What Does a Low White Blood Cell Count Mean?

Since white blood cell count is a sign of systemic inflammation, it’s no surprise that those with lower white counts live longer.

Thanks for watching. I hope you’ll join in the evidence-based nutrition revolution!
-Michael Greger, MD FACLM

Image credit: Reytan, Bobjgalindo, Keith Chambers, Ed Uthman, and Mate Marschalko

[feliciapalmer]

My husband had a low WBC AT last check and doc was trying to send him to a hematologist. Having already established that many of these docs today are clueless, we declined the referral and instead did research which led us to this same conversation about inflammation. We determined that -- if you are not inflamed or fighting disease, your WBC need not be high. So he was actually healthy because his WBC was low -- not the opposite. Why don't docs know this??? People, please take responsibility for your health and research for yourself. Docs today seem to focus mainly on prescribing "a pill for every ill" instead of wholistically healing the human body.

[patty-cfjj]

Wow, finally! I have been vegan for almost 18 years and about 8 years ago my doctor was concerned because my white blood cell count kept getting lower. She sent me to a hematologist (which scared the crap out of me) who couldn't find anything wrong. She now just accepts it and ignores the "abnormal" count. This video is the first time I've heard what I suspected all along. This is why I love Dr, Greger!

[cindyaadams]

Yay!!! I am so happy you are covering this topic! Every physician I've ever seen over the years has worried me about my white count. I've consumed a whole food plant based vegan diet for years, my weight is ideal, I have no health problems, take no meds, & I feel fantastic at 56 years of age, so my low WBC has been a mystery UNTIL NOW!! Thank you Dr. Greger!!! I love you!! You have given me more reason celebrate my good health & happiness! I can't wait for the next video! I'm going to guess that my WBC is another reason to smile!

[reliancegroup]

I just got my labs from 3.4 now it 3.0, my Dr wants me to see an hematology I have been eating better I got a panic attack but by the grace if God i put this video on and it makes me feel a whole lot better, thank you

[jonathandhlee]

as a 27 year old healthy male who just got blood work done as a check up and got a 3.4 - this video and comment section made me smile :)

[Emma-wlbv]

Wow, this is so interesting! My Dr told me I "should be sick all the time" because my WBC count is so low. I get sick less than once per year and even then only mildly for about a day. It makes total sense the "normal" is just the average "not actively dying" person, and the average person has been building up to heart disease, diabetes etc for many years before considered sick. We need to redefine what it means to be "unhealthy", to give doctors a better understanding of what needs their intervention. Right now most doctors consider someone fine unless they actually require medical intervention to keep living. Simply existing without being on 10+ medications does not mean someone is actually healthy.

[Benighted.]

Biomarkers: 'normal' ranges are not necessarily 'healthy' ranges. Now, that's food for thought.

[MohamedAdelSci]

omg since i started eating plant based my wbc count has declined dramatically and i was concerned that this meant my immune system is impaired but now i find out it's actually a good thing!! thank you so much dr greger

[sanlotken]

I was just flagged for low WBC. I hear all the horrible things that could be the issue like leukemia! I've been plant base whole food for a little over a year now. I feel incredible. So good to hear this! All the other comments by others as well! A load off my mind. God Bless all! 🌿🥑🌼

[sharonmacauley]

I had a very similar experience to many of those who commented below. My WBC was below "normal" range, was referred to a hematologist, who I continued to see twice a year for 3 years; they could not find anything wrong with me. I am SO relieved to hear this information, I am so thankful for what you shared, and I LOVE that you state and show research to back what you are saying. WOW, I am so happy!!! Thanks again!!

[Nonyabiz]

I’m so relived. I saw my primary care physician a few days ago. She is referring me to a hematologist, having advised me that my WBC (2.6) is “too low for us to just monitor it”. My last primary care physician said he wasn’t concerned with it, as it had been that way for at least six years (the length of time I was going to him). The way my current physician presented it, I began to ruminate about how long it’s been low and why it wasn’t a concern then. A google search on “low WBC” returned plenty of unpleasant possibilities. Now it makes sense. I’ve been vegan for a decade, and vegetarian for about a decade before that. I eat a clean vegan diet, consuming an abundance of organic vegetables and fruit. Moderate use of nuts and seeds. Trying to get more beans. When I feel like having a nut butter with my fruit, I make my own. Point is, keeping processed vegan junk food to a minimum just comes natural to me. I just don’t like the way they make me feel, and although I am a vegan for ethical reasons, I also care very much about my health. I love the way I eat because it agrees with my values. The fact that it’s also a very healthy way to eat is a wonderful bonus. I like to think it’s God’s way of saying thank you for caring more about a cow than I could ever care for a “hamburger”. Thank you for explaining why a vegan diet tends to result in a lower white blood count. Phew!

[omarguerrero]

Just turned 26 a couple of weeks ago, my first bloodwork in my life done 2.5 year ago at 23... everything was in "normal range" but I wanted optimum levels.
Glucose was 87 and WBC 8.2 back then, last bloodwork a month ago.... glucose is 75 and WBC 5.47

I changed my life for good thanks for the video Dr Greger.

[mauiroadrentals]

You're an inspiration!! Love all your work and donate to your site! Just had 2.86 with an immediate retest the following day which came out to 3.00 . Got sent to a hematologist who ordered more thorough blood testing. I was quite worried until this video just magically appeared in my Youtube front page. I'm feeling better now. Been mostly vegan for about 9 months now. Please keep doing your thing for as long as possible. I feel like you're having a major impact on health and society.

[AbbyMacy]

Have been eating plant based whole food diet for about 5 years now and my WBC is always flagged as low in my blood test, in the low to mid 3 range, and my doctor could never tell my why. Is great to finally know what a low WBC count is all about because I assumed something was wrong. Thank you for sharing such good information my doctor could never figure out, and had me worried. Plant base rocks!!!

[ThuyTran-ciet]

Thanks a million for this video. I have low WBC all my life but is rarely sick. I was worried over nothing until i found this video.

[lisar]

4 years ago all my lab results were in the normal range except my white blood cell count which was low. I was freaking out. Now it's in the normal range and I'm freaking out.

[DopeLee]

My WBC is about 3.1 and ever since I can remember when I was a kid I always had a lower WBC than "the normal", however my red blood cells count are a bit on the high end, and my heart rate is just about 56 as I do a lot of exercises, and now I look just about 23-26 but I am actually 37 years old. I might be the sample of a new young gene!

[leleslie]

I've had chronic low white blood cell count for most of my adult life. Although various doctors found it worrisome this is apparently good news!

[juliettetameka]

I am glad I came across this video! I literally just got my blood drawn this morning to have test run and got a call back within 30 mins saying my white blood cell count was "abnormally" low and she asked if I was experiencing any symptoms, besides having an eye twitch every now and then I feel great and have even been losing weight. I started googling reasons and it said things like cancer etc, but this made me feel way better. I still have to go back today because they want to run another test to see if they get the same results.

[vonbernburg]

Fantastic! Thank you.
Just got my lab test yesterday and my white blood cell count was flagged (as usually) at 3.2. Looks like I'm doing just fine, even as a former smoker :)