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  • Essential Lab Tests For Health And Longevity

    Dr. Myatt’s Longevity Lab Profile

    Americans LOVE medical tests. This isn’t just my professional opinion after twenty–three years in practice, it has been proven. In fact, we spend more on medical testing than any other country in the world

    In spite of all the "looking" and testing, the average American lifespan is 78 years, 11 years behind the longest-lived industrial nation and 51st in the world.(33) All our testing isn’t helping us live longer or even better. Much of this testing is a bust.

    So, am I recommending that we forgo ALL medical testing? Heck no! A simple chemistry screen and CBC (complete blood count) annually can tell us a lot about one’s general state of health and help us make early "course changes" to avoid problem. I always recommend these simple tests annually. They are inexpensive and easy, "cheap health insurance" in my opinion. I get mine done twice per year.

    However, in examining the scientific literature and looking for the most important markers to follow, there are several tests that emerge as being true "longevity markers." These tests have an "optimal range" that is smaller (tighter) than the conventional medical range. Stay within that range, and your risk of "all cause mortality" is dramatically diminished.

    SO, on that note, I present the simple collection of tests that I consider an indispensable part of an anti-aging / longevity program.

    1.) hgA1C optimal range: 5.0-5.4

    Hemoglobin A1C is a measure of the amount of hemoglobin’s exposure to plasma glucose. It is now considered the "Gold Standard" for monitoring blood sugar levels because it reflects what the average blood sugar levels have been for the preceding three months or so.

    Conventional reference ranges are typically 4.0-5.6, with 5.6-6.4 considered "pre diabetes." However, one large study found that an hgA1C outside the 5.0-5.4 range was associated with an increased risk of death from all causes. This is called "all cause mortality." (1)

    2.) TSH optimal: 0.5-1.4 (check thyroid hormones below 0.5 to evaluate for hyperthyroid)

    Thyroid Stimulating Hormone is a measure of the amount of TSH that is being put out by the pituitary gland in order to stimlate thyroid hormone output. In conventional medicine, it is considered the "Gold Standard" screen test for thyroid function.

    I have actually seen many patients with abnormal thyroid hormone levels (free T3 and free T4) who had normal TSH levels. I have also seen patients with abnormal TSH levels who had normal thyroid hormone levels. This makes me question TSH’s "Gold Standard" position as the best screen for thyroid hormones. I personally prefer to also test the thyroid hormones directly the first time I evaluate thyroid function. I also look at "reverse T3" which can block thyroid utilization even in the presence of normal thyroid levels. But, I digress.

    The standard “normal” range for TSH on lab tests is about 0.5 to 4.6 mIU/L. This range reflects two standard deviations around the US mean, meaning that 95% of the population falls in the “normal” range. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that TSH values in this range are health or normal.  In fact, many people with “normal” TSH live with symptoms of hypothyroidism.

    Research demonstrating that many people are thyroid-deficient and that improving thyroid status can dramatically improve health has been conducted in Europe:

    The HUNT study of 25,000 healthy Norwegians found that those with a TSH level of 1.5 to 2.4 were 41% more likely to die over the next 8 years than those with TSH below 1.5; those with TSH 2.5-3.4 were 69% more likely to die.(2)

    3.) hs-CRP (highly sensitive C-reactive protein). Optimal range <1.3.

    Inflammation is recognized as an important mechanism of cardiovascular injury. Subtle inflammation as measured by hs-CRP, is highly associated with heart disease risk and with an increased risk of death from all causes. (3-19)

    It should be noted that hs-CRP was an “emerging risk factor” back in 1998 when I first reported on it in HealthBeat. Many physicians had not even heard of the test, including cardiologists. I advised my patients to get the test even though it wasn’t yet covered by insurance. Today, ordering an hs-CRP is “standard of care” and a routine part of most conventional cardiac risk profiles. But it should also be a routine anti-aging marker since it is associated with all-cause mortality.

    4.) Ferritin optimal range 25-80; slightly < 50 may be ideal.

    Ferritin is an iron storage protein and is a measure of  body iron stores. High (even "high normal”) iron levels increase free radical production and are highly associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis and peripheral vascular disease. Serum ferritin was one of the strongest risk predictors of overall progression of atherosclerosis. (20-29)

    5.) Vitamin D (optimal range: 50-60 nmol/liter)

    There is a strong association between vitamin D levels and all-cause mortality. All-cause mortality was 26% higher among those in the lowest vitamin D quartile compared with those in the highest quartile with optimal vitamin D status above 32.1 ng/mL after controlling for baseline demographics. (30-32)

    You can Order your Longevity Lab Profile here:

    References

    1. Carson AP, Fox CS, McGuire DK, Levitan EB, Laclaustra M, Mann DM, Muntner P.Carson AP, Fox CS, McGuire DK, Levitan EB, Laclaustra M, Mann DM, Muntner P. Low hemoglobin A1c and risk of all-cause mortality among US adults without diabetes. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2010 Nov;3(6):661-7. doi: 10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.110.957936. Epub 2010 Oct 5.
    2. Asvold BO et al. Thyrotropin levels and risk of fatal coronary heart disease: the HUNT study. Arch Intern Med. 2008 Apr 28;168(8):855-60. http://pmid.us/18443261.
    3. Yeh ET. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein as a risk assessment tool for cardiovascular disease.Clin Cardiol. 2005 Sep;28(9):408-12.
    4. Paoletti R, Bolego C, Poli A, Cignarella A. Metabolic syndrome, inflammation and atherosclerosis. Vasc Health Risk Manag. 2006;2(2):145-52.
    5. Comparison of C-reactive protein and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the prediction of first Cardiovascular events. N Engl J Med. 2002 Nov 14;347(20):1557-65.
    6. Association of serum C-reactive protein and LDL:HDL with myocardial infarction. J Pak Med Assoc. 2006 Jul;56(7):318-22.
    7. Barac A, Wang H, Shara NM, de Simone G, Carter EA, Umans JG, Best LG, Yeh J, Dixon DB, Devereux RB, Howard BV, Panza JA. Markers of inflammation, metabolic risk factors, and incident heart failure in American Indians: the Strong Heart Study. J Clin
    8. Clearfield MB. C-reactive protein: a new risk assessment tool for cardiovascular disease. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2005 Sep;105(9):409-16.
    9. Goicoechea M, de Vinuesa SG, Gómez-Campderá F, Aragoncillo I, Verdalles U, Mosse A, Luño J. Serum fibrinogen levels are an independent predictor of mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 3 and 4. Kidney Int Suppl. 2008 Dec;(111):S67-70.
    10. Gotto AM Jr. Role of C-reactive protein in coronary risk reduction: focus on primary prevention.Am J Cardiol. 2007 Mar 1;99(5):718-25. Epub 2007 Jan 10
    11. Kalogeropoulos A, Georgiopoulou V, Psaty BM, Rodondi N, Smith AL, Harrison DG, Liu Y, Hoffmann U, Bauer DC, Newman AB, Kritchevsky SB, Harris TB, Butler J; Health ABC Study Investigators. Inflammatory markers and incident heart failure risk in older adults: the Health ABC (Health, Aging, and Body Composition) study. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2010 May 11;55(19):2129-37.
    12. Ridker PM, Stampfer MJ, Rifai N. Novel risk factors for systemic atherosclerosis: a comparison of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, homocysteine, lipoprotein(a), and standard cholesterol screening as predictors of peripheral arterial disease. JAMA. 2001 May 16;285(19):2481-5.
    13. Libby P. Inflammation and cardiovascular disease mechanisms. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006 Feb;83(2):456S-460S.
    14. Mora S, Rifai N, Buring JE, Ridker PM. Additive value of immunoassay-measured fibrinogen and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels for predicting incident cardiovascular events. Circulation. 2006 Aug 1;114(5):381-7. Epub 2006 Jul 24.
    15. Munk PS, Larsen AI. Inflammation and C-reactive protein in cardiovascular disease. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2009 Jun 11;129(12):1221-4.
    16. Onat A, Can G, Hergenç G. Serum C-reactive protein is an independent risk factor predicting cardiometabolic risk. Metabolism. 2008 Feb;57(2):207-14.
    17. Ridker PM, Rifai N, Cook NR, Bradwin G, Buring JE. Non-HDL cholesterol, apolipoproteins A-I and B100, standard lipid measures, lipid ratios, and CRP as risk factors for cardiovascular disease in women. JAMA. 2005 July 20;294(3):326-33.
    18. Shlipak MG, Ix JH, Bibbins-Domingo K, Lin F, Whooley MA. Biomarkers to predict recurrent cardiovascular disease: the Heart and Soul Study. Am J Med. 2008 Jan;121(1):50-7.
    19. Yu H, Rifai N. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein and atherosclerosis: from theory to therapy. Clin Biochem. 2000 Nov;33(8):601-10.
    20. Alissa EM, Ahmed WH, Al-Ama N, Ferns GA. Relationship between indices of iron status and coronary risk factors including diabetes and the metabolic syndrome in Saudi subjects without overt coronary disease. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2007;21(4):242-54. Epub 2007 Aug 7
    21. Ahluwalia N, Genoux A, Ferrieres J, Perret B, Carayol M, Drouet L, Ruidavets JB. Iron status is associated with carotid atherosclerotic plaques in middle-aged adults. J Nutr. 2010 Apr;140(4):812-6. Epub 2010 Feb 24.
    22. de Godoy MF, Takakura IT, Machado RD, Grassi LV, Nogueira PR. Serum ferritin and obstructive coronary artery disease: angiographic correlation. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2007 Apr;88(4):430-3.
    23. Depalma RG, Hayes VW, Chow BK, Shamayeva G, May PE, Zacharski LR. Ferritin levels, inflammatory biomarkers, and mortality in peripheral arterial disease: a substudy of the Iron (Fe) and Atherosclerosis Study (FeAST) Trial. J Vasc Surg. 2010 Jun;51(6):1498-503. Epub 2010 Mar 20
    24. Kiechl S, Willeit J, Egger G, Poewe W, Oberhollenzer F.Body iron stores and the risk of carotid atherosclerosis: prospective results from the Bruneck study.Circulation. 1997 Nov 18;96(10):3300-7.
    25. Lee KR, Sweeney G, Kim WY, Kim KK. Serum ferritin is linked with aortic stiffness in apparently healthy Korean women. Crit Pathw Cardiol. 2010 Sep;9(3):160-3
    26. Mainous AG 3rd, Diaz VA. Relation of serum ferritin level to cardiovascular fitness among young men. Am J Cardiol. 2009 Jan 1;103(1):115-8. Epub 2008 Oct 17.
    27. Menke A, Fernández-Real JM, Muntner P, Guallar E. The association of biomarkers of iron status with peripheral arterial disease in US adults. BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2009 Aug 3;9:34.
    28. Valenti L, Swinkels DW, Burdick L, Dongiovanni P, Tjalsma H, Motta BM, Bertelli C, Fatta E, Bignamini D, Rametta R, Fargion S, Fracanzani AL. Serum ferritin levels are associated with vascular damage in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2011 Aug;21(8):568-75. Epub 2010 Apr 13.
    29. Zacharski LR, Shamayeva G, Chow BK. Effect of controlled reduction of body iron stores on clinical outcomes in peripheral arterial disease. Am Heart J. 2011 Nov;162(5):949-957.
    30. Melamed ML, et al. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels and the Risk of Mortality in the General Population. Arch Intern Med 2008; 168: 1629-1637.
    31. Saliba W, Barnett O, Rennert HS, Rennert G. The risk of all-cause mortality is inversely related to serum 25(OH)D levels. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2012 Aug;97(8):2792-8. doi: 10.1210/jc.2012-1747. Epub 2012 May 30.
    32. Durup D, Jørgensen HL, Christensen J, Schwarz P, Heegaard AM, Lind B. A reverse J-shaped association of all-cause mortality with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in general practice: the CopD study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2012 Aug;97(8):2644-52. doi: 10.1210/jc.2012-1176. Epub 2012 May 9.
    33. CIA World Factbook: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html

  • A Good Sleep For… Strong Bones?

    By Nurse Mark

     

    Could bone health be improved in seniors by getting a better night’s sleep? If that better sleep involves melatonin the answer could be “Yes”!

    We have long praised the benefits of a good sleep in our HealthBeat News articles, and we have also warned of the dangers of achieving sleep with drugs – especially the newest crop of drugs known as “Z-drugs”, such as Ambien and Lunesta. Check out Sleeping Pills – It Just Gets Worse if you need to review.

    Our alternatives are improved sleep “hygiene”, and supplements like magnesium, Kavinace, Lavella, and of course melatonin. For more information and suggestions review our recent article Get a Good Night’s Sleep: Your Checklist

    Now according to recent research melatonin can not only help seniors get a good night’s sleep, it can also help to strengthen their bones too.

    Researchers from McGill University in Canada have just this month published a paper describing their work with melatonin and aging lab rats (really – I couldn’t make this stuff up!) where they found significant improvements in bone density and strength in the animals given supplements of melatonin.

    You can read the full McGill University news article here: Melatonin Makes Old Bones Stronger – but for those who want the punch line, this is what the article concludes:

    The researchers found that there was a significant increase in both bone volume and density among the rats that had received melatonin supplements. As a result, it took much more force to break the bones of rats that had taken the melatonin supplements, a finding that suggests to the researchers that melatonin may prove a useful tool in combating osteoporosis.

     

    Now, to be fair, this is not exactly “new” news – researchers have long been aware of the relationship between melatonin and the health of so-called “hard tissues” like bones and teeth. Here is what another, earlier research paper concluded:

    The above analyzed data indicate that melatonin may be involved in the development of the hard tissues bone and teeth. Decreased melatonin levels may be related to bone disease and abnormality. Due to its ability of regulating bone metabolism, enhancing bone formation, promoting osseointegration of dental plant and cell and tissue protection, melatonin may used as a novel mode of therapy for augmenting bone mass in bone diseases characterized by low bone mass and increased fragility, bone defect/fracture repair and dental implant surgery.

    Reference: Jie Liu, Fang Huang, and Hong-Wen He. Melatonin Effects on Hard Tissues: Bone and Tooth. Int J Mol Sci. May 2013; 14(5): 10063–10074.
    Published online May 10, 2013. doi:  10.3390/ijms140510063

    Indeed, a quick search of PubMed using the terms “melatonin” and ‘bone” returns hundreds of articles discussing the positive effects of melatonin on bone and dental health.

    So, do you really need more reasons to supplement your melatonin and get a good night sleep?

     

    Learn more about:

    Melatonin

    Magnesium

    Kavinace

    Lavella

  • Summer’s Here – Avoid This Common And Debilitating Illness

    By Nurse Mark

     

    Ever hear of “Beaver Fever”?

    Yes, it’s a real disease, and despite it’s funny name it brings misery to millions worldwide. Summer is here now, and that means that more Americans will be catching this disease and suffering it’s nasty effects too.

    You can learn more about this protozoan infection and how to prevent it and deal with it here on our website: Giardia

  • Which Neurochemical Causes Depression?

    By Nurse Mark

     

    I remember some of the classes that we took in Nursing School vividly – and no wonder; they were lectures on subjects that were so dense and incomprehensible that we looked forward to them the way one might look forward to having dental work done without freezing. Neuroanatomy and the endocrine system were a couple of my most dreaded subjects – at that time my only hope of surviving and graduating as a Nurse was to memorize enough to pass the exams…

    Well, fast-forward thirty years, and I have come to make peace with these and other complicated subjects. That is not to say that I am any kind of expert, but rather that I understand that everyone struggles to understand these subjects about as much as I do.

    I actually kind of enjoy the endocrine system – it is the chemical computer of hormones that controls and regulates almost every function of our being.

    And neuroanatomy? Well, let’s just say that we have reached a peace since I know how to look stuff up when I need it…

    The point here is that even after 30 years of Nursing and being exposed to these two subjects frequently (even daily) they are still complicated – there is nothing simple about either of them even after all these years. How very, terribly complicated and confusing must they be for laypeople?

    It is no wonder that modern conventional medicine has done such a good job of making folks demand simple, one-pill solutions to medical problems.

    We get questions every day from people who are looking for simple answers to complicated subjects: “Which hormone is making me fat?” “What herb will cure my (insert complaint here)?” “Which neurochemical is responsible for depression?”

    Dave recently wrote us. I am guessing that he found some information of interest on our Neurotransmitter information pages.

    I tried to write Dave back, but his email was returned to me as “undeliverable” – so here is Dave’s question:

    Subject: neurotransmitter imbalance

    Message: If a person already has clinical depression does the loss of a loved one affect the same neurochemicals ? I was told it creates a deficit however in which neurochemicals ?

     

    And my answer to Dave:

     

    Hi Dave,

    First, please do not confuse depression with sadness. The loss of a loved one is tragic and can be a terrible sadness, but it not necessarily lead to or exacerbate a depression. One can be depressed and not sad, or sad and not depressed, or both sad and depressed depending on the person and the circumstances.

    Secondly, there is no one or two neurotransmitters that we can point to and say "those are the chemicals responsible for depression" – we look for balance in relative amounts of neurotransmitters. Deficits may indeed be a problem, but so also can be relative excesses.

    Neurotransmitter testing offers a great deal of valuable information, but must be interpreted very carefully by someone skilled in that assessment.

    You may want to consider a Brief Consultation with Dr. Myatt who can help your understanding of this complex subject.

    Hope this helps,

    Cheers,

    Nurse Mark

     

    Neurotransmitters are just another way of saying “Brain Hormones,” and they are another part of that miraculous, amazing bio-computer that we call the endocrine system. When it comes to questions about neurotransmitters, the very best way to get answers is through a Brief Consultation with Dr. Myatt.

  • Doctors Say The Dumbest Things!

    By Nurse Mark

     

    Sometimes it’s hard to believe that medical doctors actually had to go to school for all those years and then pass big exams in order to get a license to practice medicine. Maybe they get credit for nap-time –what else can explain it when it looks like they slept through some of their most basic classes?

    Here’s an example that we see over and over again – that makes it look like classes in basic nutrition must be optional in some medical schools…

    Cathy wrote recently to ask:

    Question for you. My doc is telling me now that taking vitamins have no health effect since they don’t contains lignens. Also recent reports have shown krill oil is worthless. Would like your comments on this.

    Wow – there is so much wrong with this doctor’s statement that Dr. Myatt and I just looked at each other in amazement when we read it. My first thoughts were “where would a doctor get such silly notions?”, but Dr. Myatt had a more rational explanation – “this doc probably attended a weekend conference and was pitched on the wonders of lignans by some slick sales rep…” and so now any product that doesn’t shout about containing lignans for health benefits must surely be of no value.

    Never mind that Big Pharma profit-darlings like statins for cholesterol and z-drugs for sleep and acid blockers for GERD don’t contain lignans – they’re drugs after all, so that’s a whole different thing… they must be good!

    I was tempted to send out a snappy, smarty-pants answer to this doctors silly statement – but Cathy deserves better than that

    Here is what we did write for her:

    Hi Cathy,

    I think your doctor might do well to review his biochemistry and nutrition textbooks. This sounds like a new spin on the old “Vitamins are useless – you’ll just pee ‘em out and have expensive urine!” line that is still used by a lot of doctors. Lignans are a very important and valuable form of fiber. Vitamins are, well, vitamins – not fiber. Your doctors statement makes no sense.

    Here is one of many articles we have written about the worth of vitamins: Do Vitamins Really Make Any Difference?

    And here is an excerpt from another article we wrote, discussing lignans.

    Lignans are a special type of fiber found in certain plants including flaxseed, pumpkin, sunflower and poppy seeds, whole grains (rye, oats, barley), fruits (especially berries) and vegetables. Flax seed is one of the highest sources of lignans.

    Lignans inhibits estrogen production, blocks estrogen receptors in a manner similar to tamoxifen, increases 2-OH estrone (considered a “good” kind of estrogen because it does not stimulate the growth of breast cancer), and lowers the risk of metastasis.(1,2)

    An easy way to get high lignans in the diet is to consume ground flax seeds (flax seed meal). Try Dr. Myatt’s Bread recipe or Dr. Myatt’s Blueberry muffins for a quick, delicious way to get a big dose of nutrients, including flax seed meal, into your diet.

    Regarding Krill Oil: Krill Oil is far from “worthless”! While in many cases “Krill Oil” is hyped or marketed as being somehow better or more pure or “more powerful” and it’s true, krill oil may contain more of an important antioxidant called astaxanthin than other marine oils, these numbers are often inflated for marketing purposes. The magic in marine oils is the Omega 3 fatty acid content. Eskimo oil, Arctic oil, krill oil, etc.: Can you say “fish oil”? Be sure to get the good stuff – molecularly (cold process) distilled and free of heavy metal contamination… Try Dr. Myatt’s Maxi Marine for a good product at a good value.  Omega 3 fatty acids, as found in marine (fish) oils, are called essential fatty acids – meaning that we must consume them in order to stay healthy and even alive since our bodies cannot make them. Looking at the labels of marine oils can be confusing – because it is the amount of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) that is important – not just the mg amount of “lipid concentrate” or “marine oils” or whatever other way they call them. For example, Maxi Marine contains Marine Lipid Concentrate of 1000 mg, which contains EPA 420mg and DHA 280mg.

    Hope this helps!

    Cheers,

    Nurse Mark

     

    Silly doctors…

     

    References:

    1.) Marina S. Touillaud, Anne C. M. Thiébaut, Agnès Fournier, Maryvonne Niravong, Marie-Christine Boutron-Ruault and Françoise Clavel-Chapelon. Dietary Lignan Intake and Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Risk by Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor Status. JNCI J Natl Cancer Inst (2007) 99 (6): 475-486.

    2.) American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2008 Annual Meeting: Abstract 4162. Presented April 15, 2008.