Or sensitive.to the sulphites. All wine has them unless the label specifically says not.
Today I read fucoidan helpful too: Fucoidan, a polysaccharide found in brown seaweed, has shown promise in reducing Lp(a) levels. Studies have demonstrated that fucoidan can increase lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity, which is involved in breaking down Lp(a). Additionally, fucoidan may inhibit the uptake of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) by macrophages, which can help prevent the formation of foam cells, a characteristic of atherosclerosis.
Here’s a more detailed look at the potential effects of fucoidan on Lp(a):
Increased LPL activity:
Fucoidan has been shown to increase LPL activity, an enzyme that hydrolyzes triglycerides in Lp(a). This increased activity can lead to a reduction in Lp(a) levels in the bloodstream.
Inhibition of ox-LDL uptake:
Macrophages play a role in atherosclerosis by taking up ox-LDL, a modified form of LDL that contributes to plaque formation. Fucoidan has been shown to inhibit the uptake of ox-LDL by macrophages, potentially reducing the formation of foam cells and slowing down the progression of atherosclerosis.
Other potential mechanisms:
Fucoidan may also exert its effects on Lp(a) by modulating the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism, such as SR-B1, CD36, and PPARS, which can promote lipid uptake and metabolism. Additionally, fucoidan can increase cholesterol efflux from THP-1 macrophages, a process that helps remove excess cholesterol from cells.
In summary, fucoidan’s potential to reduce Lp(a) levels stems from its ability to enhance LPL activity, inhibit ox-LDL uptake by macrophages, and modulate gene expression involved in lipid metabolism, all of which contribute to a healthier cardiovascular system.
Fucoidan is another HDAC inhibitor.
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I use it because it also inhibits PAK13/Akt/Mtor which I need re I have an acoustic neuroma. Prof Maruto recommended it (he has studied neurofibratosis for many years) I do not have NF2 but have a sporadic AN. Same pathway tho
Did you lose some hearing because of it? Did an MRI scan show it?
Yes - after two years of trying to convince my doctor that I needed one. An audiologist actually alerted me to the possibility. I have not lost much hearing at all- 6 years after radiotherapy I am at 90% in that ear. If you do have one then the AN USA website and forum is fantastic (I am in Australia but highly recommend). I am largely asymptomatic - why my GP also said it was “all in my head” ironic I know!
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Some timely discussion of red wine-induced headaches in Peter Attia’s newsletter this week. He discussed how quercetin could be responsible through ALDH inhibition.
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Great post.
It’s important to place things in context. For example, in the Adventist Health Study, individuals with vegetarian diet and a little fish, and a little fermented dairy, plus all the other aspects of living in a good community, being active, etc - lived 11 years longer than other Californian’s.
One area of data that is interesting, is consumption of meat is harmful to longevity – BUT that is almost eliminated if you have a significant plants, and fiber and happen to add some meat. The harm is in the dietary pattern where meat is your primary food and there is very little other healthy food. So it is more the lack of the good mitigating items that is the issue.
I see this in practice - individuals who come in to the ER with liver failure due to alcohol or neurodegeneration typically have an absolutely horrible diet and frequently smoke. They often have absolutely zero food that I’d consider healthy. So they have no mitigation.
This is the problem with so many studies. Individuals that drink high amounts of alcohol often do so along with having a number of other behaviors that are detrimental to their health. We need to see what happens in individuals with a great diet who have moderate alcohol. I’m far from convinced that the results would not be quite different from the general community surveys on this issue.
I agree with the fact that alcohol close to bedtime absolutely worsens sleep quality and HRV. We know this worsens health outcomes.
It’s a complex area, but I think the “no alcohol is okay” fails to understand the complexity and the fact we don’t really have data to support this.
I’ll stick with my whole food plant based diet … and enjoy a bit of alcohol most days until I see data that addresses my specific situation showing harm.
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@Jjazz that was interesting!
@DrFraser and everyone else…
I assume you have a sleep tracker, you mentioned alcohol before bed, but does alcohol at dinner not affect your sleep?
If I have even one glass of red with an early dinner, my heart rate is significantly higher when I sleep, not to mention not feeling so hot the next day.
Same here, Almost any small amount of acohol from 4-5 pm and onwards disrupts my sleep. Sometimes I can get away with a small glass of wine.
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Alcohol lasts in its effects for more than one day.
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Yes, excellent points @DrFraser. None of the studies mentioned in my original post adjusted for diet confounders. It is likely, IMO, that the participants that were consuming red wine were also more likely to gravitate towards healthy dietary patterns (e.g., Mediterranean diet).
Regarding the sleep question. I use an Oura ring and don’t see any negative impact from a glass of red wine with dinner, ~4 hours before I go to sleep. My sleep score is optimal almost every night. I drink red wine nearly every day, but when I skip it I see no improvement on sleep. I would guess that tolerance is playing a role for me - if your body isn’t adapted to quickly process alcohol, it you might see more of a negative sleep impact.
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I think this points out the reason to test. The dose makes the poison, and as with @Jjazz if you test and see no adverse outcome - then that is fine - if you see it crashes your sleep, then don’t do it.
Yes, I have an Oura Ring and an 8 Sleep Bed - so dual monitoring.
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So much discussion on this topic as of late. Now, a new post from Eric Topol:
He concludes:
"You can pick which report and recommendation you like to support your confirmation bias and lifestyle preference—at least up to a certain level of alcohol intake (less than 14 drinks per week in men, 7 drinks per week in women). A compromise upper threshold, until we know more, might be 7 drinks per week (and somewhat less in women). Binge drinking needs to be avoided (4 drinks for women, 5 for men, in a single sitting).
Of course, a draconian view of all of this would be to eliminate alcohol consumption or take it down to less than 1 drink per week. But that doesn’t take into account all the factors I’ve tied to highlight—the potential benefit, the lack of certainty, and lack of any individualized guidance. Nor the importance of social interactions for promoting our health, which frequently incorporate alcohol intake."
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not for everyone - It depends on you individual detoxification abilities… just like with Caffeine
I accept it is possible that there is someone where the effects of high consumption of alcohol last only a day, but i would be surprised. You need to include in this process the vasodilative effects of acetate.
There is generally an YMMV element to most things, but I think it is reasonable for people to expect the effects of alcohol to last more than a day.