Beyond the Lipid Hypothesis - Guest Post on CholesterolCode.com by Yours Truly

cholesterol
science
heartdisease
(Siobhan) #1

Hello all! I wanted to share something I’ve been working on with @DaveKeto (Known for The Feldman Protocol / CholesterolCode.com) - I first began talking to him in earnest at Ketofest and, afterwards, began studying lipidology and surrounding topics in my free time. I discussed with Dave about what I had been learning and he encouraged me to write up what I’ve learned as a post for his blog… which developed into a series that I will be posting with his support!

It is a micro view of the development of atherosclerosis, looking specifically at direct mechanisms involved, and how this sits with the lipid hypothesis and other hypotheses regarding atherosclerotic development. I thought it was pertinent to look specifically at what directly contributes to the development of atherosclerosis - no correlations, no statistics skewing - only what is directly involved in the process. I felt the better we understand this process and the system as a whole, the better we can find root causes, instead of symptoms.
I figured this might interest some of you forum-goers, so I hope you enjoy!

The title of the series is “Beyond the Lipid Hypothesis” - consider this an introduction to a growing series! Thank you!

(Doug) #2

Excellent, Siobhan. I love your posts on this subject - they’re very well-written, with a good eye to the reader’s perspective.

(Juha) #3

Great post Siobhan!

(Khara) #4

Thank you @siobhan. In depth but I’m actually able to understand your writing. Very visual.
So… is it possible to test for modified LDL levels?

(matt ) #5

Well done my friend!

(Siobhan) #6

Well there does appear to be a test for oxidized LDL, which would give you something. It is just called an oxLDL blood test.
Oxidative stress tests exist as well.

I am definitely not a doctor, but, a CAC test, and measures for metabolic health may in fact go a long way assuming you don’t have a genetic condition which results in poor clearance of lipoproteins from circulation.
I am definitely not refuting that things like metabolic syndrome/insulin resistance are a causal/correlative factor for atherosclerosis by the way, in fact they tie in quite well which I will go into somewhat in the next part of the series.

The other thing is that rates of modified LDL may fluctuate… for example during certain types of infection. Which is why perhaps it is better to look at markers that don’t fluctuate as much like fasting insulin, etc
The important thing to take away from the post is that some level of modified LDL is probably normal as it is a consequence of immune response among other things. The body will actually produce its own reactive oxygen species for handling infections, for example…
It is that it appears that the break occurs when there is a chronic overload of the system over the course of decades. Insulin resistance is definitely one thing that puts a lot of stress on the system along with smoking, anything that introduces a lot of reactive oxygen species/oxidative stress, etc.

So, to your original question: yes but be sure to look at the system as a whole, and other factors that could influence results like infection, and keep an eye on longer term factors like insulin resistance

Just my two cents - probably a longer reply than you were hoping for! haha

#7

ROCKSTAR xxx

(Khara) #8

This is great, thank you. Quite intriguing to learn of the existence of modified LDL and their tie to an immunity response. It really started to resonate while reading your article. And, yes thanks for pointing out these modified LDLs would fluctuate, that completely makes sense when looked at as part of the immunity response. And so again, as you said, we must redirect our focus and look at other inflammatory markers as well. I too started questioning this years ago. Somewhere I read of a link between “high cholesterol” and inflammation and at the same time was experiencing my own inflammation that I attributed to too much sugar. I felt there should be a connection there with sugar and cholesterol numbers but it was just a hunch and I have not delved in to researching it as you have. I really look forward to reading your next part and understanding more. Please be sure and notify us when it’s been posted. And, BTW, I think you should keep pushing the “damaged” cholesterol as opposed to “bad” cholesterol terminology. Words mean things.
Thanks again!

(Ben) #9

Excellent @siobhan. Looking forward to finding out what causes ldl to be modified.

(Keto in Katy) #10

Wow, this is very impressive work. I look forward to more from you @siobhan.

The experiments and publishing that @DaveKeto has been doing surely will, in time, get the attention they deserve within the medical community. If he’s right, it is a game-changer and cannot be dismissed.

Hooray for Citizen Scientists changing the world!

(Ben) #11

I love this tweet by Ted Naiman

(Siobhan) #12

I think they already are - at a grassroots level. I too believe they are going to get pretty big, and hopefully change the view of this topic for the better (by which I mean - more accurate and in line with facts).

(Karen Parrott) #13

Thank you for all your work, and @DaveKeto too. I’m a hyper responder , especially when I’m fasting (17:7) and a med tech who studied lipids in the late 1980’s as part of my lab training.

Fascinating work. CAC = 0% age 51, my doc is still pretty cautious, but I’m resting easier.

Keep up the great work. Maybe we can get some new reference ranges based on our food templates… Hmmmm. :slight_smile:

Take care and I look forward to following the series.

(Siobhan) #14

Awesome on the CAC score! I would love new reference ranges for keto people, considering out metabolism is far different from the standard american. Perhaps as there is more of a shift for the general population dropping carbs we will get better data!

(Mike Glasbrener) #15

I just finished reading your article… Wow! Excellent article. Well referenced and dense. I like to think I’m pretty bright but I’m going to have to read another couple of times for retention/thoughtful analysis. I’m an Ivy League educated engineer by training and my brain cramped a bit as I only moonlight in understanding insulin, blood sugar and now, the lipid system.:grinning:

(Mandi) #16

Terrific article. Can’t wait to read future articles!

(Bonnie) #17

YES! This is my area of focus. I am trying to understand why my LDL and Total cholesterol has been steadily climbing for 5 years now, why my CAC puts me at the 75 percentile and what to do about it. All other standard blood work is normal, my weight is within normal range, I am fit - did a triathlon at age 60. My doctor is adamant that I start Statins. That was 3 months ago - thus started my Keto journey. No Statins yet, anyway until I explore everything I can find about this topic. I plan to redo blood work next week. I will be paying for it myself and need help deciding what tests I should order. I am looking forward to your guest posts!

(Siobhan) #18

I would personally look at CRP to get a look at if there is any inflammation going on, as well as fasting insulin and HBA1C. Also check out Ivor Cummins stuff for a macro view on what contributes to heart disease.

What were your trigs and hdl by the way? The ratio can give another hint as to how the entire system is functioning - as far as my research so far goes.

(Bonnie) #19

I apologize for the handwritten note, hope you can read

IMG_1473
IMG_1473.JPG2608×1107 715 KB

(Siobhan) #20

Did you fast especially long before the last test? Are all these number pre-keto?