Summary
Paul Saladino shares his complete bloodwork panel from April 2024, explaining which markers he orders and why. He covers MTHFR polymorphisms and supplementation decisions, glucose and creatinine levels, the cortisol to DHEA-sulfate ratio and its importance, and his cholesterol results in context of an animal-based diet.
Key Points
- Complete bloodwork panel walkthrough with interpretation
- MTHFR polymorphism and supplementation considerations
- Cortisol to DHEA-sulfate ratio as key health marker
- Glucose and metabolic markers analysis
- Cholesterol results on an animal-based diet
Key Moments
Creatine supplementation effects on blood work
Saladino discusses adding creatine to his daily regimen and how it elevates creatinine on blood panels, recommending a cystatin C test to differentiate supplementation from kidney issues.
"I've heard from some of you in the past that even asking your doctor for a fasting insulin, which is perhaps the single most important test that I think everyone should be getting, is denied. And I just don't understand that. On this week's podcast, I wanted to share my most recent set of blood work. I've done blood work four times in the last two years, and I haven't done it in about a year. Usually I try and do blood work every six months, but I missed one. So I've got a comprehensive set of blood work for you guys here. I'm going to walk you through it, tell you what I ordered, why I ordered it, how to interpret it, and how you can get your own blood work. So you're not dependent on your doctor, all these kinds of things. So, I like showing my blood work. I think it's an opening of the kimono. It's proof is in the pudding. You get to see how healthy I am with an animal-based diet. A lot of the questions people have, a lot of the criticisms people have of eating this way are answered with labs to show that I'm healthy, that I'm doing great with this diet. So, enjoy this podcast showing my most recent set of blood work. All right, guys, time to share my most recent set of blood work."
Vitamin D from sunlight without supplementation
Saladino shows his vitamin D level of adequate range achieved purely through living near the equator in Costa Rica without any vitamin D supplementation.
"There's nothing crazy to point out here. I don't have any current infections going on, so my white blood cell count is not elevated. My red blood cell count is within normal. My hematocrit is actually pretty darn high, something that has to do with my iron levels, probably and just the fact that I'm an athlete in the ocean all the time. I've often wondered recently, with my hematocrit kind of bumping up, if being in the ocean and surfing and very often having to hold my breath under waves is increasing the hematocrit, but I'll talk about the iron levels."
Sauna and cortisol to DHEAS ratio
Brief discussion cautioning against overstressing the body in the sauna, in the context of cortisol to DHEAS ratios and their association with mortality risk.
"With regard to testosterone, as I'll talk about later in the podcast, you want to make sure that this is drawn as early as possible. Even if you're fasting and you get this at noon, for instance, not going to be the same. You really can't get a valid testosterone level after 9 a.m. because testosterone has a circadian rhythm and it's highest in the morning for most of us males and females that have a day shift type of work schedule or are awake during the day and sleep at night. You can see here that I'm 46 years old, soon to be 40 years old."
