Huberman convo was interesting. How about people like Rhonda Patrick and Peter Attia? Is there anyone on the socials worth taking serious or is it all pseudoscience and baseless claims? I've taken information from both of the latter and found it ahead of curve compared to my doctor in some cases, ApoB and LP(a) testing for example. I was able to ask questions about that testing and get it earlier than i would have otherwise.
Full disclosure: I also looked into Lp(a) and apoB after reading Attia’s book. But I reviewed European and US standards for stratifying vascular risk first.
As it turns out, Euro guidelines suggest measuring Lp(a) and apoB once as an adult. This differs from US guidance, which offer no recommendation when to check them, if ever, although they acknowledge both are “risk enhancing factors” to personalize cardiovascular risk.*
There’s probably a good reason for this, as current treatment options for elevated Lp(a) are limited (though this is changing). ApoB is harder to dismiss, as there is data it provides a better gestalt of artery-clogging dyslipidemia than LDL (“bad cholesterol”) alone. Moreover, elevated apoB, even in concert with “normal” LDL, has implications for more aggressive lifestyle and medical management of vascular risk.
That said, neither test changed anything for me, and I’ll argue doctors should be recommending consistent exercise and heart-healthy diet regardless. If my apoB were through the roof, I guess I’d consider more testing (coronary calcium score and/or CT angiography), along with starting medication, as I’m already doing all the behavior stuff.
What percentage of those “doing their own research” would take the extra steps I did before testing, and does it matter?
*US guidelines are being updated, and should be released soon. I suspect they’ll make more firm recommendations on these tests, and others.
ETA I’ll guess neither would change your management either
@The Longtime Lurker, as you’d opt for a trial (indefinite?) lifestyle modification regardless of the results.