A Track Your Plaque member, Eugene, brought this fascinating story to my attention.
Eugene has two nephews, identical twins aged 35 years. Despite their similar personalities and appearances, somehow these two drifted apart in weight with Steve outweighing Alfred by 30 lbs.
Eugene explains:
These guy's are big not, but overly fat. Just big. One is about 30 lbs heaver than the other. They live 2 blocks apart, they ate the same (together) meal the night before the blood work. Their mother is a type 2 diabetic with a heart condition. Steve does not eat as well as his twin, junk food and a lot of processed starches.
Their results:
LDL-Particle number
Alfred 900
Steve 2256
Small LDL-P
Alfred 400
Steve 1639
HDL-C
Alfred 44
Steve 36
Triglycerides
Alfred 85
Steve 355
Metabolic Syn.
Alfred no
Steve yes
Glucose
Fasting
Alfred 93
Steve 112
1hour
Alfred 134
Steve 206
2 hour
Alfred 105
Steve 172
Identical twins begin with the very same genetic background. As these two graphically illustrate, weight can have a profound influence in the genetically susceptible.
LDL particle number alone is 250% greater in the heavier twin. The dreaded small LDL particle is over 400% worse ! Look also at the dramatic differences in blood sugar.
If you ever had any doubts about the importance of excess weight and nutrition, just remind yourself of this fascinating illustration.
Thanks, Eugene.