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I am a 42 year old female. Bp 117/72, need to lose a few lbs, but generally feel really good, active, started to try paleo a couple months ago and feel great/lost weight.

So, I got my blood tests back and doc suggested statins: Chol 262 Hdl 48 LDL 188 Triglic 163

Also have low vit D 22.3 and very low iron (can't find my #, sorry) and low WBC, rbc, hgb, and hct.

She gave me vit d supplements (1000 daily) and iron supps too and will see her again in three months.

Any supplement advice on what I can do to improve all these numbers? Not really sure where to start.

I have a big concern about being so anemic, but I don't have any anemia symptoms...not tired, look healthy.

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 be careful with iron supplements. They cause bacterial overgrowth/stomach upset in a lot of women. Are you getting enough red meat? Are you eating it with potential antinutrients like nuts? – Bread-Eating Beelzebub Jan 14 2012 at 4:12
The iron supplements are 325 mg daily. I've had the anemia prob only for a couple years, old tests in my med records show no history. However, she gave me iron about 6 mos ago and it caused diarrhea like clockwork, as opposed to constipation. I've tried taking them at diff times and with diff foods, but same thing. Trying a new brand this time around. I think I have red meat 3x/wk. should it be daily? I snack on nuts every few days. Where can I learn more about anti nutrients? That's new for me. – Elle Jan 14 2012 at 4:23
As far as Vitamin D...I would consider 5000 iu a day a minimum to raise your levels – JayJay Jan 14 2012 at 4:51
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 What are you eating? – Eric Jan 14 2012 at 7:05
What were you numbers before going paleo? – peter Jan 14 2012 at 7:08
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2 Answers

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Doesn't sound like anything some Vitamin D and exercise wouldn't fix. Get retested in 3 months.

Statins are bad news. See if you can get a heart scan and see if you have/how much plaque you have.

http://www.koco.com/r/18359167/detail.html

Apparently, the true cost is less than $100 for one, since that hospital was doing them for $100 cash a pop. If your doc orders it, your insurance company would probably pay $1,650.00 for you to get one done.

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I've read that statins are particularly bad news for women. Can anyone suggest what the best couple of peer-reviewed journal articles on statins and women might be that I could share with my doc? I just started with her about 2 years ago, so we have a forming relationship, but she is pushing the statins and I want to try other options first. – Elle Jan 14 2012 at 4:28
I agree that exercise, vitamin D, and a clean paleo type diet are all you need. Whatever your levels are at that point are what they need to be. Add liver to your diet would be my only recommendation otherwise, and I would skip the heart scan. – JayJay Jan 14 2012 at 4:48
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 What will you do if you have plaque? Eat right and exercise?.... well then just do that and save your money :) – JayJay Jan 14 2012 at 4:49
I'm going to add liver and figure out how to add more organ meats. – Elle Jan 14 2012 at 13:27
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Exercise and Vitamin D. That should do it.

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