Unfavourable lipid profile when water fasting

I’ve read many papers which show that water fasting (1 to 3 days) lower HDL and increase LDL and triglycerides. While it can be assumed, that glycation doesn’t play a huge role when fasting (and so LDL isn’t corrupted by it), it doesn’t look so good at first. I can not imagine, that’s the body executes unhealthy operations after such a short time without food. Are there studies suggesting different outcomes? I do like 10 3-day-fasts a year, but if this could increase arteriosclerosis I would rather not continue with it.

Answer

That’s a big jump you are making from a temporary increase of ‘LDL’ and triglycerides to atherosclerosis.

As with so many aspects of fasting and human biology, while we share many, even most common traits, we are all different so this depends on your starting point to begin with.

The LDL you need to watch are SdLDL, the small particle version of LDL that oxidised and can slip past the endothelium. To get that reading, I’m pretty sure that you will need an NMR LipoProfile and go from there.

At the end of the day, a 3 day fast is driving down your insulin and that has far bigger benefits than any raise in TG or the completely bogus LDL calculations used in western medicine.

Check out some of the excellent works on how the whole cholesterol-heart hypothesis is flawed, I recommend Bowden and Sawyer for a diet-centric view and Dr Malcolm Kendrick for the stress view.

Answer

I just did this! I fasted for 64 hours before my blood draw. I was hoping it would help my numbers since they were high a year prior while I was still actively losing weight. No change at all. I was so bummed! So, I went for a Calcium CT test today.