Diet Doctor Podcast #86:
Low-carb LDL hyper-responders
Citizen-scientist Dave Feldman coined the term “lean mass hyper-responders (LMHR)” to describe those whose LDL cholesterol dramatically rises after starting a low-carb diet. For years, he has written about his observations and anecdotal experience from others. Now we finally have the first scientific paper describing LMHRs and the association between LDL, body weight, and metabolic health. This first step has potentially profound implications for low-carb science and cholesterol science as a whole.
The paper doesn’t address the risk of having elevated LDL. Instead,it highlights many important characteristics of those who experience a sharp LDL rise after going low carb.
A neutral stance toward LMHRs won’t stand without some significant pushback. Traditional cardiology teaching is that elevated LDL is harmful. End of discussion. But is it?
In this episode, I interview four of the paper’s authors, and as you’ll hear, this paper does not reach broad sweeping conclusions but instead starts the discussion of LMHRs, a previously undefined and underexplored population.
Should we cheer this paper as progress in science? Or should we warn against it as a dangerous exploration that may harm people? Take a listen and decide for yourself.
About the video
Virtual podcast recorded in November 2021, published in December 2021.
Host: Dr. Bret Scher
Producer: Hari Dewang
Table of contents
00:00 Introduction
06:12 Nick Norwitz, PhD and Dr. Adrian Soto
07:46 The significance of the paper
14:43 The quality of data and evidence in the study
23:27 The rise in LDL prior to low carb
28:48 A criteria to define LMHR
37:35 Dave Feldman
40:11 How the finding is important for the research community
50:22 Opposition vs acceptance in the topic
56:32 Dr. Tro Kalayjian
57:19 Amount of carbs and the statin therapy
1:05:31 Increasing the carb intake and its effect
1:12:53 The treatment for when a high LDL persists
1:19:16 Conclusion
Citizen-scientist Dave Feldman coined the term “lean mass hyper-responders (LMHR)” to describe those whose LDL cholesterol dramatically rises after starting a low-carb diet. For years, he has written about his observations and anecdotal experience from others. Now we finally have the first scientific paper describing LMHRs and the association between LDL, body weight, and metabolic health. This first step has potentially profound implications for low-carb science and cholesterol science as a whole.
The paper doesn’t address the risk of having elevated LDL. Instead,it highlights many important characteristics of those who experience a sharp LDL rise after going low carb.
A neutral stance toward LMHRs won’t stand without some significant pushback. Traditional cardiology teaching is that elevated LDL is harmful. End of discussion. But is it?
In this episode, I interview four of the paper’s authors, and as you’ll hear, this paper does not reach broad sweeping conclusions but instead starts the discussion of LMHRs, a previously undefined and underexplored population.
Should we cheer this paper as progress in science? Or should we warn against it as a dangerous exploration that may harm people? Take a listen and decide for yourself.
About the video
Virtual podcast recorded in November 2021, published in December 2021.
Host: Dr. Bret Scher
Producer: Hari Dewang
