Verbatim response from Claude
Blood Biomarkers That Actually Matter for Longevity
Tier 1: Strong Evidence
Metabolic Health
- Fasting insulin (not just glucose) - early insulin resistance detector
- HbA1c - 3-month blood sugar average
- Triglycerides/HDL ratio - strong cardiovascular predictor
- Fasting glucose
Inflammation
- hs-CRP (high-sensitivity) - chronic inflammation marker
- IL-6 - inflammatory cytokine linked to aging
Organ Function
- ApoB - better than LDL for cardiovascular risk
- ALT/AST - liver health
- eGFR/creatinine - kidney function
Tier 2: Useful Context
- Homocysteine - cardiovascular and cognitive risk
- Vitamin D - immune and metabolic function
- Testosterone/DHEA - hormonal aging
- IGF-1 - growth hormone axis
Where to Get Tested
- Function Health - comprehensive panel (~$500/year), Peter Attia-affiliated
- Inside Tracker - algorithm-based recommendations
- Marek Health - good for hormone panels
- Ulta Lab Tests - affordable à la carte ordering
- Your doctor - many basics covered by insurance
Honest Caveat
Most longevity biomarker work is associational, not proven causal. ApoB and metabolic markers have the strongest intervention evidence.
Want specifics on any category?