Health Tips

The Catabolic and Anabolic Indices are composites of all the individual component scores in the blood test that indicate catabolic and anabolic activity.

Catabolic processes breakdown body tissue. Anabolic processes build body tissue. It is a balance between these processes that insures health. Excesses or deficiencies in either result in symptoms, and eventually chronic disease. An Anabolic Index above 20 or a Catabolic Index below -20 means you have an excess in the anabolic or catabolic processes.

Many component scores contribute to the Catabolic and Anabolic Indices. The lipids in the blood, i.e.cholesterol and triglycerides, are of particular value. Lipids are the primary players in determining the catabolic processes. Both cholesterol and triglycerides are anabolic lipids. Therefore if either or both of these lipids are high (above +20 on the score plot) there is excess anabolism. And, if either or both of these lipids are low (below -20 on the Score Plot) there is a lack of anabolism and therefore, relatively speaking, an excess of catabolism.

There are no catabolic lipids measured directly and routinely in the blood. However, insulin increases the production of certain catabolic lipids.

Therefore any indicators in the blood scores of excess insulin indirectly mean an increase in catabolic lipids. Excess insulin in many individuals will cause elevations in cholesterol and triglycerides (above +20). Hence insulin, which increases certain catabolic lipids, also increases cholesterol and triglycerides, anabolic lipids. Therefore, elevations in cholesterol and triglycerides mean an excess of both catabolic and anabolic processes.

Protein is anabolic. It builds tissue. Therefore any blood values indicating protein deficiency also indicate anabolic deficiency and hence relative catabolic excess. These include a protein below -20 on the Score Plot, a nitrogen below -20 and a phosphorous below a -20. Paradoxically, a protein above +20 may also indicate a protein deficiency. The liver increases the production of albumin, the major blood protein, in response to dietary deficit.

Sodium is an electrolyte. It is an anabolic element. Therefore, just like cholesterol and triglyceridcs, a sodium excess of +20 indicates excess anabolism. A sodium less then -20 indicates excess catabolism relative to anabolism. It is the interplay of catabolic and anabolic processes that sustains and renews life. It is the interplay of the catabolic and the anabolic defenses that resolves stress.

All stress induces a catabolic defense. The origins of stress can be physical, such as trauma, infection, or excess activity and exercise. It can also be of mental or emotional origin. Once a catabolic defense is induced, the body rallies an anabolic defense. The purpose of the catabolic and anabolic defenses is to resolve the stress. Once the stress is resolved, the catabolic and anabolic defenses themselves subside.

Excesses or deficiencies in the catabolic and anabolic defenses manifest as symptoms and chronic disease. These excesses and deficiencies in the defense mechanism usually result from chronic lifestyle stress combined with dietary deficiencies and excesses.

Table 1 (below) lists indicators, “what you pay” so to speak, for excesses and deficiencies.

Table 2 lists choices you invariably make every day that promote anabolism or catabolism. Practically speaking, let us say you have allergies or a tendonitis, chronic inflammation. These are indicators of catabolism. You would want to avoid excess caffeine and alcohol, avoid excess exposure to the sun, and manage and reduce your stress. You might take hot baths, eat more saturated fats, use more salt (especially if your sodium is below -20) and increase your dietary protein (especially if your protein, nitrogen and/or phosphorus are below -20).