Biomarkers explained
GGT is usually the first liver enzyme to rise in the blood when any of the bile ducts that carry bile from the liver to the intestines become obstructed, for example, by tumors or stones.
This makes it the most sensitive liver enzyme test for detecting bile duct problems.
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
This is often called “bad cholesterol”. This is oversimplified as LDL cholesterol is essential for your health. But if you have too much LDL cholesterol it can build up on the walls of your arteries. This is called cholesterol plaque and it narrows your arteries and increases your risk of blood clots — putting you at risk of heart disease.
HDL stands for high-density lipoproteins. It is sometimes called the "good" cholesterol because it carries cholesterol from other parts of your body back to your liver. Your liver then removes the cholesterol from your body. LDL stands for low-density lipoproteins.
VLDL is a lipoprotein which is considered a “bad” form of cholesterol. Raised levels are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Lipids
There are special transporters in your body called lipoproteins. They are like little cars that help drive around cholesterol to different parts of your body. Some of these drivers can be helpful and others not.
Monitoring and maintaining healthy levels of these lipids is important in staying healthy. While the body produces the cholesterol needed to function properly, the source for some cholesterol is the diet. Eating too much of foods that are high in saturated fats and trans unsaturated fats (trans fats) or having an inherited predisposition can result in a high level of cholesterol in the blood. The extra cholesterol may be deposited in plaques on the walls of blood vessels. Plaques can narrow or eventually block the opening of blood vessels, leading to hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and increasing the risk of numerous health problems, including heart disease and stroke.
LDL:HDL %
A high serum LDL:HDL ratio can be predictive of sudden cardiac death in middle-aged men. It is a good idea to keep this as a baseline over time to give a clearer picture of how your lifestyle is affecting your health.
Total Cholesterol is a measure of the total amount of cholesterol in your blood. It includes both low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
It’s important to remember that elevated cholesterol doesn’t mean a heart attack. In fact, only half of the people suffering from heart attacks have elevated cholesterol. It is simply part of the bigger picture.
Cholesterol is important for the body to manufacture hormones, vitamin D, bile acids, and help maintain the structure of your cells.
Total Cholesterol:HDL %
We determine your cholesterol ratio by dividing your total cholesterol by your HDL number. For instance, if your total cholesterol is 180 and your HDL is 82, your cholesterol ratio is 2.2. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), you should aim to keep your ratio below 5, with the ideal cholesterol ratio being 3.5.
Results for men
According to the Framingham Heart Study, a cholesterol ratio of 5 indicates average risk of heart disease for men. Men have double the risk for heart disease if their ratio reaches 9.6, and they have roughly half the average risk for heart disease with a cholesterol ratio of 3.4.
Results for women
Because women often have higher levels of good cholesterol, their cholesterol ratio risk categories differ. According to the same study, a 4.4 ratio indicates average risk for heart disease in women. Heart disease risk for women doubles if their ratio is 7, while a ratio of 3.3 signifies roughly half the average risk.
It’s important to remember that elevated cholesterol doesn’t mean a heart attack. In fact, only half of the people suffering from heart attacks have elevated cholesterol. It is simply part of the bigger picture
Cholesterol is important for the body to manufacture hormones, vitamin D, bile acids, and help maintain the structure of your cells.
Testosterone
You may need this test to find out whether a low sex drive is caused by a low level of testosterone. In recent years, healthcare providers have used testosterone therapy to treat both men and women with low sex drives.
Men with low levels of testosterone (hypogonadism) may have:
- Loss of sex drive
- Low energy
- Bone loss
- Infertility
The test is also done for men with andropause, or late-onset hypogonadism. This is a condition caused by decreased testosterone. Men with this condition may have:
- Anemia
- Depression
- Decreased bone density
- Lack of energy or fatigue
- Loss of muscle mass
- Poor concentration
- Erectile dysfunction or inability to have an orgasm
- Infertility
Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)
The PSA test can detect high levels of PSA that may indicate the presence of prostate cancer. However, many other conditions, such as an enlarged or inflamed prostate, can also increase PSA levels. Therefore, determining what a high PSA score means can be complicated.
Therefore tracking it overtime helps assist your baseline and assists in detecting deviations from your personal normal.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D helps keep your bones healthy and strong! It forms in the body when the sun is absorbed by your skin. Don’t fret – vitamin D deficiency is very common and can be fixed, but low levels can cause things like fatigue and sleep issues.
Cortisol
Cortisol is a steroid hormone that is released by the adrenal gland in response to stress or low blood glucose. It is responsible for controlling the body’s blood sugar levels, regulating metabolism, acting as an anti-inflammatory, influencing memory formation, controlling salt and water balance, influencing blood pressure and helping the development of a fetus in pregnant women.
Glucose
Blood glucose measures the glucose levels in your blood. Glucose is a type of sugar. It is your brain & body’s main source of energy. A hormone called insulin helps move glucose from your bloodstream into your cells. Too much or too little glucose in the blood can be a sign of a serious medical condition. High blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia) may be a sign of diabetes, a disorder that can cause heart disease, blindness, kidney failure and other complications. Low blood glucose levels (hypoglycemia) can also lead to major health problems, including brain damage, if not treated.
hs-CRP
hs-CRP is a measure of C-reactive protein (CRP), a protein that the liver makes when there is inflammation in the body. While inflammation in the body can be beneficial in the right amounts, in order to help protect organs from injuries or infections, excessive inflammation has been linked to heart disease, stroke and more.
HBA1C
HbA1c is a measurement of the amount of glucose bound to the heme found in red blood cells. An HbA1c measurement lets you know how well your sugar levels have been controlled over the past 90 days—so if you want to take a closer look at your average blood glucose levels to better understand your body’s glycemic control, our HbA1c Test is a great place to start.
The % of Hemoglobin A1c refers to the amount of glycated hemoglobin in the blood. Glycated hemoglobin is red blood cells that have glucose attached to them. An A1c between 5.7-6.4% signals prediabetes. Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed when A1c is over 6.5%
Creatinine
Creatinine is a byproduct of muscle metabolism and gets excreted in the urine by the kidneys. This process is typically tightly regulated, making extremely low or high creatinine rare. Urinary creatinine is used as a control to make sure that other markers being tested are not reported inaccurately from kidney filtration problems. Your sample is collected four times throughout the day, and your results will reflect your levels during those times.
With this test we provide predictive insight into the amount of damage that has been done to your kidneys.
