The supplement business, completely unregulated, is a magnet for scoundrels. The label is nothing compared to the deceptions they practice in what they put into the capsule and pill. Over and over again lab testing shows the pills either don't contain what you are paying for or contain dangerous contaminants.

This probably explains why so many studies find that taking vitamin supplements increases mortality in large populations. The toxic load of the pills is probably to blame.

This is a good point, and one I've certainly seen.  

On a side note, 670mg of EPA/DHA  per capsule is higher than pretty much anything I can find.  500 is more like the upper limit.  Can anyone provide brand guidance about where to find these super potent versions?  

And another thing I've long wondered is if there are any significant differences between one fish oil and another?  For example, some tout that the fish oil comes from wild salmon, which is better because... ?

Interesting article. I have some articles that I've written on fish oil too on my website http://myherbalsupplement.com - I'd love if you checked it out.

Dr. D,

A bit off this topic, but I was wondering what your thoughts are on the latest research posted yesterday on Crestor.  They are now recommending Crestor for those with normal lipids who have "other" factors for potential heart disease.  It was shown to prevent heart attacks and strokes for those participants. Is this another BIG PHARMA scam?

what would be an eqivilant dose of Flax seed oil if one is currently taking fish oil (2,600IU's of EPA+DEA )

I've noticed this too, Dr Davis.  There is some justification with regard to splitting doses in order to make the capsule size more palatable.  But, oftentimes there does appear to be deliberate obfuscation in order to make the purchase price appear more attractive.

Gsbuck--

3 gallons.

Just kidding. So little of the linolenic acid in flaxseed oil is converted to DHA that it's impossible to raise your blood level of EPA + DHA using flaxseed oil.

The claims made by some marketers of flaxseed oil as an omega-3 fatty acid source are simply untrue.

Nonetheless, flaxseed oil is a wonderful oil with benefits all of its own, just not EPA or DHA blood levels.

"I don't know why some manufacturers or distributors do this."

Profit optimization / discriminatory pricing.  Charge illiterates a higher price than literates.

And what about the claims that     Omega3 from algae is just as good ? They claim fish have DHA because they get it from algae anyway, so why not go direct? If nothing else it has less environmental impact, and if cold-subtracted potentially less oxidized :
http://www.v-pure.com/

I take it myself and I never have those "fish burps" from it although it tastes exactly like all other fish-oils.

I've only recently started following your blog and I dunno if this is the most appropriate place to ask, but what (generally speaking) would be a recommended daily EPA/DHA (or total Omega-3) dosage?

I've been taking a krill oil supplement for several months, but the dosage is a fraction of that offered by the capsule you used for an example in this post.  So that makes me wonder if I'm taking enough of the supplement to even make a real difference.

This helps to explain my pet peeves about the supplement industry - as Jenny says, it's a completely unregulated industry.

In fact, there is no legal requirement for what's listed on the label to even match what's actually inside the capsule.  As long as manufacturers don't claim to 'cure disease', they can pretty well say what they like, at least until proposed industry regulation hits in the next two years - unless the industry's very powerful lobby groups are successful in squashing regulation, as they are of course trying to do.

How can one enjoy raw Almonds and Hazelnuts (my fave) without overdosing on Omega 6?

Also, any thoughts on whether monocytes reflect too much Omega 6?  I read something on this by Dr. Glen Aukerman regarding lipomas.  He claims lipomas and uterine fibroids are caused by excessive Omega 6 and recommends no nuts at all, no flaxseed, no poultry.  My monocytes tested at 10 which was not flagged as abnormal -- he claims 3.5 is ideal.  I have lipomas and fibroids. My CRP is so low it does not register and ESR was zero. I've never heard this monocyte theory before.

The key with nutritional supplements is to be an informed consumer.

The WRONG response is: Because I can't always trust the supplement manufacturers, I'll turn to prescription agents (like prescription fish oil).

I'd personally only turn in the direction of prescription fish oil if I were interested in STICKING IT TO MY FELLOW HEALTHCARE CONSUMERS! I am not, so I prefer that we all educate ourselves on what preparations are reliable and safe.

Dear Author heartscanblog.blogspot.com !
Clearly, I thank for the help in this question.

It's really important to look closely at the labels to determine exactly how much ingredient you're getting per dose.  The same applies to food labels as these can be misleading if one doesn't analyze the label closely.

Dr Davis

It is worse than that.  Alot of brands, (Costco is the worst), not only trip you up on serving size but also do the following: Total omega 3: (including DHA/EPA) 375mg.
So how much DHA/EPA here?  Who knows!  When you look down at the ingredients you will find anchovies, Vit E, and SOY.  Which is cheaper, anchovies or ALA from soy.  And who knows how much Omega 6.

Also be on the lookout for labels that don't mention the EPA/DHA ratios. I've seen some cheaper brands just list 'Omega 3s', with no breakdown.  And if interested in form used (ethyl ester vs triglyceride) you'll have to read the label closely too -- but quite often this isn't even mentioned.

Although that leads to another point: what is the optimal EPA/DHA ratio as far as reducing heart disease risks?  I don't think this has really been studied that closely.

I read so much on nutritional interventions for CHD and atherosclerosis that I sometimes lose the source of my information. Sorry if this is the wrong attribution but I think it was Art Ayers (might have been Stephen Guyenet) who blogged about the dangers of using fish oil as a source of Omega 3s. One caveat is that  fish oil oxidizes very easily on the shelf and is likely to also do so in the warm temperatures within the body--therefore it could contribute to inflammation rather than prevent it. If this is true, it is a serious consideration for those who already have atherosclerosis and are attempting to reverse it by using anti-inflammatory foods and supplements. What do you think about this? Should we be getting our omega 3s and 6s from other sources? If so, which?

I also wonder about disturbing the appropriate balance of omega 3s and 6s by eating either walnuts, almonds, or sunflower seeds daily to help eliminate excessive plaque. So many conflicting ideas--what is one to believe and do?

Thanks for all the information you generously provide.

"Vitamin D up to 10,000 IU per day has been found safe. Some individuals require up to 12 fish oil capsule per day to experience relief from symptoms."qute ART AYERS

It's Stepan that suggests REDUCING OMEGA 6 intake is MORE IMPORTANT than raising omega 3 intake.

In the long run Stephan is right that it is daft to try to overpower the inflammatory effects of too much omega 6 with ever increasing amounts of omega 3 when we know that omega 6 displaces omega 3.

But such is the pro inflammatory state of most US adult(with UK adults catching up fast) that in the short term, with people facing imminent tragic consequences, it is important not only for mental health but also to prevent suicide and violence against others, that at least 2g of omega 3 is used daily to correct current plasma imbalance.

You will understand better why I am so emphatic about the immediate need for higher omega 3 intake in the short term if you invest the time watching all the presentations at this link. The session I think are MOST IMPORTANT are in bold.
Fundamentals of Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Biochemistry and Health Sheila Innis
Omega Fatty Acids and Aggression, Suicide and Psychiatric Distress
CAPT Joseph R. Hibbeln, M.D.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Stress-Immune Interactions/Wound Healing
Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Cardiometabolic Health

Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Surgical, Respiratory and Intensive Care Issues Robert G. Martindale, M.D., Ph.D.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Bleeding and Suicide Tomohito Hamazaki, M.D., Ph.D.

I think if you spend sufficient time (it's an all day conference I have linked to) you will grasp the idea that we are in a crisis situation and when we know it may take 2yrs of concentrated effort to  reduce omega 6 intake to under 4% of calories and change the omega 3<>omega 6 ratio to below 1 n3<> 4 n6 but just 5 days  2g/d omega 3 improves outcomes if surgery/stroke/accident or suicide attempts occur.

In the long run, once we have ditched industrial vegetable oils such as corn, soybean, safflower and sunflower oil, and everything that contains them. This includes most processed foods, especially mayonnaise, grocery store salad dressings, and fried foods. and our tissue ratio's of omega 6<> omega 3 have changed back to an acceptable ratio See Dr Davis Omega-3 Index, Omega-6:Omega-3 Ratio test it may indeed be possible to manage on a lower omega  3 intake. But such is the state of current omega 6 levels that there is an immediate need for effective omega 3 intake levels to improve immediate outcomes.

Is there a search function on this site?

Ted, Thanks very much for your detailed and informative post. I intend to follow-up by reading your suggested list. Your post is very helpful in clearing up some confusion I was experiencing.Just rereading Stephan's posts go a long way to solidify my understanding of inflammatory processes resulting from chronic overindulgence in excess omega 6s, refined carbs,etc. Ironically, I have been conscientiously attempting to follow the best advice and practices concerning CVD since my father died in the 1970s at the age of 48 after 2 heart attacks and a series of strokes.

Unfortunately, it turns out that the "best advice" was almost all certainly wrong and in some cases fraudulent. I succumbed to the very disease I thought I was avoiding by my "healthy" lifestyle. The best thing I had going for me had been a  complete  avoidance of doctors until my totally unexpected heart attack last year. At that point my life was saved by Western medicine but I was literally hijacked by the medical system. Because I had insurance I was given an unnecessary $17,000 helicopter ride, two angioplasty procedures, a week's confinement in a hospital and 4 stents--(one of them to replace a botched procedure that caused a vessel dissection). Subsequently, I was placed on statins,plavix, ace inhibitors, and beta blockers for at least a year.

My intent is to get off of these as soon as possible and to that end I'm seeing an integrative medicine D.O. at the University of Maryland in addition to my cardiologist. She is supportive of my anti-inflammatory diet, antioxidents, vitamin D3  and amino acids, Q-10, and  NO enhancers. I've made her my primary care doctor so she can help me communicate with my cardiologist who I overheard saying (while I was being wheeled in on a gurney "here's a person who should never eat another egg for the rest of her life". How can these MD's be so indoctrinated and misinformed? It is mind-boggling to me. However, once a captive within the system it is extremely difficult to extracate oneself. I was told before I left the hospital that if I missed one dose of Plavix I could cause a clot to form and could die. I was not told that there are other natural platelet anticoagulants that work very well. I was also told that it is virtually impossible to reverse atherosclerosis by nutracueticals and lifestyle changes. It has been an eye opening process to learn differently from doing my own research.
Again. . . thanks for the information. It will keep me busy for the next little while. Cee

Dear Dr Davis, I have seen some people criticize your TC scan program because of this might increase cancer risk. So I believe you may be interested in an opposite view, since low dose radiation can be healthy and good based on the phenomenon of hormesis – "a dose response phenomenon whereby a substance that in a high dose inhibits, or is toxic to, a biological process will, in a much smaller dose, stimulate (or protect) that same process."

CT Scans May Reduce Rather than
Increase the Risk of Cancer
http://www.jpands.org/vol13no1/scott.pdf

@ Judy B
If you go to the Heartscanblog home page you will find on the left hand side of the black bar at the very top of the page, a searchbox.

But that only searches Dr Davis blogs.
It doesn't search the comments.
Some of the readers here are very informed and often there are interesting points raised in the comments that add to the valuable information in the blog.
So to search the blog and the comments I use
Google advanced search and enter the Heartscanblog URL
http://heartscanblog.blogspot.com/
in the search filter box
Search within a site or domain:

If you are searching for a post or comment that was recent then select an option from the
Date, usage rights, numeric range, and more filter menu.

To speed up searching through the results for the information you want then using you keyboard keys
Ctrl F brings up a new searchbox, enter the word/phrase you are looking for in this box and then you can quickly skim through each of the occasions that word/phrase appears here.

Link to recent interesting full text paper.
Correlation of omega-3 levels in serum phospholipid from 2053 human blood samples with key fatty acid ratios
Omega-6/omega-3 ratios <4.5 were
estimated to support a ‘lower risk’ category with 95% confidence for the risk of coronary heart disease while AA/(EPA+DHA) ratios <2.1 would be expected to provide a corresponding lower risk category for fatal ischemic heart disease.

Regarding Rob's question (way up at the top) about fish oil dosages, I too have been wondering about that.  I did find a very fascinating compilation summarizing the opinions of experts on proper dosages which I have bookmarked at (see http://www.buy-fish-oil.com/how-much-fish-oil-dosage-per-day-should-i-take/ )  It was particularly instructive to learn how fish oil has been used in extreme cases of brain failure, heart failure, kidney failure and liver failure such as the treatment and remarkable recovery of the coal miner who survived the Sago mine disaster.  Fascinating.

I recently bought one out of necessity. It has Caramel Coloring added!!!! CARAMEL COLORING???!!!!

I am indeed perturbed.

"The supplement business, completely unregulated, is a magnet for scoundrels. The label is nothing compared to the deceptions they practice in what they put into the capsule and pill. Over and over again lab testing shows the pills either don't contain what you are paying for or contain dangerous contaminants."

As a recent subscriber to http://www.consumerlab.com/ I find that for the most part supplements have in them what they claim...and are free of contaminants.  You COULD generally buy supplements from certain dependable sources and be safe doing so.  I don't work in the industry.

I notice that the composition, or "Supplement Facts," lists the contents of two capsules Rather than the usual one capsule contents, this product label lists two capsules.

Definitely worth buying a good quality fish oil supplement from a manufacturer you trust - and, ate least, taste the oil thats in your capsule before gobbling them down.

Reference gsbuck's question above, it is difficult to create an exact equivalent between fish oils and flaxseed oils because of the way they are handled in the body. Flaxseed provides a lot of ALA, a plant omega-3s, which needs to be converted in the body into EPA/DHA, the 'active' omega 3s. In healthy people, around 16% of ALA is converted into EPA/DHA. So if you take 10g flaxseed oil, thats 8000mg of ALA, converts to 1280mg EPA/DHA. This is what you would find in around 4 grams of normal fish oil. But... older people, those with chronic disease, those with nutritional deficiency, etc, will never convert very effectively and require fish oils.

I have discussed the benefits of fish oils vs flaxseed oil here.

nice post. thanks.

Hi im new on here, I stumbled upon this forum I find It absolutely useful & it has helped me alot. I hope to give something back and guide other users like its helped me.

Thank You, See Ya Around.

Hi-ya i am fresh on here, I hit upon this forum I have found It very accessible and it has helped me out a lot. I should be able to give something back & assist other users like it has helped me.

Thanks, See Ya Later

What's Happening i am new here. I came accross this forum I have found It positively accommodating and it's helped me out a great deal. I hope to contribute & help others like its helped me.

Thank You, See You Around

Howdy i am fresh on here, I came accross this board I find It very accessible and it's helped me out so much. I hope to give something back and help other users like its helped me.

Thank You, Catch You Around.

I don't know why some manufacturers or distributors do this. However, I have seen many people tripped up by this kind of labeling, taking half the omega-3 fatty acids they thought they were taking. This can be important when you are trying to obtain a specific dose of EPA + DHA to reduce triglycerides, reduce Lp(a), control abnormal heart rhythms, reduce bipolar mood swings, or other important effects.

Well, it seems to me that this is the label of the fish oil I consume. Maybe I am a little naive, but I just interpreted this label as a strong recommendation to take 2 softgels a day at a minimum and that they would have done a twice greater softgel if it could still be swallowed.

Hi Dr Davis, nice post

The parallels you describe so neatly become self explanatory once you realise that niacin acts on the beta hydroxybutyrate receptor. Even without full blown ketosis, LC diets raise the level of the natural ligand for the receptor that niacin, at pharmacological dose rates, stimulates. And no flush from LC.

Regarding LC diets as a means to weight loss alone misses their intrinsic health benefits.

Peter

Nicotinic acid receptor subtypes and their ligands.
Soudijn W, van Wijngaarden I, Ijzerman AP
Med Res Rev. 2007 May;27(3):417-33

Thanks, Peter. I wasn't aware of that.

In your experience have you seen a lipoprotein benefit to a wheat-free diet in people where there is little excess weight to lose, say 5 to 10 lbs?

Yes, though the magnitude of benefit is usually less. In this case, small LDL in particular is largely genetically driven. You can only hope to suppress it to a minimum.

as soon as I started lc, after about three months my hdl went from 40 to 68 and stays there, I don't excercise much so its not due to anything but lc I assumed.

However,my score from scan went from 183 in '04 to 390 in 07 so that alarmed me but my doc said if I didn't lc, as I lc most the time, calcium score could have been way higher.lc is not only great for weigh loss but bg and craving control
Thnx for comparison list, wish ADA would recognize this.

Chickadee North - While I am a believer in reducing/eliminating processed carbs especially for people who have metabolic syndrome, are diabetic and/or overweight, you still had an increase in calcification of 30% per year.  That outcome is consistent with the results that occur when there is no intervention in terms of diet/drugs/lifestyle.  Thus, I am somewhat skeptical that the low carb diet kept you from having an even greater increase in calcified plaque.

There are other benefits from low carb that you don't see with niacin. Lower BP, lessening (at minimum) of symptoms of many chronic diseases, lower blood sugar and insulin levels...all very important in today's world!

Can you please comment on this article:
http://in.reuters.com/article/health/idINWRI08496320071210
"In middle-aged and older women considered to be at low risk for heart disease, calcium build-up in their heart arteries, an indicator of artery-clogging plaque, predicts the development of heart disease and heart-related events like chest pain, heart attack and stroke, new research shows."
Doesn't plaque and calcium build up in the heart indicate heart disease?

Yes, excellent points!

I believe that study is yet another piece of evidence that heart scans (for coronary calcium and plaque quantification) are vastly superior to risk factor analysis, such as that in the Framingham equation. As the study points out, the Framingham risk equation mis-classified a substantial number of people as low-risk.

Incomprehensibly, the report quotes some reviewers as saying "There is not enough evidence to support coronary artery calcium screening in low-risk women and they call for further studies to better identify who would benefit from such screening."

This is another study among many that have shown similar results.  How many people have to die or have heart attacks needlessly before the deeply entrenched habits of the status quo are broken?

Re: "In middle-aged and older women considered to be at low risk for heart disease, calcium build-up in their heart arteries, an indicator of artery-clogging plaque, predicts the development of heart disease..."

I think this relates to Dr. Davis orignal post on low carb.  Since glucose metabolism involves a lot more calcium than lipid or ketone metabolism then perhaps excessive calcium build up may be a proxy for excessive glucose metabolism?

  It may explain a curious fact that anything that switches metabolism away from glucose (e.g. niacine acting towards ketone b., vitamin D3, fasting or L.C. diet) would also at the same time act protective against the coronary heart disease?  Interesting!

Stan (Heretic)

But my question is....If there are already calcifications doesn't that mean there is already Heart Disease?

So the women with calcium plaques would HAVE heart disease, not be AT RISK of developing it?

"...calcium build-up in their heart arteries, an indicator of artery-clogging plaque, predicts the development of heart disease..."

Somewhat unrelated question:  
Angiotensin II inhibitors like Benicar apparently have the additional effect of dramatically lowering Vitamin D 1,25D in the body, and some think this is useful for people with Lyme disease and chronic fatigue system ("Marshall Protocol" http://snipurl.com/1v5s6). [Adherents of this protocol believe that in these diseases, opportunistic bacteria thrive on the additional Vitamin D.]

However, for hypertensives who don't have CFS or Lyme disease, does this trait mean that drugs like Benicar, while reducing blood pressure, might be increasing coronary blockage by interfering with Vitamin D?  (I guess my questions are, Am I concerned with the right form of Vitamin D?  If  so, are angiotensin II inhibitors problematic for blocking Vitamin D?  Do they make Vitamin D supplementation pointless? If so, what's a better drug for hypertension?)

Anyway, if this question is too far afield, ignore it, and thanks for a great blog.

A few things we don't know about chickadee north;

1 her age. (did she just enter menopause or premenopause?
2 when she started her low carb diet.
3 how often her heart was scanned between 2004 and 2007.
Without knowing these, I think we have to give her doctor the benefit of the doubt.

Cindy--
Yes, you are absolutely right.

In arteries, calcium = atherosclerotic plaque, not risk for plaque. It is a risk for coronary "events" like heart attack, however.

The Benicar/ARB and vitamin D connection is interesting. I've never heard of it. Do you have any data or references?

Honestly, I'm a layperson and can't comment intelligently on it other than to suggest you look at marshallprotocol.com

Some of the things that jumped out at me were Benicar's (and to a lesser extent, other angiotensin 2 inhibitors) ability to block  at least one D3 variant, the idea that chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia/etc are the result of infection by a new form of bacteria that survives by hiding within immune system cells, the concept that because of this, D3 actually protects the bacteria in these patients, etc.

It's all wayyyy out there, but fascinating, and I thought you'd be interested.  (At the very least, it might affect your choice of hypertension med.)

I am 57 and am menopausal since 04, have lc since 03 and fell off wagon for almost a yr,was in extreme grief with death of kid sis and other significants in my life and neglected me.

Had one scan in 04 at 186 and then second scan in 07 ( 2 weeks ago) and it was 390, so yes about 30% a yr.

I assumed dropping A1C from 8 to 5.8 would have a bearing, no wheat products and eight loss of 80 lbs, way lower bp mostly about 110/68 or so would have given me less of  score.

For 5 months in yr I run a B&B and work hard enough to make a sweat and in winter I walk.

I only knew about Vit D and fish oil since coming here, few weeks back,  so take fish oil, its harsh to do as I have that HP bacteria and the fish oil makes allot of heartburn and distaste. I am waiting for the softgel Vit d 3 as can only get the dry form here, as well the l'arginine was ordered as well.
My ldl is 97, my hdl is 68 and trig are 78.Ratio is 2.5, have not got advanced lipid profile back, should all be back this week and CRP and lip protein  were all low and within norm levels.

I've been diabetic since 94 and needed insulin which I no longer need. I tried to use Actos as I read it reversed some plague so asked a doc for some, but it caused some chest pain and side effects so after 3 months I quit it.

Stress has been a factor with husbands illness, many deaths and just finished testing for lung cancer( on my recent heart scan the radiologist noticed something in my lungs???? and suggested the rule out cancer??)(never smoked a puff in my life but my mental health patients smoked in my office for a few decades until I put a stop to it in 1980 and got my wrists slapped for doing that).

Now I know I have no lung cancer am assuming my stress will decrease,husband being tested for asbestoses etc so lots of anxiety,I know thats not good for heart either,  typically I handle stress ok and use alot of humor in my life.

So now you know more and can make some impressions. This doc doesnt really know me but felt had I continued with my program from Cdn Diabetic assc which was hi grains I would have had a higher score and my A1C couldn't get under 7.8 on insulin and I needed 158 units of humalog a day to keep it there so now I am not as insulin resistant , since lc, so maybe I would have a higher score if hadn't lc.

I am only assuming and am only learning all about the TYProgram, I tried to introduce some oat bran daily but it spikes my BG way too much and I am aiming for AC under 5 so will stick with ground flax

Anyone have some insight let me know, oh yes my vit d blood level was low as was DHEA, hormone levels of progesterone and all estrogens very low too from saliva test so using bio identical progesterone cream.

I am assuming I will start on Niaspan to drop trig.

Hi, Chickadee--

I believe that you are on the right track. I encourage you to stay in contact through the Forum, where we can discuss your issues in more detail, along with feedback from other members.

Yes I plan too and once all blood work back I am hiring you to do a consultation via scanner, how new age is that!!!

I have had one diet pop a day as a treat for a sweet taste but am stopping that now too since reading about carbonation on the forum, lots of good info there for sure and dedicated membership

Lipoprotein(a) in 2004 was 0.21g/l and in 2007 June was 0.09g/l.....so there is hope for me yet
I should have new NMR results in few days.

This 04 one I had only been low carbing for one yr.So maybe prior to that it was higher, but never had it checked ??

I am exited to know that and now to try your ideas as if I could do that without supplementation and often off the statins....then who knows whats next

Thnx soooo much for all your insights

chickadee-

That's curious: a big drop in Lp(a) with low-carb diet. Although the diet clearly works, I've never seen such a a dramatic effect on Lp(a). Was there anything else you did?

Yes I went off insulin, cozzaar,lipitor, slowly lost 80lb, ate only nutrient dense foods, more meat,eggs, only low gi veg,salads, olive oil daily,I am worried what if it was an error, will know in 2 days what new results are.
Oh I ate a ton of ground flaxseed, .....my chol went up &, and HDL went from 40 to 68 and stayed there,LDl went up in that time frame and Dr Westman from Duke said its probably big fluffy good ldl stuff as typically thats what occurs with people doing low carb and getting into ketosis...could higher hdl  move out sticky lipoprotein???

Hi, Chickadee--

If you're asking whether higher HDLs are more likely to reverse plaque, the evidence would suggest that it does. HDL is probably crucial for plaque regression, since it acts as a "scavenger" of cholesterol in atherosclerotic plaque.

...so if I add excercise then my hdl should go even higher right?

Yes, and the effect can be substantial if you're starting from a sedentary lifestyle.

...was thinking what I did, I also used a full dose adult ASA daily as read in (Edtmn Protocol( the ones who do the stem cell transplant for diabetes type I) that diabetics should use a higher dose of ASA, so have used that and folic acid 1 gr OD since 03. Dont know if this accounts for it.
I am not sedentary from May to Oct as run a busy B&B and bust my butt but in winter I only curl and quilt and my Christmas gifo to myself is a gym membership, keeping in mind I have a terrible mind set about excercise so am working to change thatMaybe I will get addicted to exercise rather than carbs.

The primary function of niacin, vitamin B3, is to metabolize fats, which can then produce a usable form of energy. Niacin, also known as nicotinic acid, is one of the B- complex vitamins, the water soluble vitamins, that all work together to covert the carbohydrates in our body into sugar, for the production and metabolism of our body's energy.

just found this site. I don't have any sign of heart disease as yet but my HDL is 6.

I never met anyone with HDL that low, so that is why I'm taking niacin, 250mg split into thirds cuz the flushing and rash are awful, though brief.

Already on low carb 35 - 45g per meal and lost 22 pounds since I was newly diagnosed diabetes 3 months ago.

Question: how long to take niacin to see a rise in HDL? I don't want to take this stuff for more than 12 weeks.

Thanks a lot for this nice informative post keep posting and updating the blog on regular basis....


Smith ALan