Tom G. wrote:
:: "Roger Zoul" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
:: news:[email hidden]...
::
::: I was high on BUN = 27 (5 - 26) and also on BUN/Creatinine ratio =
::: 30 (8 - 27). Anyone know what these indicate?
::
:: My BUN has been high 20's for the past 3 years. Before that, it was
:: low 20's or high teens.
My BUN was 20 in May of 2005.
My Doc was concerned about it at first
:: because it can be a marker for congestive heart desease,
My father has CHD, I believe.
tramatic
:: injury, or kidney failure. He also said it could be due to a high
:: protein diet or dehydration. Reading material on the internet
:: confirms these reasons as well. I have no health problems that I am
:: aware of. The higher BUN and
:: creatinine levels came shortly after starting low carb and weight
:: training. When the levels were normal, I was not doing any serious
:: form of exercise, and also eating high carb. So, actually my former
:: life style was better for my BUN levels, which is weird.
:: Here's some thoughts on why mine may be higher than normal.
:: Weight training: Causes a higher than normal protein exchange.
:: Muscle is broken down first, and then rebuilt ( hopefully larger :o)
:: ). The tests may be measuring the breakdown of muscle (which is
:: catabolic) and would be a negative indicator. Also, creatine
:: normally found in meat, is used in a step for converting energy, so
:: as it is depleted it degrades to creatinine which is also a negative
:: value on a blood test. Low Carb: My diet is higher in protein than
:: my former way of eating. In fact, before, I would tend to avoid
:: extra protein because it usually meant increasing fat as well. Of
:: course I no longer believe in low fat, so I don't worry about eating
:: extra protein and fat. Since I believe the body tries to be
:: efficient by using fats and carbs as energy and leaving the protein
:: for building blocks, some inefficiency (by using it for energy) may
:: result due to the shear higher amounts of protein which may not be
:: needed for muscle building. Another thing that may be a factor would
:: be that the recommendations for protein on the pyramid may be
:: actually too low (my steak looks like 2 or 3 decks of cards). This
:: would cause the body to conserve or recycle protein, possibly
:: giving a better BUN value. I used to be concerned about it, but I
:: don't think it's a problem for me. Still, it is a measure that may
:: indicate more serious problems so the Docs are always going to point
:: it out as a flag. I'll only get worried if it looks like it is
:: going higher. I also wonder if the higher BUN and creatinine levels
:: are the reason why low carb diets are accused of damaging kidneys?
:: Yet it seems to me that the ones that eat low protein are the ones
:: with the renal problems.
My doctor didn't seem to be concerned about my BUN levels....I had to press
him to do additional testing. He claims creatinine is more telling, and mine
is well within normal range but increased from 2005. More later on this.
Thanks for the post, Tom.
