Blood Work Results - Vitamin D and Cholesterol

Given how my family eats, you would think our blood work would be stellar, but that is hardly the case.

Vitamin D

Take Colson’s Vitamin D level, for instance. Abysmal. This kid has hardly worn sunscreen in his life (he did wear some his first three years in Florida where he was born, but not much.) He has worn it once in five years in North Carolina. He is in the sun every day in the Spring, Summer and Fall, often for hours and especially when we go to the lake. He swims on the swim team. He is tan, tan, tan! He takes fermented cod liver oil, which is high in the natural and supposedly easy to absorb vitamin D. And his vitamin D level? 23. We are “supposed” to be above 30. My vitamin D level (and I am with Colson, out in the sun a lot and I take fermented CLO too) is 22. You can read more about my vitamin D deficiency here (I hope to get tested again soon): More on Vitamin D Deficiency.

My Dr. of Oriental Medicine says that we don’t absorb D for some reason, so we are on a special, emulsified blend of natural D - the brand is Apex Energetics Ultra-D Complex (K-35). We are taking three times the recommended adult dosage for a few weeks. After that we back off to the regular adult dosage. The regular dosage has 500% of the USDA recommended amount of vitamin D, so we are taking 1,500% the dosage. There is no messing around with D when it comes to my doc. It will be interesting to get Colson’s lab results when he tests again.

As an interesting aside, who know how much longer we will be able to get the healthy natural vitamin D we are taking: Betrayal of a Nation: Why U.S. health authorities are keeping you vitamin D deficient and who stands to gain.

Cholesterol

Here is another shocker. Ryan’s cholesterol is out of whack. He is 267 total and his ratios are crazy:

• Triglycerides are high( should be less than 150)

• HDL is low (should be greater than 60)

• LDL is high (should be less than 100)

These results are similar to the results of three years ago. I have been telling him to get off of the damn French press coffee, which is known to severely mess with cholesterol, and he finally has.

Get a load of this quote from Science Daily about cafestol, an ingredient in French ress coffee (How Coffee Raises Cholesterol):

In fact, cafestol is the most potent dietary cholesterol-elevating agent known, said Dr. David Moore, professor of molecular and cellular biology at BCM, and Dr. Marie-Louise Ricketts, a postdoctoral student and first author of the report. Cafetiere, or French press coffee, boiled Scandinavian brew and espresso contain the highest levels of the compound, which is removed by paper filters used in most other brewing processes.

Here is another interesting news report:

But a cholesterol check may be in order for people who use a French press or percolator to make their coffee or who prefer espresso or other varieties of unfiltered coffee, according to Dr. Michael J. Klag, the vice dean for clinical investigation at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.

In 2001, Klag and his colleagues reviewed more than a dozen studies that looked at the relationship between coffee consumption and cholesterol levels. They found that drinking an average of six cups of coffee a day was associated with increased total cholesterol and LDL, the harmful type of cholesterol. Nearly all of the rise in cholesterol was linked to unfiltered coffee.

Ryan drank his French press coffee double strength and fits the profile for the raised and out of whack cholesterol it causes. In addition, he continued to hurt the recovery of his adrenal glands, which were fried by his efforts to clear his former ADD brain fog by using stimulants like coffee. All because he likes the taste.

If you want to know about Ryan’s ADD cure, read this post: Husband Blog – ADHD Update.

Here is Ryan’s 2009 journey to get off of coffee: Husband Health Update, Getting off Coffee - Round 2, Day 4, and Husband Blog - Getting off Coffee Final Round. Unfortunately, due to layoff we didn’t have the financial resources to get his cholesterol tested after he kicked coffee to the curb the first time.

Why did Ryan get back on coffee in the summer of 2010? A job. An overly crazed, amped up contract job that he couldn’t refuse in this economy of limited work choices. And once he started coffee again he was hooked…until now.

With 43 years behind him and a super energetic Colson eager for even more physical “Papa” activity, Ryan has finally kicked the coffee habit again, and for good I hope! It will be interesting to see what his blood work reveals in a couple of weeks.

My husband is a great sport for contributing to my blog and putting up with my being so frustrated around his coffee habit. I just want him around and adventuring with me well into our 90s and beyond.

Comments

[Hilary]

The naturopath/chinese medicine guy that we use is saying that a lot of people with autoimmune issues have problematic vitamin D receptors - google that, maybe you can find more on it. We're meting with him this weekend to get a new supplement regimen.
Also, a doctor (phd chemist, not medical doctor) friend told me liposomal D (Dr Mercola sells it) is very easily absorbed, so that might be another thing to google.
Good luck! And thanks for writing all that you write, it's very helpful.

[Tim Huntley]

The thing that jumps out at me with respect to Ryan's lipid profile is the Triglycerides. Is he eating a lot of carbs?

...Tim

[Laura Combs]

Tim - Actually, very, very low carb diet composed of fruit and kefir smoothie in the morning. Veggies and protein for lunch and dinner and snacks (and an apple) We are GAPS/Paleo/Primalish people with no grains or sweeteners in the diet except 1 T of honey in the a.m. with our smoothie.

Looking forward to getting the new results in a couple of weeks. If things quickly right themselves because coffee was removed that will be great.

Hilary - He will also get his Vitamin D checked next time his blood is drawn. Will look into the receptor issue too.

Thanks for the suggestions both of you!!

[Tim Huntley]

Laura,

You might also want to check out Chris Masterjohn's article on the WAPF website "Why is My Cholesterol so high on this diet?" You may have already seen it.

...Tim