Health Biomarkers: Why They’re So Important
What is a biomarker? Biomarkers are characteristics of the body that you can measure. So your blood pressure is actually a biomarker, as are the levels of different metabolites, minerals and other substances circulating in your blood. It’s crucial to monitor biomarkers because they can tell you about your current health status, but can also identify developing health issues. We know that many disease processes begin years before symptoms become apparent, and your chances of reversing those processes are much higher when discovered in the early stages.
There are 3 critical biomarkers I’d like to discuss in this article in order to give you an idea of their importance to your health, and help you understand the importance of monitoring them.
Hemoglobin A1c
Hemoglobin A1c measures the levels of something called AGE’s (Advanced Glycation End Products) in your red blood cells, and shows what your average blood sugar (glucose) level was over the past two to three months. Your hemoglobin A1c level will tell how efficiently your body is metabolizing glucose. Elevated blood glucose levels can lead to what is known as Metabolic Syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that together raise your risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and other serious health problems. Metabolic syndrome is also called insulin resistance syndrome. Metabolic Syndrome is one of the leading causes of disease, which reflects the fact that it drives inflammation. The good news is that in most cases it is reversible with lifestyle changes like diet and exercise.
C-Reactive Protein
C-Reactive Protein is a marker of inflammation in the body. Since we know that inflammation can drive many disease processes, it’s important to know if this biomarker is elevated. A wide variety of inflammatory conditions can cause elevated CRP levels, including :
Autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), lupus, and certain types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
Pericarditis, which is inflammation of the lining of the heart
Cancer
Obesity
Infection
Organ or tissue damage
If this biomarker is elevated it’s important to do other testing to find the source of the inflammation. The liver makes C-reactive protein (CRP) in response to inflammation in the body. High CRP levels are nearly always a sign of a serious underlying medical condition.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D (also referred to as “calciferol”) is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in a few foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. It is also produced endogenously when ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight strike the skin and trigger vitamin D synthesis. Vitamin D is actually a hormone which has wide ranging effects in the body. Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption in the gut and maintains adequate serum calcium and phosphate concentrations to enable normal bone mineralization and to prevent hypocalcemic tetany (involuntary contraction of muscles, leading to cramps and spasms). It is also needed for bone growth and bone remodeling by osteoblasts and osteoclasts . Without sufficient vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle, or misshapen. Vitamin D sufficiency prevents rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Together with calcium, vitamin D also helps protect older adults from osteoporosis.
Vitamin D has other roles in the body, including reduction of inflammation as well as modulation of such processes as cell growth, neuromuscular and immune function, and glucose metabolism. Many genes that encode proteins which regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis (getting rid of damaged cells ) are modulated in part by vitamin D. Many tissues have vitamin D receptors which help reduce the growth of cancer cells. Studies suggest that vitamin D plays an important role in immune function, and there may be a link between long-term vitamin D deficiency and the development of autoimmune conditions, such as diabetes, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Vitamin D deficiency is a common global issue. About 1 billion people worldwide have vitamin D deficiency, while 50% of the population has vitamin D insufficiency. Approximately 35% of adults in the United States have vitamin D deficiency.
It’s crucial that you know your Vitamin D levels if you want to enjoy optimal health.
Pheno-Age Biomarker Testing
Fidalgo Island Health Center is now offering blood testing for the 3 biomarkers discussed above: Hemoglobin A1c, C-reactive protein, Vitamin D, and 7 other important biomarkers for liver, kidney, immune, and cholesterol. We then analyze your results using the latest research from anti-aging research, and provide you with a comprehensive report, as well as a consultation about how you can improve any biomarkers which are out of normal range. The term Pheno-Age comes from the research of Dr. Steven Horvath at UCLA. Dr. Horvath is a worldwide leader in aging research, and has identified the biomarkers that are most closely related to health and aging. You need to know this information, and how you score on these biomarkers if you want to know your current health status, and the outlook for your future healthspan. This testing and analysis is a great bargain at $199. Just ask any of the staff at Fidalgo Island Health Center or call 360-588-9108 to get your Pheno-Age test.