Verbatim response from Claude
Blood Biomarkers That Actually Matter for Longevity
High-Impact Markers
Metabolic Health
- Fasting insulin (not just glucose) - early insulin resistance detector
- HbA1c - 3-month blood sugar average
- Fasting glucose - basic but important
- Triglycerides/HDL ratio - better cardiovascular predictor than cholesterol alone
Inflammation
- hsCRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) - chronic inflammation marker
- IL-6 - interleukin linked to aging processes
Organ Function
- ALT/AST - liver health
- Cystatin C - kidney function (more accurate than creatinine)
- eGFR - kidney filtration rate
Hormones
- IGF-1 - growth hormone axis, linked to longevity pathways
- Testosterone/DHEA-S - decline accelerates aging markers
Key Nutrients
- Vitamin D - genuinely well-studied
- Omega-3 index - strong cardiovascular evidence
- Homocysteine - cardiovascular and cognitive risk
Recommended Testing Services
- Function Health - 100+ markers, strong longevity focus
- Inside Tracker - includes algorithmic interpretation
- LabCorp/Quest - affordable basics through your doctor
Honest Caveat
Many "longevity panels" include markers with limited evidence. Focus on the metabolic and inflammation markers first - they have the strongest research backing.