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 marker; aim <5 µIU/mL
- HbA1c - average blood sugar over 3 months; optimal around 4.8-5.2%
- Fasting glucose - basic but essential
- Triglycerides/HDL ratio - better cardiovascular predictor than total cholesterol alone
Inflammation
- hsCRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) - chronic inflammation marker; want <1 mg/L
- IL-6 - upstream inflammatory cytokine
Cardiovascular
- ApoB - best predictor of cardiovascular risk (better than LDL)
- Lp(a) - genetic risk factor most people never check
Hormonal/Cellular
- IGF-1 - growth factor linked to both longevity and cancer risk
- DHEA-S - declines with age, proxy for biological aging
Tier 2: Worth Tracking
- Homocysteine, ferritin, vitamin D, thyroid (TSH/free T3), uric acid, albumin
Where to Get Tested
- Function Health - comprehensive panels, Peter Attia-affiliated
- Inside Tracker - analyzes results with personalized recommendations
- Life Extension Foundation - affordable à la carte testing
- Your doctor - best starting point for insurance coverage
Want me to prioritize any category?