LDL level too low

#1

Hello guys,

I’m new here, I’m from France and began a keto diet in April 2019, and have since lost 20 kgs (44 pounds). I am 44 years old, weigh 96 kgs for 175 cm (212 pounds for 5’6), and exercise 4-6 hours per week.

I just did a blood test and have some intriguing results. Having had a summer with rather messed up keto dieting (high fat - and much of it bad fat - along with occasional carb days), I expected my cholesterol to be abnormally high (since I certainly wasn’t burning fat), even if I have been back on a keto routine since mid-October (about 1 month). However test results are in and it’s not quite right: HDL is on the low side (though normal), but LDL is worryingly low…:

(mg/dl)
Total Cholesterol 135 (norm is <200)
HDL 48 (best is <55, but 48 isn’t bad)
LDL 65 (norm is 70-100)
Triglyceride 114 (norm is <150)

I did some reading, and low LDL may be tied to liver disease or cancer.

I will say that I am getting surgery for a lump on a saliva gland that’s been there for a year and plan on asking the doctor about my test results, but knowing that I am in France, where doctors mostly aren’t well-versed in the ketogenic diet and its side effects, I worry that they might make uneducated conclusions.

So I have two questions:

Being on a keto diet, could low LDL be tied to liver malfunctioning? Or could it be that having that lump is an indication of something more serious in my body (cancer?).

Thank you very much.

Frederic

(Full Metal KETO AF) #2

I don’t know about a medical connection to low LDL but it seems like it would be relatively easy to get it up a little if you ate more saturated fat, either fatty meat or butter. That will raise your HDL too. Butter has the highest percentage of saturated fat compared to all other fat sources, like 60%. You’re only a little under. If it was five above the top of the range that would be nothing. :cowboy_hat_face:

(KetoQ) #3

Hi Frederic –

65 is actually a very good LDL number. My last lipid panel was in September and it was 68, the lowest in 10 years, and my doctor thought it was a great.

< 100 is good. I’ve never read any articles where <70 LDL was considered unhealthy. In fact, I’ve seen articles from Harvard Health Publishing that say <70 is optimal.

That said, I’m open to being proven wrong, if you have a source I’d certainly be interested in reading it. Just sharing what I know.

Brian

#4

Videos from Ivor Cummings suggest that fasting insulin levels and TG/HDL are better markers for heart disease you may want to check them out.
I’m no doctor so I don’t know. But my results are similar thought my ldl was a little higher

(Bob M) #5

People believe this, but it might not be true. This woman ate more beef fat – a lot more – which is higher in saturated fat, and her LDL went down:

@Q66 That’s because the drug manufacturers think lower is better. And Harvard Health is owned by those types of people.

The epi evidence indicates to me that higher LDL is better. However, I think there’s a limited range within which you can get your LDL. I can only get mine into 120+ if I fast multiple days. Otherwise, it’s around 100.

#6

Hi all,

Huge of you guys to take time to respond.

@Q66 https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/expert-answers/cholesterol-level/faq-20057952

French doctors start placing Hypocholesterolemia when total cholesterol goes below 160 (I’m at 135) or LDL goes below 90 or 70 (couldn’t find a consistent number) and I’m at 65…

Seeing how I REALLY haven’t managed to stay the course in the keto diet this summer (like 5 days in, 3 days out) - I should have accumulated fat and cholesterol… Yet, even with that, I would be below the norm??? That’s what worries me.