Low Fasting Insulin Does Not Exclude Elevated Apolipoprotein B: A Real-World Primary Care Study Stefan Hartmann, PA-C, Muhammed Alo DO, Salaheldin Halasa MD ¹ Iron Direct Primary Care, Melbourne, Florida, USA Download PDF to view images and the paper. Watch lecture presented to the Osteopathic Society of Integrative Medicine Abstract Background Insulin resistance and elevated apolipoprotein B (ApoB) frequently coexist in adverse cardiometabolic phenotypes. However, biologic a

What does primary care look like when you combine traditional medicine, functional medicine, hormone optimization, cardiovascular prevention, and longevity medicine under one roof? If you are a provider who would like to add HRT to your practice learn how at HRTPCP.com In this conversation, I sit down with Dr. Manuel Salvadori, Biologo Nutrizionista, for a fascinating Italian-American discussion about what we do at Iron Direct Primary Care in Melbourne, Florida—and why our mo

Day in the Life of a Direct Primary Care CEO | Iron Direct Primary Care VLOG Come spend a day with me at Iron Direct Primary Care in Melbourne, Florida. In this vlog, I take you behind the scenes of what it actually looks like to run a modern Direct Primary Care practice—from seeing patients and managing the business to getting out into the community and exploring Downtown Melbourne. One of today’s stops: Jacqueline’s Bakery & Café, a local Downtown Melbourne staple serving F

Gillian Godon Perue MD on Acute Ischemic Stroke Guidelines at the FAPA conference in Daytona Beach June 26, 2026. As always, if interested in our HRT course please visit HRTPCP.com

In this talk at The Mermaid House in Indian Harbour Beach, Ashley Curtis, MSN, APRN, FNP-C of Iron Direct Primary Care (Iron DPC) shares insights on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women. Ashley is a Family Nurse Practitioner with over 20 years of nursing experience. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Western Governors University and brings a strong background in functional medicine and integrative nutrition to her practice. Passionate about relationship-b

I used to put substantial weight on LDL subfractions. The theory was compelling: small, dense LDL particles were believed to be more dangerous than large, buoyant LDL particles because they may circulate longer, penetrate the arterial wall more readily, bind less effectively to the LDL receptor, and be more susceptible to oxidative modification. Early observational studies supported this idea. Studies such as the Québec Cardiovascular Study, prospective studies of myocardial

Events coming up: The Reset Social Club july 26th 11am-3pm at Ember & Oak downtown melbourne. Check out the event we are participating in here (tickets needed) Tennis training in West Melbourne at Veteran’s Memorial Complex Monday July 27th at 6pm register here in FB (free) If friends are interested in learning more about us please have them meet Iron DPC’s Ashley Curtis NP at The Mermaid House Cafe & Wine Bar Thursday 30th at 6:30pm for her talk on Human Performance & Optimi

🇺🇸 The One Big Beautiful Bill Changed Direct Primary Care for the Better✅ Starting in 2026, qualifying Direct Primary Care (DPC) memberships can be paid with tax-free HSA dollars—and having a DPC membership no longer prevents you from contributing to your HSA if you also have a qualifying high-deductible health plan. What this means:💰 Lower taxes🏥 Better access to your primary care provider⏱️ Longer visits & same-day appointments❤️ More preventive care before disease deve

The most important lecture I have released and considered required watching for all Iron DPC members as it answers all your questions: Please watch: We Can Eliminate Heart Disease: 2026 Latest in Lipid Lowering Therapy for the Osteopathic Society of Integrative Medicine. In fact this lecture was produced thanks to your questions that made us think harder and search for better answers. I want every Iron DPC member to understand lipidology because it affects everyone from chil

Every week I meet patients who come into my office with a list of peptides, supplements, hormones, and biohacking products they found online. They're intelligent people. They listen to Huberman. They follow Brian Johnson. They watch podcasts. They read Reddit. They aren't looking for shortcuts—they're trying to optimize their health. But they often make one fundamental mistake. They start with the treatment instead of the diagnosis. Recently I had a great conversation with on

During a carotid endarterectomy, the surgeon opens the carotid artery and removes the plaque that is narrowing the vessel. What is in that yellow plaque? Mainly: 1. Cholesterol-containing lipids Cholesterol esters Free cholesterol Oxidized lipids These lipids largely arrive because ApoB-containing particles (LDL, VLDL remnants, Lp(a), etc.) entered the artery wall and became trapped. ApoB is basically the "delivery vehicle" — every ApoB particle carries one atherogenic partic

Well... first measure it a couple times because you may have just had a little cold illness when you measured hs-CRP at jacked it up. Then... Consider logically that hs-CRP can’t mechanically itself cause an occlusion. The data suggest that hs-CRP is capturing a different component of cardiovascular risk than ApoB. It is not simply another measure of cholesterol exposure. It appears to reflect the inflammatory environment that makes vascular disease more likely and plaques m

Breathwork & Nervous System Regulation with Dori at Iron DPC Dori Grace is the founder of Somatics & Soul and holds multiple certifications in breathwork, somatic practices, mindfulness, and nervous system regulation. She helps individuals improve their health, resilience, recovery, and overall well-being through practical, evidence-informed techniques that can be integrated into everyday life. She is offering nervous system and breathwork training now at Iron DPC office and

Yes, We Prescribe GLP-1 “weight loss” Medications at Iron Direct Primary Care GLP-1s aren’t just for weight loss — they’re powerful tools that can truly transform health. • GLP-1s slash heart attack & stroke risk • They slow or prevent kidney disease • They put type 2 diabetes into remission for many • They help reverse obesity-related damage • Emerging data shows they may protect the brain & lower addiction risk At Iron Direct Primary Care, we prescribe GLP-1s (like sem

📉 ApoB: The Stronger Evidence Wins The data for lowering ApoB (via statins, ezetimibe, PCSK9i, etc.) is rock-solid and backed by decades of high-quality research. The idea that high ApoB is “fine if you’re lean and fit” (e.g. LMHR/keto crowd) is still just a hypothesis with weak, conflicting support. ✅ Evidence for Lowering ApoB -Plaque regression trials (GLAGOV, ASTEROID, SATURN, HUYGENS): Intensive lowering (ApoB often <65 mg/dL) consistently shows plaque regression, stab

Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) has been gaining attention in recent years for its potential to improve health in various ways. Originally developed to treat opioid addiction, naltrexone at low doses is now being explored for its broader therapeutic effects. This article delves into the naltrexone health benefits, explaining how LDN works, its applications, and what makes it a promising option for many people. Understanding Naltrexone and Its Health Benefits Naltrexone is a medicat

Iron DPC is opening our office to the wonderful Anna Martin LMT for massage bookings starting in July. Hi, I’m Anna Martin, your licensed Massage Therapist! My practice is founded on a deep understanding of human anatomy and kinesiology with an undertone of intentional energetic balancing. My sessions consist of focusing on targeted issues, tailoring our time to your unique needs through a thorough physical assessment and an understanding of your medical history, daily activi

A lot has changed just this year in medicine and my own practice. Part 2 of The 2026 ACC/AHA Multisociety Guideline on Dyslipidemia This lecture continues my review of the latest guideline update from the American College of Cardiology. It’s ok but they are a bit too far behind what I am now recommending. They are not using Apo B yet. Still using LDL. It’s ok. I like apo B for many of the reasons discussed in the Iron DPC blog. Namely: it isn’t affected by nonfasting so lo

Ezetimibe is a lipid-lowering medication that works differently from statins. Instead of blocking cholesterol production in the liver, it blocks cholesterol absorption in the small intestine through inhibition of the NPC1L1 transporter (Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1) located on intestinal enterocytes. Mechanism of Action At the intestinal brush border, NPC1L1 normally transports dietary and biliary cholesterol into enterocytes. Ezetimibe selectively inhibits this transporter, result

Most people know about cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar. Far fewer know about homocysteine — an amino acid produced during normal metabolism that, when elevated, may quietly damage arteries and the brain. High homocysteine levels (called hyperhomocysteinemia) have been linked to cardiovascular disease, stroke, cognitive decline, and Alzheimer’s disease. What Is Homocysteine? Homocysteine is formed when the body breaks down methionine, an amino acid found in dietar