02-01-2016, 05:42 AM
I get reishi extract from Swanson - the kind with cracked spores. This formula is very close to the ReishiMax formula that increases maximum lifespan in mice. I also get their beta-sitosterol, since it's dirt-cheap and lowers DHT better than reishi does.
For D3, get blood tests from Life Extension and target 35 ng/ml. The upper reference range limit of 100 ng/ml on the LabCorp results sheet is a sick joke. Unlike the other tests, it didn't come from analyzing actual test results. The number was just pulled out of thin air by Holick who figured that since it wouldn't cause hypercalcemia it would be perfectly OK. It's also sad how Life Extension beats the drum for 50-80 ng/ml. They cite a huge number of papers in their articles but when you read them none of them support their recommendation. And they selectively omit the studies showing higher risks of mortality, pancreatic cancer, and enlarged heart. When the deaths come rolling in this is going to make the supplement industry look very bad.
If your initial test is way off and you need to change the dose, wait 6 months until retesting, since it takes a long time to reach a new steady state. Softgels are absorbed the best. In my case I only have to take it 5 days per week.
For D3, get blood tests from Life Extension and target 35 ng/ml. The upper reference range limit of 100 ng/ml on the LabCorp results sheet is a sick joke. Unlike the other tests, it didn't come from analyzing actual test results. The number was just pulled out of thin air by Holick who figured that since it wouldn't cause hypercalcemia it would be perfectly OK. It's also sad how Life Extension beats the drum for 50-80 ng/ml. They cite a huge number of papers in their articles but when you read them none of them support their recommendation. And they selectively omit the studies showing higher risks of mortality, pancreatic cancer, and enlarged heart. When the deaths come rolling in this is going to make the supplement industry look very bad.
If your initial test is way off and you need to change the dose, wait 6 months until retesting, since it takes a long time to reach a new steady state. Softgels are absorbed the best. In my case I only have to take it 5 days per week.