Dr. Richard Cheng, Cheng Integrative Health Center

Dr. Thomas Levy, a well known physician, in his book Death by Calcium outlines the following:

1. Minimize new toxin exposure.
2. Eradicate acute and chronic infections.
3. Eliminate accumulated toxins.
4. Improve or normalize critical regulatory hormones (sex, thyroid).
5. Optimize antioxidant and nutrient levels, especially vitamin C, throughout the body.
6. Selectively and appropriately use prescription medications.”

Further: Dr. Levy suggests the following:

Excerpt From: Thomas E. Levy. “Death by Calcium.” MedFoxPub, 2013-12-04. iBooks.
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Insulin Resistance is a proatherogenic state.

Diagnosing IR:

• Moderate Elevation of GTT and ALT
• Metabolic Syndrome (also called Insulin Resistance Syndrome)
• Fasting blood sugar level: 100-125.
• TG/HDL > 3.5 (Caucasians); >3 (Mexican Americans); >2.0 (non-Hispanic Blacks).
• A1c >6.5%
• GTT is the gold standard.
  • 2 Hour GTT 120-139: 66% loss of Beta cell function.
  • 2 Hour GTT <140 but One hour GTT >125, high probability of IR.

1. IR damages arteries regardless of blood sugar levels
   1. IR increases arterial inflammation
   2. IR immediately and progressively drives endothelia inflammation
   3.  Majority of MI (myocardial infarction) have IR.
   4. Majority of ACS (acute coronary syndrome) patines are Insulin Resistant.
   5. IR significantly increases ischemic stroke risk in non-diabetic adults.
   6. GGT and ALT predict new onset DM and identify underlying IR
      1. These levels of GGT and AT doubled the risk:
         1. GGT women >/=21 units/L vs. </= 6 units/L;
         2. GGT men >/=47 units/L vs. </=10 units/L
         3. ALT women >/= 20 units/L vs. </=10 units/L
         4. ALT men >/= 34 units/L vs <15 units/L
   7. Ethnicity:
      1. TG (triglycerides)/HDL >/= 3.5 = IR in Caucasians
      2. TG/HDL >/= 3.0 = IR in Mexican Americans
      3. TG/HDL >/= 2.0 = IR in Non-Hisanic Blacks.
   8. Abnormal fasting blood glucose identifies IR
      1. ADA definition: 100-125 mg/dl is abnormal and is a strong indicator of IR
      2. 2 Hour GTT:
         1. Increased risk for IR if >/= 125 mg/dl
         2. If >150, 13x greater risk of IR.
      3. ADA: A1c 5.7 – 6.4% = Pre-diabetes = IR

Source: Dr. Jeff Life, A4M Convention 12. 2015, Las Vegas

While we are all worried about high cholesterol, low cholesterol is bad also. If your cholesterol is below 140, you will not make your sex hormones (DHEA, estrogen progesterone, testosterone for both men and women).

Causes of Low Cholesterol:

• Immune decline
• Chronic hepatitis
• Cholesterol lowering drugs
• Essential fatty acid deficiency
• Liver infection or disease
• Manganese deficiency
• Adrenal stress
• Recreational drugs (cocaine, marijuana)
• Excessive exercise (esp. in females)
• Low fat diets
• Psychological stress
• Cancer

Ferritin (also part of our Initial Anti-Aging Screening Test Panel).

• Studies show too much iron (reflected by ferritin level) can increase risk for heart disease.  Every 1% rise in serum ferritin causes 4% elevation in risk of MI*.
• Can increase oxidation of LDL.
• Use Vitamin C with caution (Vit C increases iron absorption)#

When too high, donate blood.

Previous studies submit that some metals, including iron, accumulate in human tissues during aging and that toxic levels of iron have been linked to neurologic diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Gordon Lithgow, from Buck Institute for Research on Aging (California, USA), and colleagues employed Caenorhabditis elegans (roundworm) to study the role of iron accumulation in the aging process. The researchers fed young roundworms (4 days old) iron, observing that they aged within a few days (to look like 15-day old worms).  As well, the team administered CaEDTA, an FDA-approved metal chelator (used in humans to treat lead poisoning), observing that the agent not only slowed the age-related accumulation of iron, but it extended the healthspan and lifespan of the worms.  Observing that:  “Increased dietary iron significantly accelerated the age-related accumulation of insoluble protein, a molecular pathology of aging,” the study authors submit that “these results suggest that a loss of metallostasis with aging contributes to age-related protein aggregation. (http://www.worldhealth.net/news/iron-accelerates-aging/)

*Sullivan, ., et al., “The iron paradigm of ischemic heart disease,” Am Heart J. 1989; 118(5):1177-88.

#Hallberg, L., et all., “The role of vitamin C in iron absorption.”  Int J Vitam Nutr Res Suppl. 1989;30:103-8.

Lipoprotein (a), another item of our Initial Anti-Aging Screening Test Panel, is a small cholesterol particle that causes inflammation and can clog blood vessels.  Research* shows that people with high lipoprotein (a) have a 70% higher risk of developing heart disease over 10 years.

Statin drug (which depletes CoQ10, the latter is often supplemented) may cause lipoprotein (a) to increase, which should be monitored for patients on statin drugs.

How to lower Lipoprotein (a)?

• BHRT
• Vit C (2-4 gm)
• CoQ-10 (120 mg)
• L-carnitine (1-2 gm)
• DHA (1-2 gm)
• Niacin (1-2 gm) (most effective, however it may increase LFT)
• L-lysine (500 -1000 mg)
• L-proline (500-1000 mg)
• Flax seed
• Policosanol
• When all above fail, Vit C 2gm/day +Nanokinase bid to prevent blood clots.  However, the combo doesn’t lower lipoprotein (a).

*Danesh J, et al., “Lipoprotein (a) and Coronary artery disease, ” Circulation 2000;102:1082-1085.

Fibrinogen is a clotting factor that increases as estrogen decreases and also with smokers.  Elevated levels of fibrinogen can cause heart attack.  Fibrinogen is part of our Initial Anti-Aging Screening Panel.

What to do with elevated fibrinogen?  You can use the following anti-inflammatory foods and supplements.

• Estrogen replacement for women (BHRT)
• Garlic
• Coldwater fish
• Vit E
• Gingko
• Bromelain
• EPA/DHA
• Ginger
• Green tea