My Red Blood Cell, Hemoglobin, and Hematocrit Experiment via Grapefruit

[unscarred]

Since beginning TRT I have developed moderate polycythemia. The most common way this is managed is blood donation but for those who may have difficulty with the idea of donating blood or donating frequently enough I believe this may be an alternative or supplemental route. I decided to do some self-experimentation after reading this study: (not enough posts to link). Treatment consists of the ingestion of one whole ruby red grapefruit of a morning only. Hydration is maintained at 64oz per day both before, during, and after treatment and so was regular cardio so no changes were made in those that would reflect in blood work.

These were the results:

Pre-treatment blood levels (taken 8am):
HRT Dose: 200mg Test Cyp / Week
BP: 131/70
Pulse: 80
RBC: 5.33
HB: 16.8
HCT: 50.5

Post-treatment blood levels (taken 8am, one week later):
HRT Dose: 200mg Test Cyp / Week
BP: 127/67
Pulse: 72
RBC: 5.07
HB: 16.3
HCT: 48.7

Is this a fluke? Unknown at the time but I feel it's possibly good evidence which hopefully will be concluded with follow up labs. This is all the data I have to go by currently. My RBC, Hb, and HCT hovered around the same for the two months prior to this and this was the biggest change I have ever seen in these levels to date. I plan to carry this out for the next month and then retest. I happen to really enjoy grapefruit and if you do try this remember you specifically want ruby red's or the reddest grapefruit you can find. If taste is a problem for anyone they make naringin extract you can take in pill form. I would like to get more results a month out before I conclude that this is definitely beneficial long-term but this may give many of us more options to work with.

[Torqued]

What's the name/author on the study? Someone else could post the link.

Also, it's probably worth mentioning that you need to watch out for medication interactions with grapefruit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grapefr...g_interactions

[38onTRT]

Pretty cool..

Whats the study say as to why and how the Fruit would lower those levels?

Since beginning TRT I have developed moderate polycythemia. The most common way this is managed is blood donation but for those who may have difficulty with the idea of donating blood or donating frequently enough I believe this may be an alternative or supplemental route. I decided to do some self-experimentation after reading this study: (not enough posts to link). Treatment consists of the ingestion of one whole ruby red grapefruit of a morning only. Hydration is maintained at 64oz per day both before, during, and after treatment and so was regular cardio so no changes were made in those that would reflect in blood work.

These were the results:

Pre-treatment blood levels (taken 8am):
HRT Dose: 200mg Test Cyp / Week
BP: 131/70
Pulse: 80
RBC: 5.33
HB: 16.8
HCT: 50.5

Post-treatment blood levels (taken 8am, one week later):
HRT Dose: 200mg Test Cyp / Week
BP: 127/67
Pulse: 72
RBC: 5.07
HB: 16.3
HCT: 48.7

Is this a fluke? Unknown at the time but I feel it's possibly good evidence which hopefully will be concluded with follow up labs. This is all the data I have to go by currently. My RBC, Hb, and HCT hovered around the same for the two months prior to this and this was the biggest change I have ever seen in these levels to date. I plan to carry this out for the next month and then retest. I happen to really enjoy grapefruit and if you do try this remember you specifically want ruby red's or the reddest grapefruit you can find. If taste is a problem for anyone they make naringin extract you can take in pill form. I would like to get more results a month out before I conclude that this is definitely beneficial long-term but this may give many of us more options to work with.

[unscarred]

I don't know why I didn't just copy and paste the abstract and title, duh:

Ingestion of grapefruit lowers elevated hematocrits in human subjects.
Robbins RC, Martin FG, Roe JM.
Source

Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, IFAS, University of Florida, Gainesville.
Abstract

This study was based on in vitro observations that naringin isolated from grapefruit induced red cell aggregation and evidence that clumped red cells are removed from the circulation by phagocytosis. The effect on hematocrits of adding grapefruit to the daily diet was determined using 36 human subjects (12 F, 24 M) over a 42-day study. The hematocrits ranged from 36.5 to 55.8% at the start and 38.8% to 49.2% at the end of the study. There was a differential effect on the hematocrit. The largest decreases occurred at the highest hematocrits and the effect decreased on the intermediate hematocrits; however, the low hematocrits increased. There was no significant difference between ingesting 1/2 or 1 grapefruit per day but a decrease in hematocrit due to ingestion of grapefruit was statistically significant at the p less than 0.01 level.

[Torqued]

PubMed link: Ingestion of grapefruit lowers elevated hematocrits in human subjects.

[38onTRT]

Interesting for sure.. I have a garbage bag full of pink grapefruits from a family member who has a tree.. Time to juice one daily.. Thx for the info!

[kelkel]

Interesting to note the statement that the "low hematocrits" increased. How and why is it selective in this nature and differentiate what it does with different levels of hema?

Real interesting!

kel

[unscarred]

Glad you guys found it interesting as I did. Of course it's an alternative to donating blood which is the preferred method but I feel it's always a big plus to be able to have options and alternatives, especially for something as long-term as TRT is. Who knows what could come up at some point, always good to have options. The biggest drawback is what someone already mentioned, the drug interactions grapefruit has with many different type of medications so one must choose what is right for them and their situation. I'll update this after my follow up lab.

[unscarred]

Interesting to note the statement that the "low hematocrits" increased. How and why is it selective in this nature and differentiate what it does with different levels of hema?

Real interesting!

kel

Pretty crazy huh? I would like to know as well, I am doing further investigation on it but have yet to find out conclusively why. I'm not even sure scientist know exactly why to be honest. It would be nice to get someone in here that had very low RBC, Hb, HCT, and etc and see how they react but some how I doubt we'll find an individual such as that on this site.

[kelkel]

I doubt it as well but if so, 38 can send the grapefruits!

[38onTRT]

lol. I'd give a bag to all if you were here...

I doubt it as well but if so, 38 can send the grapefruits!