LDL Particle Size page 2

[Artbuc]

All due respect but I didn't read anything to convince me that high LDL-P and LDL-C are benign. While I'm familiar w/Masterjohn through WPF, I also feel that while theory is great, as a PhD he does not successfully treat patients w/CAD or off the chart values as Dall & Dayspring do. And I could find nothing that questions the wisdom of the Metformin experiment.

Good-luck and please keep us posted on your progress.

[Orthodoc]

Orthodoc-
As I understand it the main function of the NMR Lipoprofile is to measure LDL-P, which is the number of LDL Particles, not their size. There are some leading edge cardiologists (Thomas Dayspring and Tara Dall, for example) who think LDL-P is a more accurate measure of future CAD events than all other tests. You can hear a great lecture by Tara Dall on this subject on LecturePad (free). When I had the NMR done it also included LDL-C, HDL-C, trigs, TC HDL-P, small LDL-P, LDL size and a LP-IR score. This is distinct from a VAP which will provide you with the large fluffy vs small sticky A/B LDL types. According to Dall and Dayspring that is irrelevant and only the # of LDL particles is significant. Dall has had great success using Metformin to reduce particle count in her patients. In fact, I'm testing it out myself.

Yes, you are correct. I had the same #'s you mentioned from LipoScience NMR test. The LDL-P is the total number, and mine is too high (1700). What is Metformin? I am reading "The Great Cholesterol Myth" and I believe they mention Niacin as an option to help reduce the numbers.

As a side note, I am 5"11, 167 and bodyfat is roughly 16-17%.

[magicmerl]

Lots of good advice in this thread. I agree with pretty much everything that Artbuc has posted.

Other things you can try doing are:

1. Reduce carbohydrate intake - This will lower your trigs, which will decrease the amount of 'bad' LDL you have in your system. Note: Going <50g might impair Thyroid function (see 3 below)

2. Increase your fat intake - This will increase both HDL and LDL, but the RATIO of the two should improve. Note: This is advice your doctor will probably strongly disagree with, since it will result in an LDL increase. Feel free to disregard if you want to avoid that potential confrontation.

3. Take Iodine and Selenium (or even a T3 supplement) - This will improve your Thyroid function, and it's thyroid hormone that stimulates the LDL receptors that remove the 'bad' LDL from your system.

Here's a good page from the Perfect Health Diet.

[Paysan]

As I said, according to the cardiologists I mentioned, a high LDL-P is most predictive of CAD. Thus they recommend lowering LDL-P, and Metformin is a medication that they have had great success with and they find it is much more effective (and way less dangerous)than statins. In fact, Metformin has no significant negative history, is taken daily by many diabetics, and is now also being considered as a possible cancer treatment. My doctor -- and leading cardiologists -- find it much less dangerous than a high LDL-P. What information do you have that they don't that would have you think I'm playing with fire?

My hubby turned into a mindless zombie on a 1/2 dose of Metformin. Obviously it has brain effects on some people; so he quit it. However, lp(a) is the most dangerous particle for forming plaques and blockages, and it is a fraction of LDL that can be measured, but needs to be requested.
However, LDL is necessary in the body. Newest research is lifting the tired old "bad cholesterol" image that it has acquired. Check it out.

[Kingofturtles]

If your reading the great cholesterol myth you will notice:

1. Trigs and trigs to HDL ratio is the best way to determine CD. Your ratio seems great.

2. LDL B particles are what you need to see. Those are the bad ones, however; they are ONLY BAD if they under the right circumstances, eg: inflammation ect..