Siim Land: If I Had to Take Only 5 Blood Tests These Would Be It

Key Takeaways

• Hemoglobin A1c: Aim for 4.5-5.2% to minimize glycation damage and mortality risk. Above 5.5% increases cardiovascular risk.
• Triglycerides: Keep below 50 mg/dL (0.6 mmol/L) for optimal metabolic health. Above 150 mg/dL signals high heart disease risk.
• hs-CRP: Target <1 mg/L (ideally <0.2 mg/L) to reduce inflammation-driven aging and disease risk.
• Cystatin C: Maintain below 0.84 mg/L for kidney health and lowest mortality risk. Calculate eGFR using Cystatin C (not creatinine).
• ApoB/ApoA-1 ratio: Keep ratio below 0.6 to minimize cardiovascular risk. ApoB alone should be <65 mg/dL.

Supplements & Protocols Mentioned

• Vitamin D: Test levels if deficient, but focus on sunlight exposure first (supplementation doesn’t reduce mortality).

Notable Quotes

“Hemoglobin A1c acts as a systemic disease marker, rather than just a diabetes marker.”

“Even within the normal reference range, the lower the CRP, the better.”

Bottom Line

Test these 5 blood markers regularly (A1c, triglycerides, hs-CRP, Cystatin C, ApoB/ApoA-1 ratio) and optimize them to actionable targets for longevity. Pair with albumin testing for context.

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