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Lipids Panel

toadqueen
toadqueen Posts: 592 Member
edited December 2024 in Social Groups
I am reviewing recent lab work and trying to figure out if my cholesterol numbers are consistent with others eating LCHF - I started eating low carb again in July and since Aug am now primarily no carb, moderate protein, high fat

My overall cholesterol is decreasing
My total cholesterol/HDL ratio is increasing
My HDL was low and is now very low and decreasing
My LDL is decreasing
My triglycerides are increasing

I am concerned about the low HDL and increasing triglycerides. Everything I read about raising HDL involves eating food that is not consistent with LCHF and I have no clue about lowering triglycerides. I am hoping that this is just a manifestation that I have burning fat but I need to learn more.

Cholesterol Lab numbers:
May Aug Sep
Total 197 170 150
Total/HDL Ratio 3.3 4.5 5.0
HDL 60 38 30
LDL 124 114 90
Triglycerides 66 91 150


Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions?
TIA

Replies

  • Sunny_Bunny_
    Sunny_Bunny_ Posts: 7,140 Member
    Lost weight since august?
  • KnitOrMiss
    KnitOrMiss Posts: 10,103 Member
    Something I heard in a podcast today said that if your trigs go up and your hormones in general go down, this is a indicative of an issue in your thyroid function...which, by the way, is massively driven my insulin, which I did not know until today, not by the pituitary, which is where the TSH number comes from, so that makes utterly no sense...
  • toadqueen
    toadqueen Posts: 592 Member
    I lost 20 lbs since August - I had not realized it was so much. I just checked.

    My hormones are going in various directions. I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and a pituitary microadenoma and have recently increased my thyroid medication dosages and added a third one. My TSH was still higher than desirable although my Free T3 has risen as has my Vitamin D levels.

    I also read another recent thread (that I had missed before I posted) where someone was experiencing similar trends so I am not as concerned. It seems to be a usual phenomenon for some when burning fat.
  • KnitOrMiss
    KnitOrMiss Posts: 10,103 Member
    Chris Masterjohn was the presentation, and it's closed now, but I bet he has more info on his site... Let me know if you need me to read up and reiterate what I took down in notes.
  • canadjineh
    canadjineh Posts: 5,396 Member
    @toadqueen and @KnitOrMiss I also took notes on his presentation: here's a quick synopsis.
    Insulin acts directly on thyroid and tissues. Pituitary makes TSH so not primarily affected. Should show a decrease in stable T4 and drop in T3 or free T3. What you wouldn't see in the panel is HOW T3 gets into the cell. Upping your free fatty acids inhibits binding of thyroid hormone to receptors and causes physiologic response changes but not necessarily blood level changes. He suggests looking for the signs and symptoms and NOT just blood levels. Also of note: In conjunction with abnormal sex hormone levels/profile a high LDL cholesterol (in proportion to HDL) screams out low biological activity of thyroid.
    Here's a good simple exlanation from Dr. Chris Masterjohn on another site:
    http://www.marksdailyapple.com/how-to-interpret-cholesterol-test-results/
  • KnitOrMiss
    KnitOrMiss Posts: 10,103 Member
    canadjineh wrote: »
    @toadqueen and @KnitOrMiss I also took notes on his presentation: here's a quick synopsis.
    Insulin acts directly on thyroid and tissues. Pituitary makes TSH so not primarily affected. Should show a decrease in stable T4 and drop in T3 or free T3. What you wouldn't see in the panel is HOW T3 gets into the cell. Upping your free fatty acids inhibits binding of thyroid hormone to receptors and causes physiologic response changes but not necessarily blood level changes. He suggests looking for the signs and symptoms and NOT just blood levels. Also of note: In conjunction with abnormal sex hormone levels/profile a high LDL cholesterol (in proportion to HDL) screams out low biological activity of thyroid.
    Here's a good simple exlanation from Dr. Chris Masterjohn on another site:
    http://www.marksdailyapple.com/how-to-interpret-cholesterol-test-results/

    Yup, that's 90% of what I was trying to say, just more articulately said! Lol
  • toadqueen
    toadqueen Posts: 592 Member
    Thanks so much. I listened and took notes as well but got very confused. My take was that high triglycerides meant that I was not burning fat and that my thyroid was impeded. I just read the interview that canadjineh provided. Chris Masterjohn stated: "...if you’ve been losing weight don’t even look at your blood lipids until your weight is stable..."

    I am losing weight. I am most likely fat adapted. I am being treated for low thyroid function irrespective of any WOE. I am feeling so much better physically.
  • KenSmith108
    KenSmith108 Posts: 1,967 Member
    Here's my lab#s from this weeks endo visit.
    HA1c 6.4
    Glucose, fasting 99
    Cholesterol, total 145
    HDL 51
    HDL Ratio 2.8
    LDL 77
    Triglycerides 85
    Non HDL 94

    >:) or o:)
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