When was the last time you had your blood drawn? Did you know that the reference ranges of what’s high or low on your blood tests aren't the only ranges you should look at? Some of those ranges are so wide that they’re practically useless, and definitely cannot be used to spot sub-clinical conditions. Did you know that lab normals are created for sick people? I cannot tell you how often my clients have been told, “all your blood work looks normal.” How would you know?
One of my clients, a woman in her 40’s was deeply concerned about the amount of hair she was losing. She had been to countless doctors who claimed everything was ‘perfectly normal.’ This left her feeling hopeless and frustrated. Upon my Blood Chemistry Analysis, I found her to be deficient in zinc, essential fatty acids, vitamin B12, hydrochloric acid and vitamin D. In addition, her protein intake was less than desirable (barely enough to fuel a 50 lb. child let alone her brain chemistry), and on top of everything else she had an overgrowth of Candida and low thyroid. In just 3-1/2 months of implementing dietary changes and nutritional support, she is no longer experiencing hair loss, it’s growing back and it’s thicker!
Many universities and doctors have developed "optimal" ranges for your blood work numbers. The work of one of my mentors, the highly respected Dr. Harry Eidinier, Jr., Ph.D., and others including Abrishamian, Tipps, Cessna all support the fact that “optimal ranges" can be used to recognize conditions that puzzle the doctors.
The values within my Blood Chemistry Analysis are based on functional medicine. With an integrative approach for optimal health and wellness, the Blood Chemistry Analysis will help to prevent and rule out disease with recognition to your personal nutrient deficiencies, thereby creating optimal health and homeostasis.
When physicians review a patient’s blood test results, their primary concern is any result that falls outside the normal laboratory reference range. The problem is that standard reference ranges usually represent “average” populations rather than the optimal level required to maintain good health. Most standard reference ranges are too broad to adequately detect health problems or prescribe appropriate therapy on an individual basis. This is especially true when these reference ranges are relied on to treat a patient with a serious medical disorder.
Be smart. Get annual blood tests to objectively assess your chemistry. Here’s the list of tests.
Cholesterol Testing – What you should know
Old Way – Total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides
New Way – In addition to total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides include particle number and particle size. Include remnant lipoprotein (RLP), Lp(a), Apo-B-100, CRP, homocysteine, and fasting insulin. Lipoprotein(a) is an inherited risk factor for heart disease. It is more dangerous than other types of cholesterol
LDL particles vary in size, ranging from small, dense “Pattern B” particles to large, buoyant “Pattern A” particles. Smaller LDL particles are associated with an increased risk for heart disease. Small, dense LDL (“Pattern B”) is associated with insulin resistance or diabetes.
FYI – Did You Know?
* Fasting glucose is a simple test that can tell a great deal about your health. Every glucose rise of 1 point above 84, increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 6%. For example, at a level of 85, the risk percentage is 6%; at 86, 12%; 87, 18% and so on.
* High uric acid levels naturally correspond to gout. Uric acid levels <1.8, cholesterol <140, triglycerides <40 and lymphocytes <20 simultaneously, you better suspect and rule out cancer. In a Farmington Study, 50% of people who died from stroke, cancer and heart disease had a total cholesterol <200.
* A high HDL (>80) is not necessarily an indication that the person is healthy. Those with an HDL (>80) are either inflamed, infected, or eat a bad diet. Inflammation causes your HDL to become dysfunctional, therefore a need to rule out mycotoxins, inflammation, infection, bad diet, nutritional deficiencies, etc. (per Dr. Mark Houston, M.D.)
* High chlorides and low CO2 levels simultaneously usually indicates "chemical sciatica" (back pain that baffles the doctors since MRIs and CATSCANs may appear to be ‘normal’).
* The most common reason for low levels of alkaline phosphatase is zinc deficiency.
* Anyone presenting with elevated ALT and AST values should avoid gluten.
* C-reactive protein (CRP) is the best vascular inflammation marker.
* When total cholesterol is normal with decreased triglycerides and increased HDL, the probability of an autoimmune phenomenon is increased.
* Elevated homocysteine in women is linked with 2x the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared to those with low levels. Elevated homocysteine can be the result of vitamin D, B12 and folate deficiencies, dairy intolerance, dysbiosis or increased bone loss. Low folate and elevated homocysteine levels are associated with an increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
* When GGT (great indicator of oxidative stress and inflammatory symptoms) is in upper limits of normal in conjunction with upper range of uric acid, homocysteine and CRP – it’s time to DETOX. This person has a xenobiotic overload.
* Those with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease often present with elevated AST, ALT, and GGT levels on their blood labs. This is not a liver problem; it’s a metabolic insulin problem.
* When monocytes, eosinophils and basophils are collectively elevated, this is an indication of possible parasites. Another indicator of parasites is when the MCV (ideal range 82-89.9) is <76.0 (panic range).
* Increased eosinophils and basophils can indicate excessive inflammation and/or food and environmental allergies.
* Elevated creatinine levels often tell you that there may be prostate problems, although those with increased muscle mass may have slightly higher levels.
* An increased BUN can reveal hypochlorhydria or dehydration; decreased with protein malnutrition and sometimes adrenal hypofunction. BUN can be used to tell if you are gluten sensitive.
* Higher levels of hemoglobin A1C (a measure of a person's average blood glucose over a 2-3 month period) are linked to lower cognitive function, dementia, and a risk factor for diabetes.
* Thyroid An example of flawed reference ranges can be seen in blood tests used to assess thyroid status. A long-standing controversy rages over the best way to diagnose thyroid deficiency. Many individuals have come to me with classic symptoms of hypothyroid. Typical scenario: client was told by their doctor that their thyroid is functioning just fine. Upon review of their blood work, the only value tested was TSH. Most conventional doctors rely on thyroid blood tests whereas alternative physicians look for signs and symptoms of thyroid deficiency. An article in the August 3, 2002, issue of the British medical journal Lancet challenged conventional medical wisdom regarding the use of standard reference ranges in diagnosing and treating thyroid deficiency. According to the researchers, the problem with thyroid blood tests may be faulty reference ranges that fail to reflect what the optimal level of thyroid hormone should be in a particular individual (Dayan CM et al 2002).
An Investment in Your Health The Blood Chemistry Analysis I use in my practice was designed by Dr. Harry Eidenier, Jr., Ph.D., a brilliant biochemist, scientist and researcher who does extensive research on nutrition, analyzing blood chemistry and correcting blood chemistry with nutrition.
From 1980-2007, Dr. Eidenier and his team utilized a complex technique called Biochemical Biopsy to analyze the blood of 10,000 people and integrate the information developed from their physical examination, symptom histories, urinalysis, hair analysis, comprehensive stool and digestive analysis, to arrive at an assessment of the patients health. To put it mildly, Dr. Eidenier became very accurate at predicting the conditions that would affect ones health and specific protocol to prevent and treat disease.
For a deeper understanding of your blood work, contact me for a personalized Blood Chemistry Analysis, a functional analysis designed to evaluate your metabolic status and indicate those food and supplemental food factors that are either excessive or insufficient in your diet. Be smart. Get annual blood tests to objectively assess your chemistry. The Best Health Insurance you can invest in!
Copyright © Paula Owens
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- Clinical Pearls from the 2012 IFM Conference – Days 1 & 2
- Clinical Pearls from the 2012 IFM Conference – Days 3 & 4
- Hypothyroid
- A Healthy Gut = A Healthy Person
- Vitamin D – Your Health Depends on It
- 3 Things You May Not Know About Heart Health
Sources:
- Nichols., Hillier., Brown. (June 2008) Normal Fasting Plasma Glucose and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis. The American Journal of Medicine,
- Balancing Blood Chemistry seminar presented by Dr. Harry Eidenier, Jr., Ph.D. , 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008
- 2012 Institute for Functional Medicine annual international conference
