamin B12 deficiency can be related to anemia?

Can’t seem to find anything regarding low GGT levels but I’m assuming that I would need to take L-glutamine supplements? Not sure what that means though.

Apart from the acne, I have lower back pains, and joint pain in my left knee which has been ongoing for a few years from when I used to jog a lot (have since stopped). Would really appreciate some feedback on these results and if taking addtional supplements would help (I currently take magnesium, zinc, cod liver oil and vitamin B complex along with green tea and salted water in the morning). I’m also planning on doing another test sometime this month so it would be nice to get some advice on what else to include.

 

[Gaby]

Hello Eboard10!

Apart from the acne, I have lower back pains, and joint pain in my left knee which has been ongoing for a few years from when I used to jog a lot (have since stopped). Would really appreciate some feedback on these results and if taking addtional supplements would help (I currently take magnesium, zinc, cod liver oil and vitamin B complex along with green tea and salted water in the morning). I’m also planning on doing another test sometime this month so it would be nice to get some advice on what else to include.

If you've been off from gluten and dairy for quite some time (6 months - 1 year), perhaps it is time to see iron overload issues. I wouldn't be surprised if you are over 60 on ferritin.

As for vitamin D, I'm not sure if we really have the answer on that one. You are already taking cod liver oil which is a natural source of both vitamin D and A, and that is the best source: animal source providing both vitamins, so that no artificial imbalance is created.

Here is a review on Vitamin D supplementation which I think is relevant:

http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,30764.msg407449.html#msg407449

Yeah, but I'm not sure if we are close to figure out the vitamin D mystery. I think that taking care of root problems might solve this one out. For all I know, the low vitamin D tendencies in chronic health problems including autoimmune disease are the body's way of trying to heal itself or increase longevity. This is actually an argument backed up by research. It is been suggested that increasing vitamin D artificially (i.e. supplementation) might actually cut our longevity short. It has to do with the klotho factor that has just being "recently" discovered:

_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klotho_%28biology%29

"Klotho is a transmembrane protein that, in addition to other effects, provides some control over the sensitivity of the organism to insulin and appears to be involved in aging. Its discovery was documented in 1997 by Kuro-o et al.[4] The name of the gene comes from Klotho or Clotho, one of the Moirai, or Fates, in Greek mythology." [...]

"Klotho-deficient mice show increased production of vitamin D, and altered mineral-ion homeostasis is suggested to be a cause of premature aging–like phenotypes, because the lowering of vitamin D activity by dietary restriction reverses the premature aging–like phenotypes and prolongs survival in these mutants."

That is the wikipedia version on the subject. There are several papers and research done involving klotho factor and vitamin D in people with low kidney function that seem to support the idea that increasing vitamin D levels is not such good idea after all.

I would take some folate vitamin along with vitamin B6 in a sub-lingual format.

I would not bother with GGT, I would just keep an eye on it in the next blood test. Same with the urine pH. Research does seem to suggest that it is the quality of the acidic foods that are important when it comes to osteoporosis and not the pH itself. If it is from grains, that is bad. From meat, no reason you should have more osteoporosis, on the contrary. Well, I'm simplifying. But there is data to suggest this.

For your next test, I would add:

Hb A1c (glycated Hb)
Ferritin
Transferrin
Iron
TIBC
ultra sensible C reactive protein
kidney function tests (Creatinine, urea) which is missing in the last one, plus all the other standard stuff.

:)

 

[Eboard10]

I would take some folate vitamin along with vitamin B6 in a sub-lingual format.

I would not bother with GGT, I would just keep an eye on it in the next blood test. Same with the urine pH. Research does seem to suggest that it is the quality of the acidic foods that are important when it comes to osteoporosis and not the pH itself. If it is from grains, that is bad. From meat, no reason you should have more osteoporosis, on the contrary. Well, I'm simplifying. But there is data to suggest this.

For your next test, I would add:

Hb A1c (glycated Hb)
Ferritin
Transferrin
Iron
TIBC
ultra sensible C reactive protein
kidney function tests (Creatinine, urea) which is missing in the last one, plus all the other standard stuff.

:)

Thank you Psyche! I am happy to hear that low pH isn't too much of a concern when eating meats. I do actually have the kidney function tests but didn't include them as they seemed normal (Creatinine 1.0 mg/dL and GFR > 60). I also tested negative for HepA - IgG and IgM but there is an immunity presence for HepB Anti HBs (>1000 UI/L).

Will try and get a blood test done in the next couple of weeks to include the iron tests and will be taking some more vitamin B supplements.

 

[Mike]

Here are my lab results from 10 May (I found that I could access them online. I double checked after posting in the Hemochromatosis and Autoimmune Conditions thread about what my iron lab results that were done outside of my provider and that the labs below might indicate Metabolic Syndrome). I only included high or low results:

Test Name Result Units Reference Range
PLATELET MEAN VOLUME 12.0 High fL 7.4-10.4
PLATELETS 117 Low K/cmm 140-440

ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE 73 High IU/L 17-63

CHOLESTEROL.IN HDL 27 Low MG/DL 40-60
CHOLESTEROL.IN LDL 134 High MG/DL 0-100
IRON 189 High mcg/dL 45-160
TRIGLYCERIDE 154 High MG/DL 0-150


My ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE result in Dec 2012 was 60. With this recent high results will I be asking for a full liver panel when I have my follow-up in July?

 

[Gaby]

My ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE result in Dec 2012 was 60. With this recent high results will I be asking for a full liver panel when I have my follow-up in July?

I would do that, yes. If you are on a low carb/keto diet, then it looks like iron overload is really having an effect in your liver.

Other things to keep in mind are viral infections, prescription drugs and so forth. But yeah, looks like decanting iron is the way to go.

If you are not a candidate for blood donation, perhaps you can look into an integral/alternative medicine option for decantings? In any clinic where they use IV orthomolecular nutrients, they should be able to decant. Or perhaps through the Iron Disorders Institute, they will guide you through the appropriate parties.

Have you tried liver support supplementation such as alpha lipoic acid, milk thistle and the like? I would take some, it will help you stabilize your metabolism while you decant and chelate iron.