Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

5

1

It seems like we Paleo Hackers have a penchant for flashing our blood test numbers once in a while to get some sane input. So, here I go:

I won't list every number (unless someone wants/ needs to see them) but I am interested in the relationship between HDL and Vitamins D status. Dr. Davis and others state that supplementing with D raises HDL. My HDL came back at 147. Apparently that is high because my DR. ordered a redo three times. My D levels are at 46. I note that some of the new thinking on D is to try to achieve a level of 70 or so.

So, my question is, if supplementing with vitamin D elevates HDL, and my D is moderately low but my HDL is very very high, should I bother supplementing D? Can you see any harm if my HDL goes even higher than this already elevated level? Will my HDL go up more and cause my Dr. more consternation?

P.S. I am not concerned as I recognize HDL is the "good cholesterol" but I still had to sit through a talk about how high my total number was - which is complete nonsense to me - she stressed me out a little.

Thank you.

flag	asked Jun 30 2011 at 20:40 none 16.3k●1●11●77

1

I have anxiety whenever I have my cholesterol checked also, because in my experience "mostly" you cannot tell doctors anything. They know everything health/medical related, they've read the Jupiter study for christ's sake (certainly this study is on the up and up, the fact that it was conducted by the very company pushing the drug is of no consequence). Every time I go to the doctor with my husband they immediately want to put him on a statin regardless of his lipid panel because he's type 2 diabetic. I'm so tired of arguing with these people who are clearly so much smarter than I am. – HeatherC Jun 30 2011 at 20:57

1

Isn't it the truth hc? I actually really like my Dr. (except when she refers to me as a "mature mother") She isn't into prescriptions, but I was really surprised to see her so confused about my HDL - surely it can't be that abnormal? – none Jun 30 2011 at 21:00

Have you had your HDL measured in the past? – Matt Jun 30 2011 at 21:01

No this is my very first lipid panel. – none Jun 30 2011 at 21:04

lol mature mother? That would piss me off =P I did just find a great doctor that I really like, she's a DO and it figures because I'm moving out of state in 4 months! But, I'm confident I can find someone good up in the Atlanta area, Emory Uni has a great med school and there are tons of doctors for me to weed through! – HeatherC Jun 30 2011 at 21:06

show 8 more comments

Matt · Answer 1 · 2011-06-30 22:27:58Z UTC

A vitamin D level of 46 seems fine to me. People recommending supplementing vitamin D to very high blood levels are really just speculating based on no good real evidence.

For the HDL level, this is just a suggestion based on my, non-expert, skim of the interenet :)

You could try asking your doctor about Familial Hyperalphalipoproteinemia (high HDL level caused by your genes).

This sudy mentions a family who carried this genetic mutation, one member had a HDL level of 169 mg/dl.

It seems to be caused by a mutation in a gene that forms part of the cholesterol transport system and results in high HDL and low LDL levels. There appear to be different types.

Aparently this is not all that rare but not unknown. It also seems possible to have parents with lower HDL if they each carry only one copy of the gene responsible.

If the cause is genetic then it is unlikely that your diet will have much effect. They only side effects of this genetic mutation appear to be a longer life and less heart disease. There is not a lot of easy reading on the subject, conditions that do not cause disease don't attract a huge amount of interest.

This is about the best I could find High HDL Cholesterol (Hyperalphalipoproteinemia)

Other environmental causes of high HDL can include:

History of alcohol abuse.
Treatment with medications such as oral estrogens, statins or niacin (ie, nicotinic acid).
History of vigorous, sustained aerobic exercise (eg, long-distance running).

I assume your doctor would know about any other those and I don't think they would give you a HDL of 147.

Austin · Answer 2 · 2011-06-30 21:06:52Z UTC

3

Take a look at the series on HDL over at Perfect Health Diet:

http://perfecthealthdiet.com/?p=3122

answered Jun 30 2011 at 21:06

Austin
1,106●1●4●10

excellent - I hadn't seen this. Thanks. – none Jun 30 2011 at 21:13

btrcup11 · Answer 3 · 2012-04-21 18:47:40Z UTC

2

Def check CRP-hs, DHEA-S, ferritin, and HDL subparticles

answered Apr 21 2012 at 18:47

btrcup11
21●1

Jack Kronk · Answer 4 · 2011-06-30 21:55:02Z UTC

hdl 147 is the highest i've ever heard of. did you get your CRP checked meredith?

I go to get a full VAP test tomorrow and I am very curious as to what will come back because I haven't been tested since last Oct and that was just a standard lipid, not a VAP.

anyway such a high HDL could indicate that you are fighting an infection, but mostly i am stealing that idea from PHD (as noted in the link referenced by Austin).

your trigs are super low, and hdl high, so your tc and ldl are probably totally fine.

i don't think hdl up at 147 is really necessary, but i don't really know if it's bad either. it may be, but maybe not (lame, i know).

one thing is that D at 46 is not low. Dr Dravis recommends 70, but Masterjohn says once you cross above 35 range it is more unknown what the benefits/drawbacks of that are. Certainly 46 is not low.

Vitamin D Lowish - Very High HDL - (Blood Panel Porn)

4 Answers