Can treatment or meds/supplements ALTER Cholesterol & Lipid Levels? Through what mechanism??

Question: Can bartonella/treatment and or meds/abx/supps alter cholesterol and glucose levels on blood tests? If so what is the scientific mechanism?

3+ years heavy Rifabutin combo therapy and all CMP, CBC results are perfect. All WBC are perfect, eGFR 101, ALT/AST 20!

But, my cholesterol is ****ed and my glucose is 125 (pre-diabetes). This comes at a big surprise became I eat incredibly clean, all organic health foods, low glycemic. Every food I eat is carefully procured for its health benefits, no refined sugar. 16 hours intermittent fasting a day. My diet would the diet to lower cholesterol and glucose. Makes no sense.

Right now I'm on Rifabutin 600 + Clarithromycin 1g + Nitroxoline 1.5g + Zhang Allicin 6/day + 25mg dapsone + Nystatin + all the supplements we usually take.

Quinn,

you could probably make a good living as a detective. I have no idea how you figure these complicated things out. Drs certainly can’t do it.

“ I am also now fasting pre-diabetic and if I eat as much sugar as the average American, I would be full-time diabetic. (I always had low body fat percentage and do even over 55 years old, I’m one of those weird fit diabetics).”

My husband was diagnosed with diabetes a few years ago.
Late 50’s. He has always been fit and not overweight.
He does 15 to 20 mile bike rides twice weekly.
He also lives weights .
His father had diabetes but didn’t care about what he ate and didn’t exercise.
He passed away when he was 67

The "by what mechanism" part of these questions is SO important. People often just say that "Lyme eats collagen," for example, and then some people seem to visualize actual critters munching on a ligament. It's so helpful to have the details of how our symptoms actually connect to infections. I really appreciate responses like this.

Quin said...
Quinn,


The most noticeable effect of the hypercalcemia for me was increased stomach acid. I also got muscle cramps and peed a lot.

Addressing these issues got my blood sugar under control. I didn't change my diet other than avoiding vitamin D.

Did the hypercalcemia show up on your standard blood tests (comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) or basic metabolic panel (BMP)?

I know Para thyroid regulates blood calcium. As a "thyroidian" , I paid attention to that since those glands are on top of one another and I had a thyroid Nodule (gone after gluten free). .

Than you everyone for the detailed replies. @astroman that is very interesting. I don't do keto but my carbs are resistant starches like purple and jap sweet potatoes or organic sprouted 12 grain english muffins (no flour).

cholesterol is made in the liver in response to signalling chemicals in the blood - contrary to what we have been told for 50 years - its not very dependent on cholesterol in the diet - but is more dependent on systemic inflammation from whatever cause - and particularly from damage to the cells that line the blood vessels - the endothelial cells

this because one of cholesterols main functions is to act as a temporary repair patch over these damaged cells lining our blood vessels - while the body grows new ones underneath to replace them.

problems like atherosclerosis occur when the damage outstrips the bodies ability to repair the cells properly - foam cells form that include the temporary cholesterol patch in the structure and a plaque or blockage starts to form

high blood sugar damages the endothelial cells - which is why diabetics - who get spikes of excessive blood sugar - have increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

diet is therefore indirectly involved - as elements in ones diet can cause this damage and inflammation which drives the liver to produce more cholesterol in the blood.

excessive carbohydrates being the obvious example - but there are others - such as trans fats or damaged fats - chemical additives - etc anything that adds to systemic inflammation - and especially anything that damages the endothelial cells - eg smoking, probably vaping, pollution etc etc

in the context of tick born disease - all three B's damage the endothelial cells by slightly separate mechanisms - rickettsia, q-fever, Brucella etc also.

Bartonella in particular cycles in and out of the endothelial cells causing lots of inflammation in them
and in platelets which become activated by proteins secreted by the bartonella and join the inflammatory pathway
it also seems to trigger dramatically increased inflammation in those cells when intracellular substances are taken that kill the bartonella inside those endothelial cells - where they normally survive most antibiotics quite well - but certain substances like some persister drugs like rifabutin i think, probably allicin - and from experience oil of oregano and methylene blue - can penetrate the cell membranes and kill the bacteria inside - triggering a wave of increased inflammation through the microvasculature

this is my best guess at what is going on in your case

the antibiotics look strong enough to me - but you have been treating for a long time with most of these - so i would consider adding more biofilm agents - like xylitol and a proteolytic enzymes (like lumbrokinase or higher doses of bromelain) to help with fibrin and proteins in biofilms from bartonella - and perhaps consider pulsing to give your endothelial cells a bit of a break