7 replies to this topic

[Kevnzworld]

Im on vacation and just received my latest blood test results via email.   Both my WBC was low 3.0, and absolute lymphs, .6.   I take a lot of supplements, are there any that could be causing this ?   I can't visit my md for a few weeks.  

[tintinet]

It's a consistent finding in people who practice caloric restriction. My WBC # has been well below 3.0 for decades. Some have speculated this count is actually a  healthy normal and 'normal' counts reflect excessive immune system stimulation due to over feeding and excessive food antigen exposure.

Edited by tintinet, 21 June 2012 - 12:37 PM.

[wuchunlong]

My latest WBC test result is 3.4 and really alarms me. I've been practing CR for about a year. So if low WBC count among CRers are common, I would feel very assured.

[tintinet]

Here's a post I found from a forum archive:


There are certain biomarkers that a CR'd person will notice, those are the following:

* Very low total and LDL cholesterol
* Low blood pressure, often including postural hypotension
* Low fasting blood glucose and HbA1c
* Low fasting insulin
* Low WBC, especially absolute lymphocyte count
* Low T3, particularly in combination with normal TSH and high rT3 as a result of low peripheral conversion of T4
* Mild brachycardia
* Elevated ALT and alk phos, especially during preliminary weight loss
* Low rennin
* Low creatinine
* Low BUN
* Low body temperature
* Elevated (women) or lowered (men) prolactin
* High MCV (in the absence of B12 or folate deficiency)
* Low levels of major sex steroids; elevated sex hormone binding globulin"

[Kevnzworld]

I'm not sure if my diet qualifies as a CR one.   Reduced calorie yes, with no red meat and at least one salad a day. I am not overweight, or insulin resistant. I do take metformin, cinnamon pf, chromium gtf, green coffee extract and irvingia.  I wonder if these supplements magnify the effects of the reduced calorie diet and could then be responsible for my low WBC, and absolute lymphs.    My fasting BS was 84, and my HA1C was 5.2

[tintinet]

Hard to know, for sure, but I think it's likely it's due to your diet and lifestyle, rather than being pathologic. I'd recommend following your CBC trend, unless you're developing other symptoms, recurrent infections, lymphadenopathy, pancytopenia, etc..

[APBT]

Re-phrased, are there any known supplements that could cause or exasperate low WBC (leukopenia), and at what dosages?  How about foods?

[tintinet]

Not that I know of off hand, unless they're contaminated with arsenic or heavy metals.