Cholesterol Paradox: Higher LDL & HDL on Low-Carb Diets

[@anthonyloguirato4390]

Went on the carnivore diet a year ago blood work was incredible. HDL went from 35 to 58. LDL did go up from 101 to 144, triglycerides went from 100 to 52 yet my doctors said that she wants me a cholesterol drugs, which I Declined. I am 62 and feeling better than I have in a very long time. I was in severe pain with arthritis until the carnivore diet. Now I am pain-free. It’s a miracle when you think about it, in my case anyway. Will continue with it.

[@luigilamorte7753]

Your story mirrors mine exactly. I politely declined to be out on statins. Statins scare the hell out of me. Just look at the potential side effects.

[@Xitlerwinniethepoohdictator]

LDL of 144 is nothing. Mine is 328.

[@BaliKSA]

My numbers did almost the same. HDL now higher than TGL whereas my TGL used to be 3-4 times higher than my HDL. Feeling great.

[@patricia753]

My story exactly! 63y, went on carnivore, LDL did go up, doc wanted to put me on statins, even though ratio was excellent. She refused to be my physician after I said no. I am pain free now! I definitely attribute it to the carnivore diet. Metabolic health tests perfect. 👍👍🙏

[@run4cmt]

That diet is terrible for long term health. Dr. William Davis in his book Supergut talks about the damage the diet does to the gut biohme. You need the nutrition from fruits, and vegatables. The reason your issues clear up is it is an elmination diet. You cut out processed foods, grain, sugar and dairy. These can cause problems. Most of your problems are probably from grain, sugar, processed foods and inflamatory fats. But you are cutting out foods vital to long term health.

[@markleblanc451]

My high LDL used to be a conundrum until I found the LMHR group and Dave Feldman. I think the Lipid Energy Model explains it beautifully. My LDL has run around 250 for 7 years now on a carnivore diet. I had a CAC done after year one which was a perfect zero. This year after 6 years of a high fat carnivore diet I had a CTA with CAC done. My CAC was still a perfect zero and the CTA showed no plaque in the arteries around my heart! With zero carbs consumed on a low carb/carnivore diet, your liver produces LDL as an energy source/substrate. Carnivore is the best thing that ever happened to me. Now I know that high LDL and ApoB are not a bad thing in the context of Keto/carnivore

[@okiebasil]

My LDL runs about the same after being on a ketovore, almost entirely carnivore, diet seven months, but my recent CAC score was 243. That was my first time to take that test, so the high calcium score may reflect the years I spent eating a grain and vegetable heavy diet with only a few servings a meat per week. Now I will have to wait until I can talk my doctor into ordering another CAC to compare how this diet is impacting it going forward.

[@iss8504]

​@@okiebasiltry getting a PET scan instead to look at flow. Your arteries can reform. If you have no symptoms, and the flow is normal, its likely the calcium isn't narrowing your arteries.

[@jarichards99utube]

Yep...! 😊👍 -70SomethingGuy

[@petervanderveen2340]

Congratulations on your zero CAC score. May I inquire as to your age when you had these tests done? The CAC score tends to go up as people age. The majority of people have a zero score for example at the age of 50 but that percentage is lower by the age of 70.

[@markleblanc451]

@ started Keto/carnivore at age 54. Lost 50 lbs and kept it off ever since. Age 61 now. No plans on getting another CAC. I’m living a carnivore lifestyle forever

[@andredaedone7732]

Cholesterol is good for you. Being a Carnivore my HDL was 129, LDL 440. I just ate a 2 pound Tomahawk Steak. I am stuffed.

[@micaineseeley5339]

LDL-C of 440 mg/dl will cause your heart disease to get worse

[@jarichards99utube]

Yep...! 😊👍 They keep confusing Healthy FAT & Healthy Cholesterol with their UNHEALTHY OXIDIZED Versions. Low Carb or Keto keeps down Oxidative Stress & Chronic inflamation -70SomethingGuy

[@andredaedone7732]

@jarichards99utube you actually explained it perfectly. 👍

[@micaineseeley5339]

​@@jarichards99utubeOxLDL correlates with increased LDL-C. The higher the LDL-C the higher level of OxLDL which is an inflammatory marker and the first step necessary for ASCVD

[@micaineseeley5339]

People with LDL-C level start having CVD events in their 20s

[@andrewrivera4029]

Can’t tell how amazed I am carnivore for almost a year at 59 years young with several cheat days a month but mostly carnivore 95% of the time BP is a steady 110/70 plus I’m at the weight I was when I did the Ironman triathlon 20 years ago without having to do all the training! In addition im extremely vascular with exceptional blood flow if you get my drift, I’m not worried about LDL at all.

[@KirstiCheetahh]

I have read dr Kendrick Malcolm's book "The Clot Thickens". Cholesterol and LDL particles do NOT cause CVD. I am LMHR on LCHF, woman 55, TC 450, HDL 85, LDL 350, TG 65, TG/HDL ratio 0.7 , HbA1c 5.1% ! I do not worry 😃

[@Whiskey3169]

On the Carnivore diet, blood pressure lowered to an average of 125/73 from 139/89. I feel much better as well.

[@KevinBalch-dt8ot]

My blood pressure is the only thing that has not improved from a low carb diet.

[@Whiskey3169]

@ then I would try supplementation of Vitamin D3 with Magnesium, Zinc and Berberine. Also add K2, it moves calcium caused by Vitamin D3 from arteries to bones

[@Valoric]

Magnesium (supplemental) and potassium (food) makes a huge difference to BP.

[@micaineseeley5339]

What did your ApoB do?

[@Whiskey3169]

@@micaineseeley5339 Testing mid January

[@maximlevytsky]

I can speak for myself. I have been on interval LCHF since February 2021. Since February 24, I switched to LCHPWF (6/18). The last measurement of blood cholesterol: total 410 mg/dl, HDL 90, TG 80. Doppler ultrasound shows no problems with the Intima Media complex. But when I saw an increase in total cholesterol in 2022, I signed up for liver elastometry. For two days I ate only boiled meat with a small rice amount before the study. On the day of the ultrasound, I donated blood for a lipid profile. Total cholesterol was 255 ng/dl, HDL 75, and TG 65. This shows how quickly the concentration of cholesterol in the blood changes. You don't need to pay attention to total cholesterol. The TG/HDL ratio is important. After switching to a Ketogenic diet, I have never had >1. The cardiologist says: statins are unnecessary, your heart and blood vessels are fine at 52 years old, just keep watching.

[@tylert4271]

Love the truth you've been puttin out, especially around this topic. Keep it up!

[@AJTramberg]

I'm thoroughly confused. I dove into this heart disease/cholesterol/sugar online space 6 weeks ago after a 300 CAC score (TC-259, LDL-174, HDL-61, Tri-113). GP and Cardiologist both pressuring me to go on statins. They seem to be so completely convinced I must do this, and then I go online and see equally qualified people with totally different opinions!! I was leaning toward taking a low carb/supplemental/exercise approach, but when you have the head of cardiology at the local hospital system looking you in the eye, and telling you that "Cholesterol damages your arteries", and "your "homeopathic!"(?) methods are not going help you!", that's intimidating when your best response is, well these guys on youtube said otherwise. Then the cardio said there is no reason to ever take another CAC score, because my plaque would continue to increase on statins anyway. WAIT, WHAT?? Then he tells me I'm genetically predisposed to high LDL and heart disease because his LDL is higher than mine, and his CAC score is 0. Again, WHAT? How is a person supposed to make sense of any of this???

[@jespestana]

Just from person to person. Your Trig/HDL ratio is too high (above 1.5), you want to have that as low as you can, or at least around 1. About LDL, read books and studies, and decide for yourself. Many things are a big business on this crazy world.

[@Michael-pn2ye]

I’m 66 ldl hdl both went up after I turned carnivore tris went down and I feel fantastic hdl was 109 tris were 69 ldl was 365 love my lipid panel 👍😊

[@maureen-paulbarnes-vonkulm480]

So what’s a major difference between Minnesota, Finnland and Spain? One thing would be sunshine. Therefor vitamin D might account for the cvd risks between those places.

[@defeqel6537]

sunlight has more effects than just vitamin D

[@dianejaquay]

That's exactly what I was thinking, the exposure to life giving SUN!!!

[@NorthlandSLC]

Also Spain uses olive instead of seed oil.

[@myrtlealley]

Lifestyle and stress possibly. I didn't read it yet, but I hope they compared more countries that might be similar to us like Canada and the UK.

[@mnetwork]

When i changed my diet and became more active years ago my HDL and total shot up. HDL is always very high but I maintain a good ratio and very low triglycerides. Thankfully my doctor isn't one of the crazy ones that thinks this is bad.

[@UncleMikeDrop]

First and foremost, I want to know who funded ANY study I aee.

[@vince1229]

Spain. High sun exposure.

[@djanitatiana]

Adn Finland quite the reverse

[@defeqel6537]

also more social, especially when that study was done

[@scottelliott6568]

My triglycerides are over 600. No more sugar or processed foods for me. 😢

[@dawndeefox8125]

I'll keep my high cholesterol both HDL and LDL. My sister got started refusing statins last month, and she is finally feeling healthy again. She no longer acts slow or forgetful. It's amazing to see her back to her old self and not acting like she had a stroke. Statins are bad. We need cholesterol. The BS about low cholesterol hasn't saved any lives. Heart attacks and dementia have risen with the pressure to eat low-fat. diets. When doctors try to convince me to take statins, I laugh at them. Their ignorance is a joke. Sugar, carbs, and inflammation are the problem, not cholesterol.

[@njsongwriter]

In less than a month I'll be 78. I've been on Keto/ketovore for 3.5 years, Two years ago my CAC score was 305. Two days ago it is up to 422 now. What can I do to stop it from going up more? Fasting insulin was 5.0 with a fasting glucose of 87 for a HOMA-IR score of 1.1. My hsCRP was 1.7

[@swamphawk6227]

I just got health insurance. Gonna get some basic bloodwork for the first time in 14 years.

[@pervinkeser8680]

İam 63 y fml i am not carnivore but low carb for 4 yrs hdl 103, trig 73 ldl 262 and lean person ofcourse dr wanted me to have statin which i didnot accept

[@stevelanghorn1407]

Thanks for this latest research info. You do an excellent, effective job. Do you sometimes receive criticism from so-called "mainstream" GPs / MDs / cardiologists etc for "cholesterol denialism"? I don't follow a low-carb diet, but try to eat a moderately "healthy" junk-free omnivorous diet. I'm 64 with high LDL, high HDL and fairly low Triglycerides. I'm repeatedly advised (very politely...!) that I need to take the Statins I was prescribed 5 years ago! Am I being sensible...or bloody foolish?!?

[@x.y.7385]

You just mention LDL as a whole. What about big fluffy vs small density ldl particles?

[@KevinBalch-dt8ot]

I went on a low carb diet in June when my A1c crept up to 5.8, My blood test results showed it declined to 5.6 by early October. My HDL and triglyceride were 70 and 82, respectively. All my life I struggled to get HDL above 40. My LDL was at 115 but my doctor said that was OK. I also lost about 7 pounds. Fasting glucose was at 100 which was a slight decline. I will get another metabolic and lipid panel early next year. What I’m struggling with is a sudden rise in systolic blood pressure. Used to average about 120 but is now about 135. That is what prompted to doctor visit in June so it is not a result of the low carb diet. I am of non-obese BMI, do either weights or cardio almost every day. Body fat is about 16% I am 65, so I suspect some kind of hormone change. I also started waking up to urinate once a night regularly. I thought it might be micro plastics from the Keurig coffee pods so I stopped using them. The night time urination has stopped but the blood pressure is still high. Really don’t know what other lifestyle changes I can make. I drink little alcohol, avoid processed foods make everything at home. Probably have to go on blood pressure meds.

[@iss8504]

Hey are you using mouthwash? That is known to increase your blood pressure.

[@KevinBalch-dt8ot]

@@iss8504 - Yes but I’ve used the same alcohol and flouride free mouthwash for years when my BO was 120/65

[@randallr71]

Try TMG supplements, you might have high homocysteine levels

[@OKMX5]

Low GI carb group results look pretty good. I wonder how much carbs the low carb group was eating and if they were high GI or low GI.

[@JC-kf7tv]

Sorry but cholesterol is the same the vehicle maybe different (i.e. LDL, HDL) .... therefore cholesterol is not the issue. But we have drugs that reduce LDL so its obviously the problem (great for profit) and forget the facts.

[@BetterWayLiving]

How did they define low carb for the LCHF group? And what types of carbs was the LCHF group consuming?

[@LatimusChadimus]

Mike is the man

[@run4cmt]

Mike would love to see you do a segment on carnivore diet effect on long term health. In his book Supergut, Dr William Davis contents fruits, and vegatables are needed for the pro and prebiotics they add to your GI system. He contens carnivore diets may do long term and permanent damage

[@downhill64]

So there are doctors that have been on a carnivore diet for over 25 years, one Texan rancher Maggi has been carnivore for over 65 years, has not eaten fruit or vegetables for over 65 years. I have never seen a cave drawing of a salad.

[@marktapley7571]

Arctic Inuits thrived for thousands of years on nothing but saturated fat and animal protein. First western explores reported these natives to be healthy and free of any disease. They had zero plants.

[@barkingsquirrel7166]

Maggie is Canadian. Amazing woman!

[@H4KnSL4K]

What would you replace LDL with as a higher-is-bad marker? ApoB? Or could you measure small, dense, damaged/oxidized LDL level?

[@barkingsquirrel7166]

Definitely measure oxidized LDL [small dense damaged LDL particles].

[@defeqel6537]

fasting insulin, triglycerides

[@Oni4Life99]

They said my LDL is great and my triglycerides were great

[@sketchartphoto8117]

a long way to say the old rule that we need to lower the ratio of total cholesterol to ldl

[@Hertz2laugh]

Except, you don't.

[@defeqel6537]

still mixing the cause and effect

[@sketchartphoto8117]

@@defeqel6537 i don't think so.... cause is a fatty liver and effect is high ldl ratio. high hdl and high ldl is a low ratio and not necessarily a problem

[@vince1229]

What do you think of Dana White's triglycerides of 764?

[@Hertz2laugh]

He certainly doesn't look healthy...

[@dockjm]

Increased LDL is not unhealthy... so no worries.

[@kkcarricaburu6042]

Thank you

[@micaineseeley5339]

LDL if far more associated to CVD risk than HDL

[@defeqel6537]

high LDL with high HDL is irrelevant, high LDL with low HDL indicates acute and significant need for cholesterol (as HDL is not bringing it back to liver), which indicates poor health. LDL is not causal, it may be a marker

[@micaineseeley5339]

​@@defeqel6537there's often discordance between LDL-C and ApoB, which is casual.

[@marktapley7571]

High Cholesterol was never a good indicator of health but served as a cover for the promotion of high carb, low animal protein, low saturated fat propaganda leading to the vegan campaign for the poor and malnourished all the way to the promotion of eating insect larvae.

[@lingeng2659]

We need firm proof that LDL has nothing to do with plaques.

[@hazynpeterson4083]

Finland drinks and eats alot of sugar

[@veniqe]

Why is my LDL super low? Yes, I eat a carnivore diet. I eat 85% of my calories in the form of suet.

[@H4KnSL4K]

Nice camera(s)

[@ZZZZ-mkv]

As far as I'm concerned, all cardiovascular research prior to 2000 should be ignored. New findings are consistently showing the old information to be inadequate or just outright wrong.

[@TumbleSensei]

Well... I mean it's normal if it isn't being converted into hormones as it should be..

[@Sonny-u5i]

I thought LDL was bad why are we saying higher the better the healthier not true more LDL more chance of heart disease

[@hazynpeterson4083]

Cuz the cholesterol hypothesis is wrong....obviously

[@andrewrivera4029]

I’ll volunteer for the high glycemic diet.

[@fearnot9912]

My doctor prescribed a statin because I had slightly elevated LDL , mid normal range Cholesterol , HDL, Total C/HDL, non HDL. I will ask for APOB/APOA ratio and (lipoprotein a) tests next visit. Nobody will ever tell me I can stop taking the statin. That decision will have to be mine alone.

[@downhill64]

More important is your HDL to triglycerides ratio for a predictor of coronary disease

[@KayFabe87]

@@downhill64 other way around. Triglycerides divided by HDL. Keep that under 2.

[@nobukazumikami5466]

People with VO2Max 55 probably have good amount of functional skeletal muscles to control blood glucose efficiently. They are not hibernating bears. They thrive on high-carb diet.

[@perpetualrenovation]

Good point, an athletic and active group will be able to handle a high carb diet better