Verbatim response from Claude
Blood Biomarkers That Actually Matter for Longevity
Tier 1: Strong Evidence
Metabolic
- Fasting glucose & HbA1c – chronic elevation accelerates aging across all systems
- Fasting insulin – often more sensitive than glucose for early metabolic dysfunction
- Triglycerides & HDL ratio – better cardiovascular predictor than total cholesterol alone
- ApoB – superior to LDL for cardiovascular risk (particle count matters more)
Inflammation
- hsCRP – low-grade chronic inflammation drives most age-related diseases
- IL-6 – stronger predictor than CRP in some studies
Other
- IGF-1 – complex role; very high or very low levels both problematic
- Homocysteine – cardiovascular and cognitive risk marker
Tier 2: Useful but Often Overlooked
- Vitamin D (25-OH) – widespread deficiency with broad downstream effects
- Ferritin – both high and low levels matter
- Uric acid – metabolic health proxy
- TSH – thyroid function affects nearly everything
Where to Get Comprehensive Testing
- Inside Tracker – tracks trends over time with actionable recommendations
- Function Health – 100+ biomarkers, founded by longevity-focused physicians
- Marek Health – good for optimization-focused panels
Honest Caveat
Most biomarkers indicate risk, not destiny. Trends over time matter more than single snapshots.
Want specifics on any category?