I just had a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (6 pages of test results, via Quest Diagnostics) as part of a physical and wonder if there is any place I can find more information as it relates to a long course athlete. All my #'s are “in range” but some are towards one end or the other, so I wonder if there is something beneficial that I would want to do (legally). Is there any place that parses the range more finely for our types?
For example: My hemocrit is 41.5, which is at the lower end of 38.5-50 range, but a search here says that the lower end is normal and fine for an endurance athlete. My Vit D’s seem low, at 31, with “optimal” >30, and having read a few things about how important that can be. Any ideas there? Anything in the minerals, creatine, blood cells, iron or such that, while in range, I should shoot for (and could effect easily) via suppliments or such?
Reg -they have a normal range for a reason. We’re all just a little different. So, I would accept being *normal *and think about the next challenge in your life.
If you’re a guy or are older woman I would advise caution with Excess vit D when your level is normal range. High levels of Vit d are assiciated with more calcium in bone yes, but also in arteries and other tissues. Calcium in an artery goes with plaque and risks for blockages.
One outcome from this Vit D fad now could be increased risks for heart and vascular disease later for some and this is already our #1 killer.
Reg -they have a normal range for a reason. We’re all just a little different. So, I would accept being *normal *and think about the next challenge in your life.
I am pretty sure that the vast majority of the endurance athletes on this board are not physiologically “normal”, nor trying to be.
Reg - well, I’ll agree with you there. Hang around the transition area of any long course tri and the range of normal is certainly wide.
But, endurance athletes or not, for most lab values, we’re fairly close to the same. One lab/hospital might run tests a little differently, use a different reagent, what have you, but our chloride ranges are 98 -107, sodium 35 - 144, white blood count 4.8 - 10.8 whether we’re athletes or not. The body seems to handle most of what we do to it maintaining an even balance.
Reg - now you see one of the problems when labs are ordered and additional values are included in the blood work that have have little or nothing to do with why the patient came to see you. What do you do with this odd value?
As you know, Vit D is required for bone formation and since we get a good portion of ours from the sun, adding some to the diet seems to make sense in the winter. In fact. there was a physician on NPR on the People’s Pharmacy a couple years ago who made a pretty good case for taking it year round.
soory don’t agree with the normal range thing. Yes you are at the low end of normal …for a “normal population”…which you are not. Take Vit D 2000u/ day and go outside for 30 min in the sun as that can give you magnitudes higher than taking it orally.
