How can tracking biomarkers improve your drive?

Estradiol (a form of estrogen) is a female hormone produced primarily in the ovary. The amount of estrogen produced depends on the phase of the menstrual cycle.

Shortly before ovulation, estradiol levels surge and then fall immediately after ovulation. They then rise again and remain elevated until 2-3 days before menstruation.

Low estradiol may be found in menopause, adrenal failure, ovarian failure, pituitary failure, and Luteal Phase Deficiency (LPD).

High estradiol may be found in pregnancy, ovulation, the second half of the menstrual cycle, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, some hormone-producing tumors of the ovary, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCO), Amenorrhea-Galactorrhea Syndrome, and liver disease.

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) helps manage the menstrual cycle and stimulates the ovaries to produce eggs.

FSH is made by your pituitary gland, a small gland located underneath the brain. FSH plays an important role in sexual development and functioning.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a hormone produced by the body's adrenal glands. The body uses DHEA to make androgens (like testosterone) and estrogens, the male and female sex hormones.

If your DHEA levels are not normal, it may mean there is a problem with your adrenal glands or sex organs (testicles or ovaries). 

High DHEA in women may be the cause of acne, menstrual irregularities, excess body and facial hair, scalp hair loss, and increased muscularity. Men may not have any apparent symptoms of high levels.

Low DHEA levels are associated with a decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction in men, and thinning of vaginal tissues in women. Severely low levels may be a sign of an adrenal gland disorder with more serious symptoms.

The adrenal glands start to produce less DHEA as we age. By age 60, we only have one-fifth of the amount of DHEA in our blood.

ApoA1 is a constituent of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which is anti-atherogenic (reduces plaque formation).

ApoA1 is a protective molecule that acts as an antioxidant and lowers inflammation. The more ApoA1, the lower the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD is a class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels.

ApoB is a constituent of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which is atherogenic (plaque-forming).

There is exactly one ApoB per LDL particle. Therefore, ApoB gives us the most accurate estimate of the amount of LDL in your body. High ApoB levels are associated with an increase in risk for cardiovascular events.

The ApoB:ApoA1 ratio has been linked to the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other serious cardiovascular disorders.

The balance between ApoB and ApoA1 is what determines cardiovascular risk.The higher the ratio, the higher the risk.

Cortisol is a hormone made by your adrenal glands. It’s nicknamed the stress hormone because it helps you respond to stress. In a healthy person, cortisol rises and falls at different times of the day. It’s usually higher in the morning and lower at night unless a person works late or has changing shifts.

The test determines whether you have too much or too little of the hormone.

Results outside the normal range might indicate a dysregulated circadian rhythm or a more serious health condition.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a hormone produced by the body's adrenal glands. The body uses DHEA to make androgens (like testosterone) and estrogens, the male and female sex hormones.

If your DHEA levels are not normal, it may mean there is a problem with your adrenal glands or sex organs (testicles or ovaries). 

High DHEA in women may be the cause of acne, menstrual irregularities, excess body and facial hair, scalp hair loss, and increased muscularity. Men may not have any apparent symptoms of high levels.

Low DHEA levels are associated with a decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction in men, and thinning of vaginal tissues in women. Severely low levels may be a sign of an adrenal gland disorder with more serious symptoms.

The adrenal glands start to produce less DHEA as we age. By age 60, we only have one-fifth of the amount of DHEA in our blood.

Estradiol (a form of estrogen) is a female hormone produced primarily in the ovary. The amount of estrogen produced depends on the phase of the menstrual cycle.

Shortly before ovulation, estradiol levels surge and then fall immediately after ovulation. They then rise again and remain elevated until 2-3 days before menstruation.

Low estradiol may be found in menopause, adrenal failure, ovarian failure, pituitary failure, and Luteal Phase Deficiency (LPD).

High estradiol may be found in pregnancy, ovulation, the second half of the menstrual cycle, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, some hormone-producing tumors of the ovary, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCO), Amenorrhea-Galactorrhea Syndrome, and liver disease.

Ferritin is a protein that stores iron inside your cells. A ferritin blood test is used to help check your iron levels.

A lower-than-normal ferritin level indicates that one is iron-deficient, which may lead to iron deficiency anemia, weakness, fatigue, cold extremities and dizziness.

A spike in the ferritin level can be seen in acute illnesses like bacterial infections. Chronically raised levels are seen in several conditions including hemochromatosis (also called iron overload), rheumatoid arthritis or other chronic inflammatory disorders, liver diseases, alcohol abuse, leukemia, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and hyperthyroidism. Taking too many iron supplements can also lead to elevated ferritin levels.

A TSH test is done to find out if your thyroid gland is working the way it should. It can tell you if it’s overactive (hyperthyroidism) or underactive (hypothyroidism). The test can also detect a thyroid disorder before you have any symptoms. If untreated, a thyroid disorder can cause health problems.

TSH levels typically fall between 0.4 and 4.0 milliunits per liter (mU/L), according to the American Thyroid Association. Ranges between laboratories will vary with the upper limit generally being between 4 to 5.

If your level is higher than this, chances are you have an underactive thyroid.

It's also possible that the test reading comes back showing lower than normal levels of TSH and an overactive thyroid.

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) helps manage the menstrual cycle and stimulates the ovaries to produce eggs.

FSH is made by your pituitary gland, a small gland located underneath the brain. FSH plays an important role in sexual development and functioning.

The hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is representative of the average of your blood sugar over the past 2–3 months, providing a snapshot of your ability to maintain healthy blood sugar over time.

When sugar enters your bloodstream, it attaches to hemoglobin, a protein in your red blood cells. Everybody has some sugar attached to their hemoglobin, but people with higher blood sugar levels have more. The A1C test measures the percentage of your red blood cells that have sugar-coated hemoglobin.

Hyperglycemia—the chronic state of having high blood sugar—is known to adversely affect many organ systems.

An HbA1C level consistently above 5.6% may indicate pre-diabetes and a level above 6.5% may indicate diabetes.

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a nonspecific inflammatory marker. It is particularly suited to testing for chronic inflammation (long-term, low-level), as opposed to ordinary CRP, which measures acute (short-term) inflammation.

Chronic inflammation contributes to the development of at least 7 of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States. It may go undetected for years or even decades without proactive tracking, silently threatening your health.

It contributes to cancer, heart disease, lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. It is also connected to metabolic disorders, including pre-diabetes and diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure.

Measures the amount of cholesterol carried by high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles in the blood.

Too much cholesterol in your blood can cause fatty material to build up in your artery walls. This can lead to a heart attack or stroke. This can happen if a piece of the fatty material breaks off, causing a blood clot to form, which might block an artery. If this happens in an artery supplying your heart, this is a heart attack, or if it’s an artery supplying your brain, this is a stroke.

However, HDL particles remove excess cholesterol from the body. Hence, having a high level of cholesterol carried by HDL particles is generally good, and HDL cholesterol is often termed ‘good’ cholesterol. 

However, very high levels of HDL may behave more like LDL cholesterol (or ‘bad cholesterol’) and raise the risk of disease, according to current research. This is especially important for women leading up to after menopause.

People who have an underactive thyroid may have high levels of HDL cholesterol.

Homocysteine is one of the amino acids that play a role in the metabolism of proteins. Too much is toxic, and too little results in metabolic problems.

High homocysteine is a strong and modifiable risk factor. It can be a sign of key nutritional deficiencies and has been linked to various health issues such as atherosclerosis, stroke, diabetes complications, hypothyroidism, neurological diseases, osteoporosis, depression, erectile dysfunction, pregnancy complications, concentration and underachievement.

A 3µmol/L drop in homocysteine can lessen the likelihood of heart attacks by 16%, strokes by 24%, and deep vein thrombosis by 25%.

A 5µmol/L decrease in homocysteine can reduce the risk of death from all causes by 49%, death from cardiovascular disease by 50%, and death from cancer by 26%.

Insulin is the most important marker for metabolic health. It is a hormone produced in the pancreas that moves blood sugar (known as glucose) from your bloodstream into your cells. 

Insulin plays a key role in keeping glucose at the right levels. If glucose levels are too high or too low, it can cause serious health problems.

High levels of insulin is indicative of insulin resistance (IR), prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes (T2D). In states of IR, the same amount of insulin does not have the same effect on glucose transport and blood sugar levels. IR is considered a component of metabolic syndrome.

IR develops years prior to the development of T2D. Fasting insulin is one method to measure IR. IR can be improved or reversed with lifestyle approaches, such as exercise and dietary changes.

High insulin is strongly strong linked to heart attack and stroke. Elevated fasting insulin is also strongly linked with the risk of breast cancer, melanoma, and colon cancer.

Longevity is associated with people who have lower insulin levels.

This marker measures the amount of cholesterol carried by low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles in the blood.

Too much cholesterol in your blood can cause fatty material to build up in your artery walls. This can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

A person with high LDL cholesterol levels may be at greater risk of cardiovascular disease. Contrary to popular belief, LDL is a weak independent risk factor. Furthermore, cholesterol is dynamic and fluid; results can be substantially moved up and down within days using lifestyle and dietary interventions.

By comparison, ApoB is a strong independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and premature death. As we age, our bodies become less efficient at clearing cholesterol, resulting in gradual build-up.

Testosterone is the main sex hormone in men and plays a crucial role in men's general health and quality of life.

Research shows that both older and younger men can suffer from low testosterone levels (medically known as hypogonadism but often referred to as "low T" for short).

Healthy testosterone levels are critical for many bodily functions.

Low levels of testosterone can cause poor sexual performance (difficulty getting or maintaining an erection), low male fertility (decreased semen production), depression and loss of mood ("a sense of well-being"), impaired cognitive processes (concentration and memory), low energy levels (including chronic fatigue), loss of muscle, increased belly fat, and low bone density (weak bones).

Most men start to produce less testosterone every year, starting around age 30. The average drop is about 1% per year after age 30.

However, older men can use a number of strategies (both natural and medical) to raise their testosterone levels.

The test must be taken in the morning, when levels are highest, as levels can drop by as much as 13% during the day.

The testosterone/cortisol ratio shows an important relationship between two critical hormonal biomarkers.

More specifically, the ratio is a cutting edge indicator of physiological readiness.

The Total Cholesterol/HDL ratio considered a more sensitive and specific index of cardiovascular risk than total cholesterol.

The triglyceride to HDL cholesterol ratio is known to be correlated with insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body's cells do not respond properly to insulin, which can lead to high blood sugar levels, inflammation, and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

Blood cholesterol is calculated by adding your HDL and LDL cholesterol levels, plus 20% of your triglyceride level.

Triglycerides are the main component of dietary fat and fat deposits in animals. They also serve as an energy source.

Triglyceride levels that are above normal ranges increase the risk of vascular plaque deposition. This leads to an elevated risk for cardiovascular events and pancreatitis.

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that plays a number of important roles in the body. It is important for maintaining strong and healthy bones, as it helps the body absorb calcium from the diet.

Vitamin D plays a role in immune function and may help protect against infections. ~40% of adults are deficient in Vitamin D, which makes it a very valuable marker to track and optimize.