don't understand my numbers

[aint2good]

Hello all - I've been LC for about 2.5-3 months now, and just got my first blood test since. Unfortunately i don't have complete numbers from just before I started, but I have some from a couple years ago:

September 2008 - weight 180
glucose 93mg/dl
total cholesterol 203
HDL 49
LDL 117
trig 184
ratio total/HDL 4.2

April 2009 - weight 200
glucose 92
total 227
HDL 48
LDL 148
trig 153
ratio 4.7

November 2011
total 279
ratio 5.8


Today - age 35, weight 213 (down from 235 in January)
glucose 94
total 293
HDL 32
LDL 221
trig 196
ratio 9.1

In September 2008 I was in the best shape of my adult life, lifting and running 3-4 miles daily, eating low-cal, but otherwise following SAD. Shortly after that I got engaged, and my now-wife is a great cook, so my weight creeped up and my exercise declined.

My numbers from November were sent to via a life-insurance policy I took out - they didn't give me any more info, but from these I think I can still calculate my HDL at the time as 48.

So, after starting LC in January of this year, I'm having trouble understanding how my numbers could have got so bad so fast. My meals from yesterday:
breakfast: bacon & eggs
lunch: 1/3-lb hamburger in lettuce wrap
snack: 1/2-cup almonds
dinner: "hash" consisting of bratwurst, bacon, chicken thigh, eggs, and onions (delicious!)

Looking at my numbers today (after approx 11 hours fasting overnight), I could maybe convince myself that I was still processing the high-fat meal from last night, explaining the high triglycerides and LDL ... but I'm not sure this explains the low HDL. My wife is following the same diet and has seen similar weight-loss ... her numbers today were good, except her HDL was also low - at 33. Honestly, based on all the literature I've read, I was expecting our HDL's to be up in the 50s or 60s at least.

Any help explaining these numbers would be appreciated.

Thanks!
-Matt

[aint2good]

Some more info, if it helps.

I take about 10000 UI of vitamin D each week (trying to take at least 2000 a day, but sometimes forget). Not taking any other vitamins or supplements at the moment. I had a minor surgery 16 days ago and completed a 5-6 day antibiotic regimen immediately after. I regularly fast on Wednesdays (don't eat between dinner Tuesday and breakfast Thursday), and had done so this week, but had not done so the previous 2 weeks due to the surgery and recovery. I will occasionally complete an extra 18-24 hour fast Sunday after lunch into the next day. When cooking, we tend to use virgin coconut oil or olive oil, and definitely avoid vegetable oils and trans fats.

Everything I've read indicates my HDL should be sky high, but instead it seems to have been cut by a third after starting LC. I'm also concerned by my wife's low HDL score.

Any info/ideas are appreciated.
Thanks!
-Matt

[aint2good]

I've discovered some encouraging information, and I'll post here in case anyone has found themselves in the same situation as me.

First, according to Dr. Davis at heart scan blog, in a post titled "What is this wacky thing called 'weight loss'", it is quite common when a person loses weight for their triglycerides to skyrocket and their HDL to plummet. It's an interesting read.

But I'm not one to take just one person's word for it, and since Dr. Davis doesn't quote any studies, I was pleased to find a second resource - a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showing the same "hypercholesterolemia" during weight loss using very low-calorie diets:
http://www.ajcn.org/content/53/6/1404.full.pdf

From what I gather in this study, it is not uncommon for a person losing weight to have an initial improvement in their numbers, followed by a significant degradation a few months in (triglycerides skyrocket, HDL plummets - to levels worse than pre-diet).

According to both sources, the numbers will eventually show marked improvement overall once a weight-loss "plateau" has been achieved and maintained for some period of time. Based on this information, my wife and I feel comfortable continuing our low-carb way of life. It might be awhile, but when I do eventually reach my goal weight (175-180), I'll be sure to post a follow-up (hopefully) showing an improved lipid profile.

[Stevie Renee]

Well first off welcome to LCF! A lot of good people here and a wealth of info.

So, so happy you read Dr Davis blog! Just keep doing what you doing and supplement too

I think he said to test 6 to 9 months after you start your low carb life style.

I was just rereading his book Wheat Belly - the parts about LDL and such. So much info and so much to grasp.

Well wishes to your way to a healthy heart and body!

Edited...glad to see you take Vit d - Dr D said to make sure it is oil based. His book also suggests fasting so kudos! Hope your wife is learning as well about her LDH/HDL

[juliekaboolie]

Hi Matt!

Glad you were able to find some information. I just discovered his blog, too. Also, I saw a new physician yesterday who I found through the Paleo Physician's Network and she also confirmed the information you found on hypocholesterolimia. She said that as a person changes from a sugar-burning machine to a fat-burning machine, there are free floating triglycerides in the bloodstream that the body is learning to burn...or something to that effect. Regardless, it seems like you and your wife should hang in there and not panic. Keep up the great work!!!!

[aint2good]

Thanks Julie & Stevie. I'm down 6 more pounds since i first posted!! I wish I had a Paleo/low-carb doctor nearby - the closest on the PPN is about 3 hours away.

[watcher513]

Here's an excellent read regarding the ratios:

Cholesterol - a Primer

[juliekaboolie]

That is awesome! Congratulations! Another good site to check are the blogs at Mark's Daily Apple. There is a post by a knowledgeable guy that Mark made into a sticky on cholesterol. Might be something to check out!