Blood Results after 3 months Keto

[Tiggsy]

Did a full blood work up 3 months ago....been strict Keto since then. About 14lbs dropped - now around 14/15% BF. Aim is to get down to 10/11% so on the way there.

Other details - 45 yrs old, 6ft6 210lbs. Lift and run and HIIT regularly.

So.....last time my results where all good apart from so mineral/vit deficiencies which are now corrected via supplementation and diet (so nice that that worked)

Only 3 things changed a lot.

Creatine went UP - as expected, I take 5g a day.

Testosterone went from 21 nmol/l DOWN to 10.7????? Despite lifting and dropping body fat???

Cholesterol - be interested in what this means....

Nov 2018:
Cholesterol 4.72
LDL 2.79
non-HDL 3.23
HDL 1.49
Ratio 3.17
Trigs 0.97

Feb 2019:
Cholesterol 4.54
LDL 1.68
non-HDL not tested
HDL 1.71
Ratio 2.65
Trigs 2.53

The triglycerides result was in the red and promoted a "check in with the gp" note from the test company.

Anything jump out as interesting?

[LordGrover]

The issue being pretty much all measurements are compared to 'normal' figures - which are based on a typical terrible diet and lifestyle.
These stats may be interesting, but for someone following an 'alternative' diet and lifestyle very difficult to interpret.
For my money, if you feel fit and healthy you probably are. Keep on keeping on.

[grumbledoak]

You don't give units, but your TG/HDL appears to have got quite a bit worse!

[Tiggsy]

I feel great but the high trygleceride result is a worry.

[LordGrover]

Only a Google result, but does this shed any light?
https://cholesterolcode.com/high-triglycerides-on-...

[popeyewhite]

T drop may be as a result of overtraining, or a rise in cortisol as a result of stress. Same things nearly.

[mooseracer]

grumbledoak said:

You don't give units, but your TG/HDL appears to have got quite a bit worse!

High (1.7 - just about) HDL isn't a bad thing is it?
TG is just above normal...whatever 'normal' is.

I'd imagine if the OP went to a Doctor with those results and told him/her you were on a keto diet they'd tell you to eat less saturated fat




Edit: The OP, not you

[Tiggsy]

In general the cholesterol levels are okay-overall cholesterol is slightly down, HDL is slightly up, LDL is very down and the ratio is vastly improved. If that was the only result I would be very happy. I’m just concerned that the triglyceride level is so much higher

Also surprised that testosterone was down when I have lost body fat and I’m working out. Can’t believe it is overtraining-I am never lifting for more than 35/40 minutes at a time

I do train regularly but not enough to get close to overtraining.

[Lemming Train]

mooseracer said:

I'd imagine if the OP went to a Doctor with those results and told him/her you were on a keto diet they'd tell you to eat less saturated fat

Depends on the doc's opinions on keto diets. Got 2 in the same practice up here and they couldn't be more different. One of them is a keto hater and basically told me I was going to die when I was on the diet years ago. The other female doc has a good understanding of the keto diet and is generally supportive of the lifestyle change. She would probably say nothing to be concerned about from those results and to crack on.

[didelydoo]

Perhaps it's not overtraining in the conventional sense, but maybe it's overtraining in the sense it's without an adequate energy supply, stressing the body more, and raising cortisol levels. It's a fairly big test drop to see- from mid level to low- in a short period of time.

[Tiggsy]

didelydoo said:

Perhaps it's not overtraining in the conventional sense, but maybe it's overtraining in the sense it's without an adequate energy supply, stressing the body more, and raising cortisol levels. It's a fairly big test drop to see- from mid level to low- in a short period of time.

That's interesting - the work outs are harder on keto. No question.

[anonymous-user]

Lemming Train said:

She would probably say nothing to be concerned about from those results and to crack on.

Dagerous and irresponsible to guess what she'd say.

[Lemming Train]

Badda said:

Lemming Train said:

She would probably say nothing to be concerned about from those results and to crack on.

Dagerous and irresponsible to guess what she'd say.

"Dangerous"? Stop being such a drama queen. Your hate of all things keto is well known on here so I don't think this thread is for you.

Badda said:

There’s going to be a lot of keto types regretting their choice later in life I reckon.

[Tiggsy]

I'm pretty happy with the results in general - Trigs aside, Cholesterol is better now than 3 months ago. And I'm a stone lighter, etc.

I don't eat the sort of stuff some do on Keto - no sausage and loads of chesse, etc - I eat clean and top up on healthy fats as hunger calls for it. Compared to the average Joe - I'm doing ok.

[anonymous-user]

Lemming Train said:

Badda said:

Lemming Train said:

She would probably say nothing to be concerned about from those results and to crack on.

Dagerous and irresponsible to guess what she'd say.

"Dangerous"? Stop being such a drama queen. Your hate of all things keto is well known on here so I don't think this thread is for you.

Badda said:

There’s going to be a lot of keto types regretting their choice later in life I reckon.

My hate of all things keto is well known? Give over, it was a comment.

Yes, I do think pretending to know what a doctor would say about someone elses blood results is dangerous. I'm amazed you think it's OK to do it.

[mooseracer]

Tiggsy said:

I'm pretty happy with the results in general - Trigs aside, Cholesterol is better now than 3 months ago. And I'm a stone lighter, etc.

I don't eat the sort of stuff some do on Keto - no sausage and loads of chesse, etc - I eat clean and top up on healthy fats as hunger calls for it. Compared to the average Joe - I'm doing ok.

Were you only tested for cholesterol or full bloods? Am assuming the latter given you know your testosterone levels. If so what were the rest like?

[Tiggsy]

mooseracer said:

Were you only tested for cholesterol or full bloods? Am assuming the latter given you know your testosterone levels. If so what were the rest like?

Boringly normal.

Was all good before I started and nothing really moved - only stand outs:

Folate was low - now normal (lots of greens on Keto?)
B12 was low - now normal (I supplement)

Sodium was normal (good as I eat a LOT of salt)

Test down - as above
Cholesterol better - as above
Trigs through the roof - as above

[8Ace]

popeyewhite said:

T drop may be as a result of overtraining, or a rise in cortisol as a result of stress. Same things nearly.

Could also be due to time of day - if the last test was done in the morning and the recent one was done in the afternoon then a drop is normal - your T peaks early in the day.

[Regiment]

8Ace said:

Could also be due to time of day - if the last test was done in the morning and the recent one was done in the afternoon then a drop is normal - your T peaks early in the day.

Yep, hormones tend to need to be tested before 9:30am in a morning as they drop through the day with the natural daily cycle that's replenished by a good nights sleep.

I've heard of Keto doing things to Insulin which can change the SHBG level as well which effects the free testosterone levels which is the more important figure than total testosterone. If you're worried about your hormones and your testosterone, get another blood test done first thing in the morning and see where it is. For testing testosterone, you want to make sure you get a blood test which tests for Total testosterone, SHBG, Estradiol (Oestrogen), Albumin, Prolactin and Free Test...think that is everything.

I'm just remembering how skinny i was at 10% bf at around 201lbs and 6'5".

Edited by Regiment on Wednesday 20th February 14:10

Edited by Regiment on Wednesday 20th February 14:12