Is high cholesterol always a problem? | Nick Norwitz, PhD

The Proof with Simon Hill

Simon Hill

Nutrition, Health & Fitness, Self-improvement, Education

4.9 • 2.9K Ratings

🗓️ 23 July 2024

⏱️ 296 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Episode #323. Oreo cookies or statins – which is more effective in reducing LDL cholesterol? The results from one study might surprise you. Join me as I sit down with Oxford PhD graduate and Harvard Medical student Dr Nick Norwitz to discuss the lipid energy model, what it has to do with Oreos, and how different diets affect your health. You’ll learn about Dr Norwtiz’s health journey, including his experience with inflammatory bowel disease and the ketogenic diet. We discuss cholesterol management and cardiovascular disease risk, lean mass hyper-responders, and statins. This episode is an important and informative reflection on scientific curiosity and misinformation. Specifically, we discuss: Introduction (00:00:00) The Importance of Curiosity in Scientific Progress (04:39) Exploring the Oreo vs. Statin Experiment on Lean Mass Hyper Responders (08:52) Scientific and Clinical Impact of the Oreo Study (25:03) Addressing Criticisms and Misinterpretations of the Study (34:47) Navigating Statin Discussions on Social Media (40:27) Debunking Claims About PCSK9 Inhibitors (53:18) Challenging Misinformation in Health Communities (59:15) The Lipid Energy Model and Lean Mass Hyper Responders Explained (01:06:59) Defining Lean Mass Hyper Responders: Key Terminology (01:14:19) Practical Advice for Lean Mass Hyper Responders (01:30:35) The Carnivore Kid: An Intriguing Case Study (01:41:48) Personal Struggles with Ulcerative Colitis and Starting Keto (01:45:24) Balancing Medication and Personal Health Choices (01:50:31) Debating Dietary Interventions for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (02:11:09) Challenges in Dietary Research and Medical Interventions (02:25:55) Introducing the Lipid Energy Model and Its Mechanisms (02:34:49) Debating the Validity of the Lipid Energy Model (02:44:29) Long-Term Effects of Ketosis and Carb Restriction (02:52:31) Critiques and Limitations of the Lipid Energy Model (02:57:17) ApoB-Containing Lipoproteins and Atherosclerosis (03:03:50) Current Research and Future Directions on LMHR (03:06:41) Exploring Inflammatory Responses to Fibre (03:16:12) The Link Between Saturated Fats and Heart Disease (03:20:49) Closing Thoughts on Effective Scientific Communication (03:25:29) The Lean Mass Hyper Responders Debate: Addressing Frustrations (03:32:32) Understanding Carbohydrate Reintroduction Physiology (03:46:58) Diet-Specific Strategies to Lower ApoB (03:55:16) Examining Claims About ApoB and Cardiovascular Disease (04:01:50) Trade-offs in Lowering ApoB Levels (04:12:54) Exploring the Link Between All-Cause Mortality and ApoB (04:22:42) Lean Mass Hyper Responders and ApoB: A Unique Profile (04:44:54) Concluding Thoughts and Future Discussion Topics (04:48:10) Connect with Nick Norwitz, PhD on Twitter/X, Instagram, and YouTube. Make sure to check out the full show notes for additional resources and supporting studies. This episode is brought to you by: 38TERA Consider 38TERA's DMN-01 prebiotic supplement a daily multivitamin for your gut. Formulated by yours truly and gastroenterologist Dr Will Bulsiewicz. Use code THEPROOF for a discount at checkout. Eimele Eimele Essential 8 is a comprehensive multivitamin that is scientifically formulated to complement your plant-rich diet, increase and sustain your energy, and support the immune system, as well as heart and brain health. Head to Eimele.com and use code SIMON at checkout for 10% off your first order. LMNT Stay hydrated with LMNT - a meaningful dose of electrolytes in a science-backed ratio. Receive a free LMNT sample pack with any order when you purchase via drinklmnt.com/simon. Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons) Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Howdy friends? Great to be back with you again. Today I'm joined by Nick Norwitz.
0:05.2	Nick received his PhD at Oxford University and is currently a medical student at
0:10.0	Harvard. In this exchange we build on my recent conversation with
0:13.7	Lippodologist Dr Bill Cromwell and Dave Feldman exploring high cholesterol on a
0:18.6	ketogenic diet. Or more specifically people who meet the criteria for what is known as a lean mass hyper responder or
0:27.0	LM HR someone who adopts a ketogenic diet develops sky high-high l-deal cholesterol, but at the same time as high
0:35.7	H.D. L. and low triglycerides, two things that are generally considered to be
0:40.9	healthy, occurring at the same time as high LDL cholesterol.
0:45.8	The question that Nick, Dave and Bill have is whether or not these people, a very niche group
0:50.7	within society, are at high risk of cardiovascular disease or not. The traditional
0:55.8	diet heart model would suggest that they are, but there are some unique ways in which this group
1:00.8	may vary in terms of risk when compared to the general
1:03.8	population with high aldale cholesterol on a standard American diet. The point of
1:08.7	today's conversation was to further understand why certain people like like Dave and Nick, are so motivated to study this group of people.
1:16.7	Whether their hypotheses challenge the traditional diet heart model, how to determine risk in this specific
1:22.4	population and what people who meet this
1:24.7	lean mass hyper-responder criteria can or should do in the interim before we
1:30.1	have more data. You'll also hear about Nick's own personal journey with his health and
1:34.4	a ketogenic diet, whether or not he currently takes lipid-lowering drugs, why he decided
1:40.2	to conduct and publish the Oreo experiment and why he thinks prominent doctors
1:45.2	like Peter Attia and Thomas Day Spring won't sit down with him. This conversation
1:50.9	was cut short at about three and a half hours in when we were essentially kicked out of the warehouse that we recorded in.
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in -248 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Simon Hill, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Simon Hill and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.