Which blood tests to get, and when to start
Casey Means, Sara Gottfried, Kyle Gillett and Peter Attia each lay out biomarkers worth tracking by age and sex, from glucose and insulin to hormones and lipids. Starting a baseline early lets you catch drift years before disease.
When do these experts say to start blood testing? Show answer
Early, before anything is wrong. A young baseline shows what normal looks like for you before age or disease shifts it.
What are Casey Means's seven basic metabolic markers? Show answer
Fasting glucose, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, hemoglobin A1c, total cholesterol to HDL ratio, waist size and blood pressure.
What does Means mean by reading results together? Show answer
Looking at patterns, not single cutoffs. High-normal glucose with high-normal triglycerides signals insulin resistance to her.
Why do Means and Gottfried want fasting insulin measured? Show answer
Insulin can rise for years while fasting glucose stays in range, so it gives an earlier warning.
Which hormones does Sara Gottfried want women to baseline, and when? Show answer
Estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, in their 20s or 30s, so they have a reference point for later.
On which cycle day does Gottfried suggest a single hormone draw? Show answer
About day 21 to 22 of a 28-day cycle, moving to day 19 or 20 as cycles shorten with age.
How should men have testosterone measured, according to Kyle Gillett? Show answer
With SHBG or as free testosterone. Total testosterone alone can mislead because binding protein changes how much is active.
How often does Gillett suggest retesting? Show answer
About every six months. Others test more often while checking whether an intervention works.
Which marker does Peter Attia rank first for heart disease risk? Show answer
ApoB, the protein on every particle that can cause plaque, ahead of the standard LDL cholesterol number.
Why does Attia want lipoprotein(a) tested once early in life? Show answer
It is genetically set, drives atherosclerosis in a meaningful share of people and does not need repeating.
What does David Sinclair add to the list? Show answer
HbA1c, high-sensitivity CRP and iron, tracked over years against a person's own history instead of a single snapshot.
What is the main limit the article places on self-directed testing? Show answer
Results must be interpreted by a qualified physician, especially before starting hormones, supplements or medication.