Cholesterol: Friend or Foe? With The Paleo Cardiologist, Dr. Jack Wolfson

PS

Paul Saladino2h 15m · 2020-06-09

Claims Made

277

Claims Supported

157

Support Rate

57%

Support rate

157 of 277 claims supported

157 supported120 partial / not

Claims from this content

160

Well SupportedRegenerative agriculture practices improve soil organic matter, leading to more nutritious food.Well SupportedA carnivore diet constructed as nose-to-tail eating aligns with how ancestors and indigenous peoples consumed animals.Well SupportedApolipoprotein B (ApoB) is a meaningful biomarker for cardiovascular risk.Well SupportedAnimal foods provide all essential nutrients for optimal health in bioavailable forms, without plant anti-nutrients and toxins.Well Supported

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A. Volkovreader

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

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

Consuming organs like liver, heart, stomach, kidneys, and thymus is beneficial for human health due to their nutrient content and specific peptides.

Well SupportedLDL particles perform beneficial functions such as immunological function and cell membrane formation.

Not SupportedLowering LDL cholesterol independently of insulin sensitivity metrics is not a reliable indicator for cardiovascular disease prevention or prediction.

Partially SupportedThe primary benefit of statins in secondary prevention may be modulating inflammation or increasing nitric oxide, not solely LDL lowering.

Well SupportedBlood work on individuals following a carnivore diet typically shows normal results, with improvements in most markers except for LDL cholesterol.

Partially SupportedThe vitamin D obtained from sun exposure may be a proxy for other beneficial factors associated with being outdoors, rather than a direct benefit of the vitamin D itself.

Well SupportedStratifying Framingham study data by HDL cholesterol reveals a different relationship between LDL and cardiovascular disease risk compared to analyzing LDL alone.

Well SupportedVitamin K2 intake is associated with reduced heart disease mortality, while vitamin K1 intake is not.

Not SupportedStatin trials often exclude participants who experience side effects during a pre-randomization period, leading to biased results that do not reflect real-world outcomes.

Well SupportedVitamin K2 (menaquinone MK-4, MK-7, MK-11) is not present in plants, and the conversion rate of K1 to K2 in humans is likely insufficient.

Well SupportedLower levels of vitamin D are associated with worse outcomes for COVID-19 infection and mortality.

Well SupportedChoosing organic foods is worthwhile due to a significantly reduced or zero presence of pesticides like glyphosate and 2,4-D.

Well SupportedIncreasing organ consumption, fresh or desiccated, improves nutrient adequacy and satiety, helping to eliminate carb cravings.

Well SupportedTo increase vitamin D levels, consider moving to a sunny location, taking frequent vacations, and supplementing with vitamin D3 in winter if necessary.

Well SupportedPaul Saladino consumes over 300 grams of carbohydrates per day, including significant amounts of honey and fruit juice, and maintains insulin sensitivity and a low A1C.

Well SupportedHigher LDL levels, particularly in insulin-sensitive individuals, may be protective against infections.

Well SupportedSleep is the most important health intervention, with life quality directly correlating to sleep quality.

Not SupportedSunlight's benefits cannot be fully replicated by taking a vitamin D pill.

Well SupportedLow LDL levels may indicate an unhealthy individual lacking necessary tools for optimal immune system function.

Partially SupportedChildren with Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome exhibit developmental abnormalities due to deficits in LDL particles and lack of cholesterol production.

Well SupportedWhen HDL cholesterol levels are high (e.g., 65-85 mg/dL), there is minimal increase in the risk of coronary artery disease as LDL cholesterol rises from 100 to 220 mg/dL.

Well SupportedPeople with metabolic dysfunction, insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, and diabetes are at significantly greater risk of severe coronavirus complications.

Well SupportedCGMs can be a good investment for health, especially for those struggling with weight loss or suspected insulin resistance.

Not SupportedShutting off the immune system with TNF alpha inhibitors like Humira carries risks of severe side effects and infections.

Partially SupportedPharmaceuticals like lidocaine can be helpful for pain relief during procedures or anesthesia.

Partially SupportedThe functionality of HDL particles, which may involve preventing or resolving arterial wall plaque, is difficult to measure and is a key area for 21st-century research.

Well SupportedInflammation markers like fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, ox-LDL, and ox-PLAP-2 can be measured in blood to assess cardiovascular risk.

Partially SupportedReverse osmosis is the most effective method for ensuring glyphosate-free water.

Partially SupportedCholesterol supplementation with egg yolks and bile acids can improve growth, reduce photosensitivity, and ameliorate severe infections in individuals with Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome without harmful side effects.

Partially SupportedPaul Saladino's book, 'The Carnivore Code,' is 300 pages, contains 650 references, and was available in print and as an e-book on February 25th.

Partially SupportedSunshine is the best source of vitamin D, followed by food, and supplementation raises vitamin D levels but does not significantly improve outcomes in most situations.

Well SupportedPlant-based diets can lead to nutrient deficiencies if the soil is deficient in essential minerals.

Well SupportedCholesterol is a precursor for steroid hormones, sex hormones, and cell membrane construction.

Partially SupportedLowering ApoB and ApoA1 levels leads to better cardiovascular outcomes by decreasing small dense LDL particles and VLDL.

Well SupportedWhen supplementing with vitamin D, it is advisable to use vitamin D3 and avoid synthetic ergocalciferol (D2), and not to overdose.

Partially SupportedAchieving vitamin D levels of 40 ng/mL through supplementation may not provide the same physiological benefits as obtaining it from natural sunlight.

Partially SupportedBreast milk is rich in fatty acids, which are directly absorbed by the baby's gut and are essential for infant development.

Not SupportedAspirin is not recommended for primary prevention in older adults due to potential harm.

Partially SupportedLDL particles transport fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K), coenzyme Q10, phospholipids, and cholesterol throughout the body.

Not SupportedStatin drugs for primary prevention in individuals older than 75 are associated with a 34% higher risk of total mortality.

Partially SupportedRegenerative farming practices enrich soil organic matter, leading to darker, more fertile soil.

Partially SupportedThe vast majority of humans have significant amounts of glyphosate in their urine and blood.

Partially SupportedInsulin resistance is a primary driver of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) rise in men as they age, and can contribute to prostate hypertrophy or cancer.

Partially SupportedWashing misted produce under tap water may contribute to small, cumulative amounts of glyphosate exposure.

Not SupportedMost mainstream physicians do not differentiate between vitamin K1 and K2, and K2 is primarily obtained from animal foods, not plants.

Not SupportedPrescribing statin drugs like Lipitor without educating patients on health and wellness practices is harmful.

Well SupportedAn LDL particle count of 2 x 10^16 causes atherosclerosis, whereas 1 x 10^16 does not.

Not SupportedUsing LDL cholesterol as the sole measure of statin efficacy may be misleading; attention should shift to lipoprotein particles.

Not SupportedInflammation is the root problem for cardiovascular disease, and the solution is to find and remove its source, not to suppress it with pharmaceuticals like statins.

Not SupportedRelying solely on vitamin D pills to achieve benefits seen in epidemiological trials provides a false sense of security.

Partially SupportedGlyphosate exposure can be monitored by checking glyphosate levels via Great Plains Labs to establish a baseline for interventions.

Partially SupportedTesting well water for glyphosate is recommended to understand potential exposures, even if the test is negative.

Partially SupportedIndividuals with the highest levels of vitamin D have the lowest risk of cancer, heart disease, and dementia.

Partially SupportedVitamin D produced in the skin is water-soluble cholecalciferol sulfate, while vitamin D from pills is fat-soluble cholecalciferol.

Partially SupportedVitamin D levels can be used as a metric to determine appropriate sun exposure, especially if not supplementing with vitamin D.

Partially SupportedChecking homocysteine and vitamin D levels are recommended for assessing overall health and risk factors.

Partially SupportedVitamin D must be converted to vitamin D sulfate in the body to become its most effective form.

Partially SupportedThe triglyceride to glucose (TYG) index is a strong predictor of COVID-19 severity and mortality.

Partially SupportedIn individuals with familial hypercholesterolemia or high LDL, aggressive atherosclerosis can occur if they also have insulin resistance.

Partially SupportedOrgan meats, such as chicken liver, are among the most nutritious and inexpensive foods available.

Partially SupportedA one-week carnivore intervention can lead to weight loss, improved well-being, reduced inflammation, and decreased pain.

Partially SupportedIn the 4S trial, statin benefit was not significant for individuals without low HDL and high triglycerides.

Partially SupportedThe Jupiter trial showed that the benefit of statins in primary prevention was related to CRP reduction, not lipid levels.

Not SupportedInterpreting LDL in isolation, without considering HDL, is myopic and misses crucial health information.

Not SupportedStatin primary and secondary prevention trials may not be entirely reliable due to potential data manipulation.

Partially SupportedIntroducing cows to the soil is the fastest way to rehabilitate land and improve soil quality.

Partially SupportedCholesterol is essential for development, playing a role in embryo and fetal brain development.

Partially SupportedCholesterol-lowering treatment may worsen the outcome of COVID-19 infection.

Partially SupportedAn ancestrally consistent diet, such as a carnivore diet, should not increase heart disease risk if other metabolic markers are optimal and the individual feels well.

Partially SupportedGlyphosate interrupts the Shikimate pathway, which is problematic for the microbiome.

Partially SupportedObservational studies show that individuals with higher vitamin D levels have better health outcomes, but interventional studies do not consistently replicate these benefits for cardiovascular, psychiatric, or common cold outcomes.

Not SupportedPrescribing vitamin D or statins without addressing root causes can be harmful.

Well SupportedThe future of cardiology involves assessing HDL functionality rather than just surrogate markers.

Partially SupportedLDL particle number can be very high even with an LDL of 70 mg/dL.

Partially SupportedOrganically grown crops have higher antioxidant concentrations and lower cadmium and pesticide residues than conventionally grown crops.

Well SupportedDysfunctional HDL, even in high levels, may not perform its antioxidant or cholesterol clearance functions effectively.

Partially SupportedThe number needed to treat for primary prevention with statins in the West of Scotland study was likely 40-50.

Not SupportedPreventive measures such as aspirin, statin drugs, blood pressure medications, mammograms, and colonoscopies are not true prevention.

Partially SupportedTesting intracellular vitamin K2 levels is critical for managing calcium deposition in arteries and bones.

Not SupportedDietary and lifestyle studies often use outdated methodologies, neglecting more predictive markers like particle numbers and sizes.

Not SupportedDietary or pharmaceutical strategies aimed at artificially lowering LDL levels can lead to negative consequences.

Partially SupportedEating whole seafood, whole eggs, and fish eggs is highly nutritious.

Partially SupportedProper nutrition and lifestyle are the best ways to protect ourselves from viruses, bacteria, toxins, and environmental factors, not pharmaceuticals.

Partially SupportedKnowledge about environmental exposures like glyphosate levels can prevent severe diseases.

Partially SupportedEngaging in outdoor workouts that induce sweating is beneficial for health.

Partially SupportedQuest Diagnostics may soon offer an HDL function test to assess cardiovascular risk.

Partially SupportedPaul Saladino monitors ApoB ratio, triglycerides, Lp(a), and inflammation markers instead of LDL cholesterol.

Partially SupportedThe goal for cardiovascular health should be to reduce heart attack risk to zero percent.

Partially SupportedThe density of LDL protein is a potential predictor of poor prognosis in patients with coronavirus 2019.

Partially SupportedMen and women with a history of natural measles and mumps infection had a 29% lower risk of heart attack.

Partially SupportedImportant lipid markers for cardiovascular risk include the ApoB/A1 ratio, triglycerides, and Lp(a).

Partially SupportedUnemployment is associated with a 280% higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.

Partially SupportedHyperlipidemia is associated with the severity of COVID-19.

Partially SupportedHigh HDL levels may indicate the body is compensating for non-functional HDL by attempting to produce more.

Partially SupportedSardines are a small fish that do not bioaccumulate heavy metals.

Partially SupportedMen's PSA levels improve with healthier eating habits like carnivore or paleo diets.

Partially SupportedIntracellular vitamin and mineral levels, including glutathione and CoQ10, are important factors to assess.

Partially SupportedCarnivore and paleo diets are associated with significantly higher than usual CoQ10 levels.

Partially SupportedIt is recommended to eat organic food and get tested for environmental toxins like glyphosate, DDT breakdown products, and atrazine.

Partially SupportedPeople with the highest glyphosate levels have a 300% increased risk of cardiovascular mortality.

Partially SupportedGlyphosate inhibits the uptake and utilization of glycine, leading to dysfunctional proteins.

Partially SupportedA low-carb diet may lead to better health, body composition, and metabolic health compared to a low-fat diet.

Partially SupportedEven with aggressive LDL-lowering therapies like statins combined with PCSK9 inhibitors, individuals can still have significant amounts of plaque (atherosclerosis).

Partially SupportedAll-cause mortality is sometimes no different or worse in statin groups compared to control groups in primary prevention trials.

Partially SupportedElevated CRP levels indicate an underlying issue that statins do not address; the focus should be on naturally lowering CRP by identifying and resolving the root cause.

Partially SupportedCoronary artery disease is not caused by a deficiency in statins.

Partially SupportedSunlight is important for building the immune system by producing vitamin D, nitric oxide, and increasing melatonin.

Partially SupportedPharmaceutical companies can influence doctors' prescribing habits through financial incentives.

Not SupportedProcessed meats like meat bars and meat sticks are not a healthy way to consume meat.

Partially SupportedAnimals raised on regenerative farms with mineral supplementation provide nutrient-adequate animal foods.

Partially SupportedAsymptomatic carriers of SARS-CoV-2 have weak infectivity and do not significantly spread the virus.

Partially SupportedAn HDL function test, independent of LDL, could indicate cardiovascular risk and metabolic health.

Partially SupportedMental health and wellness are crucial, and if not addressed by medication, they require active management.

Partially SupportedUnemployment increases the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.

Partially SupportedA carnivore diet or a diet including less toxic plant foods can address insulin resistance and improve health.

Not SupportedA drug's side effect can be preventing individuals from addressing the root cause of their health issues.

Partially SupportedCycling between carnivore and paleo diets can decrease inflammation, lower blood pressure, improve lipid ratios, increase vitamin D and omega-3 levels, and reduce homocysteine.

Not SupportedContinuously vaccinating for infections without correcting underlying root causes like nutritional inadequacy and metabolic dysfunction will not prevent future pandemics.

Partially SupportedUnemployment increases the risk of suicide by 280%.

Partially SupportedIn the ALLHAT trial, people over 65 taking statins for primary prevention had an 18% increase in total mortality, and those over 75 had a 34% higher risk of total mortality.

Partially SupportedSome clinicians use antihypertensives with the intention of getting patients off those drugs instead of prescribing statins.

Partially SupportedVitamin and mineral deficiencies can persist even with high-quality food consumption due to soil, water quality, and pollutants.

Partially SupportedLower cholesterol levels are associated with reduced cognitive function and learning ability.

Partially SupportedThe number needed to treat with aspirin is only slightly lower than the number needed to harm.

Partially SupportedA poor lifestyle including poor diet, alcohol consumption, lack of sleep, and insufficient sunshine may contribute to illness.

Partially SupportedGlyphosate mimics glycine and can be problematic in the body.

Partially SupportedIt is important to consider both the potential downsides of vaccines and their historical benefits.

Partially SupportedWestern medicine may sometimes harm patients more than it helps them in chronic care.

Partially SupportedIncluding some less toxic plant foods may be compatible with good health outcomes on a carnivore diet.

Not SupportedThe placebo used in HPV vaccine trials contained aluminum, rendering it ineffective.

Partially SupportedInsulin resistance can be increased by diet, lack of sleep, and insufficient sunlight exposure.

Partially SupportedChecking blood levels for toxins like pesticides is important.

Partially SupportedThere is poor correlation between LDL levels and heart attacks in many studies.

Partially SupportedIndividuals with chronic conditions such as coronary artery disease, hypertension, and diabetes are more likely to suffer severe consequences from viral infections like coronavirus.

Partially SupportedSupplements should be used to supplement a healthy lifestyle, especially to address deficiencies identified through advanced testing.

Partially SupportedSupplements are recommended to help correct nutrient deficiencies and compensate for past exposures to environmental toxins.

Partially SupportedThe Hepatitis B vaccine given to newborn babies contains aluminum and high concentrations of particles.

Partially SupportedKetogenic, carnivore, and Paleolithic diets can raise LDL cholesterol but often improve HDL, triglycerides, and VLDL, reflected in the ApoB/ApoA1 ratio.

Partially SupportedA study found an association between aspirin use and age-related conditions.

Partially SupportedThe Framingham study shows increased coronary artery disease risk with higher LDL, which is altered when stratifying by ApoA1.

Partially SupportedAluminum destroys lysosomal function and inhibits proton pumps, leading to low stomach acid production.

Partially SupportedThe hepatitis B vaccine contains approximately 225 micrograms of aluminum.

Partially SupportedExposure to environmental toxins like glyphosate, DDE, and atrazine can occur through diet, community pesticide use, and airborne dust.

Partially SupportedA nose-to-tail diet including small fish could sustain a person for a lifetime without deficiencies.

Partially SupportedPreventing future infections requires lifestyle changes, not just drugs or vaccinations.

Partially SupportedGlyphosate exposure can lead to disease, and testing glyphosate levels is valuable.

Partially SupportedSunshine exposure is more effective than vitamin D supplements for cardiovascular outcomes, blood pressure, asthma, and pulmonary issues.

Not SupportedFixing metabolic health is more important than using hydroxychloroquine to protect against coronavirus.

Not SupportedAspirin use is associated with risks including worsening kidney function, macular degeneration, and hearing loss.

Partially SupportedInsulin resistance is a missed connection in Western medicine that contributes to various health problems, including fibroids in women.

Partially SupportedBeing in the water is important for maintaining personal balance and self-care.

Partially SupportedAdjuvants like aluminum and mercury in vaccines can be harmful.

Not SupportedMammograms and colonoscopies are not preventative measures.

Partially SupportedConsuming more seafood is a preferred alternative to omega-3 supplements when omega-3 levels are not indicative of deficiency.

Partially SupportedWestern medicine excels in acute interventions but is less effective in prevention.

Partially SupportedPesticides, including glyphosate, are linked to a wide range of diseases.