Hematocrit observation

[slayer37]

I can't believe how significantly red meat consumption affects my hematocrit and hemoglobin. Average is usually 48% 15g/dL in the offseason and that's with consumption of 1.5-2lbs of lean red meat/ day.
I'm currently deep in a prep and using EQ for the first time (800mg/ week), so I expected it to rise a bit, but it's down down significantly to 45% and 13.5g/dL respectively.
I know the EQ is legit because I had it tested. So I can attribute the decrease to the zero red meat during prep. It's been ground turkey breast and cod only for the past 8 weeks.
Just an observation for anyone interested.

 

[M@NU]

I can't believe how significantly red meat consumption affects my hematocrit and hemoglobin. Average is usually 48% 15g/dL in the offseason and that's with consumption of 1.5-2lbs of lean red meat/ day.
I'm currently deep in a prep and using EQ for the first time (800mg/ week), so I expected it to rise a bit, but it's down down significantly to 45% and 13.5g/dL respectively.
I know the EQ is legit because I had it tested. So I can attribute the decrease to the zero red meat during prep. It's been ground turkey breast and cod only for the past 8 weeks.
Just an observation for anyone interested.

are you perhabs also using tren this time while you have not used it last time?
my HCT and HB dropped significantly (9% HCT, 3 points HB) and i didnt change a thing but add nattokinase and i was on tren (210mg-280mg/week) during the second time
it is just an assumption and i might be completely wrong but for me it seems as if tren would lower hct/HB quite a bit

 

[Stewie]

Interesting observation.

Out of curiosity, do you have chem panels from both time periods comparing these values?

 

[slayer37]

Interesting observation.

Out of curiosity, do you have chem panels from both time periods comparing these values?

I haven't had formal bloodwork in the last 8 weeks. I have an at-home HCT/hemoglobin kit.

 

[slayer37]

are you perhabs also using tren this time while you have not used it last time?
my HCT and HB dropped significantly (9% HCT, 3 points HB) and i didnt change a thing but add nattokinase and i was on tren (210mg-280mg/week) during the second time
it is just an assumption and i might be completely wrong but for me it seems as if tren would lower hct/HB quite a bit

No tren, but I do take nattokinase every day. But I've been doing that for a year or more.

 

[pickapeck]

are you perhabs also using tren this time while you have not used it last time?
my HCT and HB dropped significantly (9% HCT, 3 points HB) and i didnt change a thing but add nattokinase and i was on tren (210mg-280mg/week) during the second time
it is just an assumption and i might be completely wrong but for me it seems as if tren would lower hct/HB quite a bit

Starting to wonder if anemia is a danger with nattokinase. I am seeing it work for several people I know. i'm on iut for about 2 weeks. Will blood test in about 4 more weeks.

 

[Keefs]

It kind of makes sense that it could have an effect on hemoglobin. When I give blood they always check that to make sure it’s in range and when I ask them what the finger prick test is for they say it’s for “iron”. But the test is actually for hemoglobin! I’m not sure if they’re exactly the same thing but probably linked in some way. Of course, red meat is known to be loaded with iron!

 

[Doitagain]

are you perhabs also using tren this time while you have not used it last time?
my HCT and HB dropped significantly (9% HCT, 3 points HB) and i didnt change a thing but add nattokinase and i was on tren (210mg-280mg/week) during the second time
it is just an assumption and i might be completely wrong but for me it seems as if tren would lower hct/HB quite a bit

Interesting.
Tren, no matter the dose, never increased my HCT/HB at all. Always found it weird.
Slayer, iron intake can really make a difference on AAS.
Even breakfast cereals often provide too much iron ( alongside cofactors like B12 and folic acid).

 

[b-boy]

OR could it be the significant loss in bodyweight????

 

[b-boy]

I can see how reduction of red meat can help lower hematocrit I'm just wondering if weight loss can also contribute to that reduction?

 

[Reno911]

Starting to wonder if anemia is a danger with nattokinase. I am seeing it work for several people I know. i'm on iut for about 2 weeks. Will blood test in about 4 more weeks.

Been using 4,000FU for many years and just bumped to 8,000 about 4 weeks ago. Cruising on 200/week but I have a baseline of labs for plenty of years so I can see if there are changes.

Getting labs in another week or so but maybe 5 weeks at that higher dose isn't long enough to tell if there is an effect anemia markers.

I'll report back.

 

[Bobik]

OR could it be the significant loss in bodyweight????

Agreement. I have a much lower hematocrit on the diet. I think Less weight, better breathing in sleep and during the day... Once I start gaining weight, the HCT goes up regardless of the AS compounds.

 

[slayer37]

I can see how reduction of red meat can help lower hematocrit I'm just wondering if weight loss can also contribute to that reduction?

Good question. Makes sense... more cardio = lower bodyweight = better, more efficient breathing, etc.
Probably a combination of the two factors.

 

[Stewie]

Unfortunately there can be variances with capillary (finger prick) and venous samples.

Osmolality (hydration status) differences will show different Hb levels. This would be why I was asking if you had a chem panel pulled denoting any differences between them. More specifically your BUN, glucose and sodium levels. Osmolality = (Na * 2) + (Glucose / 18) + (BUN / 2.8). Quick simple way to determine what your hydration status was given with that particular set of labs.

The amount of pressure applied of either too tight of a tourniquet for venous samples or squeezing too hard for capillary flow will give false results. Therefore, give inaccurate reading.

I personally wouldn't point specifically to the nutritional differences between beef and poultry. If you turned vegan, a little more plausible.

This link may be helpful when using your personal Hb analyzer given the potential for false -/+ results.

Redirect Notice

 

[mike036]

Unfortunately there can be variances with capillary (finger prick) and venous samples.

Osmolality (hydration status) differences will show different Hb levels. This would be why I was asking if you had a chem panel pulled denoting any differences between them. More specifically your BUN, glucose and sodium levels. Osmolality = (Na * 2) + (Glucose / 18) + (BUN / 2.8). Quick simple way to determine what your hydration status was given with that particular set of labs.

The amount of pressure applied of either too tight of a tourniquet for venous samples or squeezing too hard for capillary flow will give false results. Therefore, give inaccurate reading.

I personally wouldn't point specifically to the nutritional differences between beef and poultry. If you turned vegan, a little more plausible.

This link may be helpful when using your personal Hb analyzer given the potential for false -/+ results.

Redirect Notice

Good to see you posting again

 

[alfresco]

Unfortunately there can be variances with capillary (finger prick) and venous samples.

Osmolality (hydration status) differences will show different Hb levels. This would be why I was asking if you had a chem panel pulled denoting any differences between them. More specifically your BUN, glucose and sodium levels. Osmolality = (Na * 2) + (Glucose / 18) + (BUN / 2.8). Quick simple way to determine what your hydration status was given with that particular set of labs.

The amount of pressure applied of either too tight of a tourniquet for venous samples or squeezing too hard for capillary flow will give false results. Therefore, give inaccurate reading.

I personally wouldn't point specifically to the nutritional differences between beef and poultry. If you turned vegan, a little more plausible.

This link may be helpful when using your personal Hb analyzer given the potential for false -/+ results.

Redirect Notice

Yes, good to see you posting again.

And the redirect was helpful. Thanks. Will have to give my phlebotomist a few pointers

 

[MR. BMJ]

@Stewie do you think the following post could play a role, in helping and preventing (depending on the goal) higher hematocrit?

https://www.professionalmuscle.com/forums/index.php?threads/iron-absorption-around-workouts-and-after.177389/

I know iron, and all this is more complicated than just looking at absorption and utilization, in regard to other biomarkers, such as hct etc. Would guys be able to use the study in the link to their advantage, or would there be more to it?

Thanks man, I hope you and the family are doing well

 

[slayer37]

Unfortunately there can be variances with capillary (finger prick) and venous samples.

Osmolality (hydration status) differences will show different Hb levels. This would be why I was asking if you had a chem panel pulled denoting any differences between them. More specifically your BUN, glucose and sodium levels. Osmolality = (Na * 2) + (Glucose / 18) + (BUN / 2.8). Quick simple way to determine what your hydration status was given with that particular set of labs.

The amount of pressure applied of either too tight of a tourniquet for venous samples or squeezing too hard for capillary flow will give false results. Therefore, give inaccurate reading.

I personally wouldn't point specifically to the nutritional differences between beef and poultry. If you turned vegan, a little more plausible.

This link may be helpful when using your personal Hb analyzer given the potential for false -/+ results.

Redirect Notice

I hear what you're saying. Having said that, my home test kit has always tracked basically spot-on with the results I get from an IV draw. There has been a definite trend downward since starting prep.

 

[Mufasa123]

Unfortunately there can be variances with capillary (finger prick) and venous samples.

I'm this guy right here. I read 2-5pts higher (never ever lower) via finger vs blood from vein. Replicated numerous times with finger and blood same day and same hydration level. Finger prick machine calibrated recently multiple times too. Always thought it was odd or maybe just me as lab/nurses were perplexed but with overwhelming data on me just accepted it.

Hydration plays a big role too for me. Several points on hgb and crit.

 

[Mufasa123]

I hear what you're saying. Having said that, my home test kit has always tracked basically spot-on with the results I get from an IV draw. There has been a definite trend downward since starting prep.

Could be a ton of factors as well as multiple at once but iron is ferritin which is the main component of red blood cells and crit. Red meat has a lot of iron. Correlation not defined causality but may not be a zero factor.