CONTROVERSIAL THOUGHTS: Bloodwork on a Carnivore Diet

PS

Paul Saladino34m · 2020-09-20

Claims Made

79

Claims Supported

63

Support Rate

80%

Support rate

63 of 79 claims supported

63 supported16 partial / not

Claims from this content

71

Well SupportedNon-ruminant animal sources require more attention for sourcing linoleic acid content than grass-fed and grain-fed beef.Well SupportedOxidized phospholipids on ApoB provide a better assessment of oxidized LDL than traditional oxidized LDL tests.Well SupportedBlood work on individuals following a carnivore diet typically shows normal results, with improvements in most markers except for LDL cholesterol.Well SupportedIndividuals may become deficient in nutrients like riboflavin, vitamin A, and folate if they exclusively consume muscle meat, highlighting the necessity of organ meats.Well Supported

Discussion

Native comments, Twitter mentions, and Reddit threads about this content — surfaced together so the conversation isn't fragmented across platforms.

M

Share your read of this content…

Posting publicly as you · linked to your social profiles

Sort by:

AV

A. Volkovreader

4h

Bookmarking — the dossier-vs-overview split is the right call. Most of the time I want overview; sometimes I want receipts.

NP

N. Park

2d

Would love a "what would change this verdict" RSS feed. Sign me up if it exists.

To accurately measure hs-CRP, it should be done first thing in the morning, in a fasting state, without strenuous exercise the night before or the morning of.

Partially SupportedFor individuals with low testosterone, if LH and FSH are low, it may indicate a sleep problem or other pituitary issues affecting testicular stimulation.

Well SupportedMetabolic health is paramount and should be the lens through which all lipid-related information is interpreted.

Not SupportedTMAO (trimethylamine N-oxide) has not been shown to be causally problematic for humans regarding cardiovascular disease.

Well SupportedLDL cholesterol may be less significant for atherosclerosis in metabolically healthy individuals compared to those with diabetes or metabolic dyslipidemia.

Well SupportedTMAO is often higher in seafood, which is not associated with cardiovascular disease, suggesting TMAO itself is not inherently problematic.

Well SupportedCystatin C is a more reliable marker for renal function than creatinine, especially in individuals with high muscle mass, as it is not influenced by muscle mass.

Not SupportedSolely eating muscle meat can lead to folate deficiency, which can be avoided by consuming liver or egg yolks.

Well SupportedHigh HDL, low triglycerides, and elevated LDL indicate little to no increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Partially SupportedSHBG was in the 120s when following a ketogenic diet and in the 70s when measured non-fasting between July and August.

Well SupportedHigh levels of Coenzyme Q10 are obtainable from consuming organ meats, which is beneficial for cardiovascular health.

Well SupportedAnimal-based diets are not inflammatory and are nutrient-rich, aligning with human evolutionary eating patterns.

Well SupportedCarnivory, specifically the introduction of meat and organs into the human diet, was critical for human evolution by enabling earlier weaning than great apes.

Not SupportedThe oxidized LDL test from Cleveland Heart Labs is inaccurate because it only detects the presence of one oxidized phospholipid on an LDL particle.

Partially SupportedLDL cholesterol has not been shown to be causative of cardiovascular disease since the 1960s.

Partially SupportedA bumped creatinine level in individuals on a carnivore diet may be due to increased breakdown of creatine in muscle meat, rather than kidney issues.

Not SupportedFollowing a strict carnivore diet for about a year and a half can decrease active thyroid hormone (total T3) and slightly decrease testosterone.

Partially SupportedTMAO is not causally linked to cardiovascular disease, and observational evidence is likely confounded or due to reverse causality.

Partially SupportedGout arises from metabolic dysfunction combined with uric acid production, not solely from consuming purines or uric acid.

Not SupportedCorrelation is often misreported as causation in media studies, leading to public misunderstanding of health research, particularly regarding variables like TMAO.

Not SupportedThere is no solid evidence that TMAO is harmful to humans, and the association with choline and meat consumption is questionable.

Well SupportedElevated circulating triglycerides are indicators of metabolic dysfunction.

Partially SupportedThe oxidized LDL test measuring oxidized phospholipids on ApoB particles is preferred over other oxidized LDL tests.

Not SupportedLimiting organ meats due to concerns about uric acid leads to nutrient deficiency.

Partially SupportedContinuous glucose monitors or frequent self-monitoring are necessary to detect postprandial glucose excursions.

Partially SupportedUrinary heavy metal testing can reveal accumulated metals in the body, even without provocation.

Partially SupportedHigh LDL cholesterol is likely in individuals who avoid vegetable oil and consume animal-based saturated fat.

Partially SupportedOn an animal-based, nose-to-tail, or carnivore diet, kidney, liver, and gallbladder function remain normal.

Partially SupportedMost humans require 2-3 mg of riboflavin daily, which is difficult to achieve from muscle meat alone.

Partially SupportedCarnivore diets without organ meats can lead to significantly elevated homocysteine levels.

Partially SupportedIntermittent fasting can mitigate concerns about overstimulating mTOR from meat consumption.

Partially SupportedAdding carbohydrates to the diet can lower SHBG, leading to an increase in free testosterone.

Partially SupportedA ferritin level above 300 warrants phlebotomy, especially in individuals with genetic predispositions for iron overabsorption.

Partially SupportedReduced thyroid hormone levels on ketogenic diets may explain rapid weight gain when carbohydrates are reintroduced.

Partially SupportedA hemoglobin A1c of 5.2% and average blood glucose of 103 mg/dL indicate good metabolic health.

Well SupportedFasting glucose levels below 100 mg/dL are optimal in studies defining metabolic dysfunction.

Partially SupportedMetabolic dysfunction affects how the immune system functions in the gut.

Partially SupportedA coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan of zero is consistent with a very high LDL cholesterol level of 536 mg/dL.

Partially SupportedHigher HDL levels are more prevalent than LDL, and HDL does not cause atherosclerosis.

Partially SupportedKurt supplements with desiccated organ complex, gut support, and 6mg of boron daily, and consumes fresh organs when available.

Partially SupportedSmall LDL particle size is associated with good metabolic health.

Partially SupportedPolyunsaturated fats are believed to be at the root of issues related to metabolic health and gout.

Partially SupportedBlood work should be interpreted by a physician knowledgeable about animal-based diets and specific blood work panels.

Not SupportedIGF-1 levels in individuals on a carnivore diet, particularly those practicing intermittent fasting, are not elevated and do not lead to over-activation of mTOR.

Partially SupportedLow-dose TMAO reduced blood pressure and heart fibrosis in hypertensive rats.

Partially SupportedLDL size is a proxy for insulin sensitivity and metabolic health, not for arterial infiltration.

Not SupportedSun exposure can achieve vitamin D levels of 56, potentially making supplementation unnecessary.

Partially SupportedKurt is metabolically healthy, evidenced by low fasting insulin, low fasting glucose, and low C-peptide.

Partially SupportedPhlebotomy can reduce high ferritin levels from 417 to 257 in individuals with iron overabsorption polymorphisms.

Partially SupportedArachidonic acid is a normal and necessary fat for muscle growth.

Partially SupportedLow testosterone is a notable issue in many carnivores.

Partially SupportedIntroducing carbohydrates, specifically honey, has improved Kurt's hormone levels, gym performance, and recovery.

Partially SupportedEstimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) can fluctuate based on recent food intake, muscle mass, and protein consumption.

Partially SupportedLow urine pH in individuals on a carnivore diet is not considered a problem.

Partially SupportedKurt's thyroid labs (TSH, T4, T3) appear normal, with no concern for hypothyroidism despite a low total T3, as free T3 is within normal range and TSH is not elevated.

Not SupportedHomocysteine levels can increase in individuals on carnivore or animal-based diets who do not consume organ meats, which is problematic and associated with oxidative stress.

Partially SupportedKurt's thyroid labs are considered physiological for someone on a lower-carb, animal-based diet, especially since he has no symptoms of hypothyroidism and his free T3 is normal.

Partially SupportedA carnivore diet can include kidney 3-4 days a week (3-4 ounces), liver, red meat, and eggs most days.

Partially SupportedA white blood cell count within an individual's normal physiological range is acceptable even if technically out of the reference range, provided there are no recurrent infections.

Partially SupportedHigh TMAO levels can be observed in individuals who do not eat meat.

Partially SupportedKurt's f2-prostate and creatinine ratio was previously elevated but is now low, suggesting no oxidative stress.

Partially SupportedKurt's blood work shows very low levels of myeloperoxidase and hs-crp, indicating no significant inflammation.

Partially SupportedElevated hs-CRP and neutrophils can indicate oxidative stress.

Partially SupportedThe neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio can indicate metabolic dysfunction when it changes, specifically with an expansion of the lymphocyte pool at the expense of neutrophils.

Partially SupportedLow fasting insulin and C-peptide levels suggest metabolic health, though fasting insulin is less indicative when carbohydrates are not consumed.

Partially SupportedA decrease in SHBG from 103 to 57 and testosterone from 703 to 97 can lead to increased free testosterone.

Partially SupportedThe addition of ancestrally consistent carbohydrates is valuable for human health, as many carnivores exhibit problematic low testosterone.