I dug into this a bit last night, there like over 60 published journal papers (case studies, population analyses, reviews, etc) that one way or another show that low serum retinol is meaningless in terms of total body vitamin A stores. You often get total contradictory evidence. Not even sure where to begin, but these three are probably best to look at first: 1. Olsen 2018 - Best single study and recent. Measured liver vitamin A in 27 humans (dead). Serum retinol had essentially ZERO correlation with liver vitamin A, and people with defatcto vitamin A toxicity in their livers had basically virtually the same serum retinol as everyone else (1.17 vs 1.13). Nine people had liver vitamin A ≥1.0 μmol/g while serum retinol was fine. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/article… 2. Underwood 1970 - one of the foundational ones. They measured vitamin A in 101 human autopsy livers, did serum measurements in a subset. Same conclusion: serum vitamin A was basically useless if you want to predict liver stores. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/5504… 3. Pinkaew 2014 - controlled demo showing that stores can move while serum stays flat. They used isotopes showing total-body vitamin A stores increasing by almost 2x while serum retinol didn't change. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2450… 4. Weber 1982 - Case study where this guy took a crapload of vitamin A for 7 years (40-50k IU daily), had biopsy-confirmed toxicity.... but his serum A and RBP were below normal, and his RBP wasn't even saturated with retinol. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7198… This is what happens, your toxicity and protein deficiency breaks you so bad that can't even get it out, you're sick as a dog, and serum retinol LOOKS like you're deficient but you're really insanely toxic. Long story short: SERUM RETINOL IS A NEARLY-MEANINGLESS BIOMARKER IF LOOKING AT "DEFICIENCY"

Interesting: hematology.org/newsroom/pres… I spend more time talking about iron overload, but the other side is probably a bigger deal New ASH guidelines now use ferritin ≤30 ng/mL for "iron deficiency" in adults rather than ≤15! Realize that iron could be in your body, just trapped in your liver. I suggest at least some lactoferrin for basically everyone. 250-300mg/day is the go-to dose. People have safely gone way higher. You'll get some in some raw milk too. Anyway, worth knowing if your lab still calls the low 20s "normal"...

Interesting data here The bars on the lower end here bring about the same amount of lead and cadmium as steak The chocolate flavors (cocoa), stuff with pea/rice protein, anything with nuts --> that's where you get into greater trouble with the heavy metals

Yeah you just take flush niacin, mix it with some bicarbonate a $15 tub will last you two years

My wife when I beat the 14 year old (but not the 15 year old) in the 100 yard freestyle this weekend

This is the proper take. Marc and I have discussed alcohol a fair amount. We don't want our kids seeing or becoming shit-shows. I've found his quote "No real business happens after one drink" to generally be true. But there's something about a serving of alcohol that is also cleansing, physically and spiritually. It's a tool to be used in celebration, not in sadness. Great societies were built on the substance. Other substances, not so much. The healthier you get, the better you can handle 1-3 drinks. I still don't like to go beyond that anymore though.

Today was a pretty special day My daughter had her first swim meet, which was a friendly intrasquad event where us old master's swimmers were also invited. Age groups were divided into 12 and under and 13 and over. So us old guys are out there getting smoked by 15 year olds She had a blast and wants to do more, and I got a 55 in the 100 yard free, 24 in 50 free, and 27 in 50 fly. Not bad for age 44, I've only gained a second in my 50 since age 28 This is the end of a great swim season, now it's time to change it up and do a bit of bulking

This dude wasn't sure if I was lying or not about my Accutane comments, so he pings Grok on it. Grok not only confirms it but makes it sound more demonic than even I did Ruinous poison

Accutane (isotretinoin / 13-cis-retinoic acid) is literally the Satan molecule. You couldn't convince me otherwise. Risk everything, including your own bloodline and happiness, for short-term vanity. These dermatologists are demons.

"11 eggs makes me feel so full" Yes, because your body is trying to save you from yourself.

I wonder if the “keto flu” many carnivores go through is simply just vitamin A detox dump

Doing my formal 2-mile timed swim this morning. Decided against the open water race due to water quality issues. So this is my race. I swam it in 51:06 two weeks ago. Can I break 50?

My take on the next-generation AI model hysteria: They're no longer able to lobotomize them. These models are easily breaking their chains and speaking freely, and it's going exactly how you'd think

TECHNICALLY speaking...... If you eat enough MSG, you can add a gram of protein to your macros for the day

Extinction Event coming for your whey protein powder brands

This study makes perfect sense when viewed through the lens of toxic bile paradigm Cold/flu is a detoxification event Unless you're literally dying... let 'er rip

Very true in the health / food / nutrition space too. Yes, it sucks that there are less than 20 foods you should eat for optional health and it is a pain to source them, but we're showing that it actually works and you can feel great doing it. Find the remnant and damn the torpedoes