Help! with abnormal blood test results

[lychee]

So I have been following Atkins (induction mostly, with some weeks of post-induction carb add-back, then back to induction) roughly since October. I went off for a while around Christmas/January, and have been back dilligently for a month or so. Last week, I took some blood tests, and the results appear disturbing, but I'm not sure that they actually are, since the results are geared for "normal" people, not those who are following a low-carbohydrate diet.

My biggest concerns are the following (everything else is in normal ranges). Can anyone help out with explanations/advice/etc.?

Carbon Dioxide.............18 mmol/L (normal 21-33)
Urea Nitrogen...............28 mg/dL (normal 7-25)
BUN/Creatinine Ratio......38 (normal 6-22)
Cholesterol, Total..........227 (normal 125-200 mg/dL)
LDL Cholesterol.............160 (normal <130 mg/dL)
Alkaline Phosphatase......17 (normal 33-115 U/L)

As a note, my HDL is 56 (normal >=40), and my Cholesterol ratio is 4.1 (normal <= 5.0). Triglycerides were at 56 (normal <150 mg/dL). My creatinine is .74 (normal .5 - 1.2 mg/dL). Glucose is 89 (normal 65-99 mg/dL).

I took this test after fasting. I have all the other results of the test I can share, if you think they are significant to the "abnormal" results.

Obviously, I am concerned, but I am trying to tell myself this could be normal, and that other cholesterol factors indicate I am ok. What do you guys think? I'm also concerned with the abnormal results for the other factors, which can indicate problems with liver and kidney function (but could just indicate high protein, I guess?)




*for reference, my HDL is

[mike_d]

I wouldn't worry about the pCO2-- do you exercise? Your lipid profile is about like mine-- high by mainstream standards. If you use protein shakes they contain creatine. Do you drink plenty of water everyday?

About the test if or when you "talk to your Doctor" I wouldn't mention "Atkins" or "high protein." I say "I am on a whole foods diet."

http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/creatinine/faq.html

[Nancy LC]

I don't think there's anything wrong with having "low" liver enzymes. It is when it goes high that the worry starts.

[Azlocarb]

I would not worry about the Total cholesterol number as that is usually calculated from the triglyceride and HDL numbers. If you want you can retest to get the LDL particle size as it is the small LDL that show up in blockages not the large LDL that most of us create on low carb. Dr. Eades says that the number to look at is the triglyceride to HDL ratio the lower the number the better. Yours is 1 and I believe that is pretty good. Also there has never been a study that has found that high cholesterol is a problem in women

Not sure about the other numbers. I have a blood test result of mine from a couple of years ago and it does not have the BUN/Creatinine on it but when I calculate it mine comes out to 15.45 but the BUN and Creatinine by themselves were in the normal range.

Here is what I found on CO2.

When CO2 levels are higher or lower than normal, it suggests that your body is having trouble maintaining its acid-base balance or that you have upset your electrolyte balance, perhaps by losing or retaining fluid. Both of these imbalances may be due to a wide range of dysfunctions.

Maybe you were dehydrated by not drinking water before the test. Did someone tell you not to drink? I've had lots of blood tests and was always told that water was ok.

[RobinB]

What did you eat the day before? I had a lot of shrimp once and I know it affected my results.

[ElleH]

Those numbers look great and I wouldn't be concerned at all! :)

[M Levac]

A test result is a single point of reference. To have any value, we must compare it to another point later or earlier preferably several weeks apart. If you have another test result, compare it and see if there's a change either way.

[lychee]

I also read that much of those results can result from having to digest large amount of protein, so if they do not occur along with other abnormal results (which could indicate kidney or liver problems) that it isn't a big problem.

[lychee]

I don't exercise very much lately, and I think I was dehydrated pre-test.

[lychee]

The day before I had scrambled eggs w/cheese for breakfast, a cheeseburger (no bun) with chicken skewer for dinner, and a ceasar salad for lunch. it is a possibility i was dehydrated and i did not drink before the test.