Recommended Lab Tests

[Amazoniac]

If you have just arrived here, these are suggestions from some members with elevated shamanic activity of what would be useful to test. I figured it would be helpful to have an accessible compilation in order of priority.

- @haidut

Here are some. I can't really prioritize them as it would depend on what the person is trying to diagnose.

• Glucose
• Albumin
• Lactate/CO2
• Ammonia
• LDH
• ESR
• CRP
• NEFA (with full profile on SFA/PUFA/MUFA if available)
• Full liver panel (ALT, AST, ASP, GGT, PT, PTT, bilirubin)
• Serotonin
• Prolactin
• Cortisol
• DHEA/DHEA-S
• Total T
• DHT
• Estrone sulfate (E1S)
• CK
• Vitamin D
• PTH
• Vitamin A
• TSH
• Total T4
• Free T4/T3
• Cholesterol
• CBC with differential
• Electrolytes, including (erythrocyte) magnesium

Only him replied with a list so far (thanks!), that's why there's only his one for now.

- Rayzord (hypothyroidism)
TSH, temperature, pulse rate, and other indicators in hypothyroidism

Blood tests for cholesterol, albumin, glucose, sodium, lactate, total thyroxine and total T3 are useful to know, because they help to evaluate the present thyroid status, and sometimes they can suggest ways to correct the problem.

Less common blood or urine tests (adrenaline, cortisol, ammonium, free fatty acids), if they are available, can help to understand compensatory reactions to hypothyroidism.

- @Dan Wich
Learn how to test bloodwork and more without a doctor - SelfTestable

 

[Dan W]

Just so nobody overpays by ordering them separately, a standard chemistry+CBC panel knocks out several of those in a usually-inexpensive package. And most of the providers have things like "health" or "wellness" profiles that include that plus a lot of the other tests mentioned.

 

[Amazoniac]

Calcirol - Liquid Vitamin D3

As I mentioned many times before, testing 25-OH is probably inadequate to draw conclusions about vitamin D status. It should always be tested with 1,25-OH, PTH, calcium, phosphorus and maybe even WBC, CRP, and ESR.

--
FAQ - Ray Peat Forum Wiki

 

[Mito]

As I mentioned many times before, testing 25-OH is probably inadequate to draw conclusions about vitamin D status. It should always be tested with 1,25-OH, PTH, calcium, phosphorus and maybe even WBC, CRP, and ESR.

Do you know why Haidut mentioned in the inflammation markers? Does inflammation decrease/increase 25-OH or PTH?

 

[Amazoniac]

Do you know why Haidut mentioned in the inflammation markers? Does inflammation decrease/increase 25-OH or PTH?

The reason for testing the inflammatory markers? Because of the chronic infections. But it's tricky since those stealthy, and it's characteristic of them to not elicit much inflammation.

 

[Mito]

The reason for testing the inflammatory markers? Because of the chronic infections. But it's tricky since those stealthy, and it's characteristic of them to not elicit much inflammation.

No, I’m wondering the reason for testing inflammatory markers with 25-OH. I understand why you would test 1,25-OH, PTH, calcium, phosphorus along with 25-OH because they all work together and help to interpret Vitamin D/calcium status (Masterjohn recommends the same). But how do the inflammatory markers help with the interpretation of the Vitamin D/calcium status?

 

[Amazoniac]

No, I’m wondering the reason for testing inflammatory markers with 25-OH. I understand why you would test 1,25-OH, PTH, calcium, phosphorus along with 25-OH because they all work together and help to interpret Vitamin D/calcium status (Masterjohn recommends the same). But how do the inflammatory markers help with the interpretation of the Vitamin D/calcium status?

The way I understood was simply to confirm if an elevated 1,25(OH)2D coincides with greater inflammation due to chronic infection. However:

Inflammation and vitamin D: the infection connection

"Intracellular bacteria can modulate cytokine production [99]; and in monocytes and macrophages, cytokine activation markedly inhibits 1,25(OH)2D/VDR gene transcription [100].

Macrophage microbicidal mechanisms are responsible for the control and elimination of pathogens. 1,25(OH)2D production and action in macrophages activates toll-like receptors to increase expression of the AMP cathelicidin which kills infectious invaders [101, 102]. When the immune system is fighting a persistent microbe, inflammatory molecules are continuously released in an effort to kill the pathogen [103]. Immune defenses stimulate Th17 cells and contribute to the development of chronic inflammatory conditions [104, 105]. An ineffective immunological response causes low-grade inflammation and phagocyte-inflicted tissue damage plays an important role in many chronic diseases [106]; autoimmune patients acquire a distinct pathogenic microbiota and multi-morbidity often results [107, 108]. Therefore, it is reasonable to infer that bacteria have evolved strategies which allow them to persist within host cells. The exact mechanisms are unknown and warrant further study."

Maybe it's better to ask him directly.

 

[Wagner83]

Somewhat related:
Haidut Email Advice Depository

Iron is not lower in cancer, the medical term is "anemia of chronic disease" but it is not anemia at all, it is iron overload. In this so-called anemia ferritin is high, transferin is low, iron saturation index is high and serum iron MAY be low. But high ferritin and high iron saturation, combined with low transferrin is definition of iron overload, not anemia. That is why iron chelation drugs are being used right now for many cancers.
The role of iron chelation in cancer therapy. - PubMed - NCBI
Iron chelation in the treatment of cancer: a new role for deferasirox? - PubMed - NCBI
Recent advances in cancer treatment by iron chelators - ScienceDirect

True anemia with low iron is called "iron-deficiency anemia" and is characterized by LOW ferritin, low iron saturation, high transferrin and sometimes low serum iron. This type of anemia is common in hypothyroidism and people with chronic bleeding issues. Chronically high cortisol may also cause it, as user @messtafarian found out. She had/has Cushing syndrome just like gbolduev. Btw, gbolduev said in a few threads that he had high ferritin, low transferrin and low serum iron - so "anemia" of chronic disease, which matches his claims that he has/had cancer(s).
You can Google both "anemia of chronic disease" and "iron deficiency anemia" for more info. There are some great resources describing the differences and how unfortunate it is that the first one is called anemia at all when it is fact iron overload.

Potential markers for androgenic activity in tissue (suggested by @haidut/studies): 3a-androstanediol, androsterone glucuronide?

"Serum levels by themselves have very little use as a biomarker except to show gonadal activity/function", so it may be worth it to keep in mind the difference between tissue levels of hormones and serum levels.
Estrogen+PUFA Esters May Drive Obesity; Most Doctors Have Not Even Heard Of Them

The fact that plasma levels are only indicative of ovarian activity is conveniently overlooked, as is the fact that fat tissue grows after menopause and fat is the primary source of estrone (estrone easily converts into estradiol as needed). This study below highlights yet another aspect of estrogen overload that is unknown to most endocrinologists - i.e. estrogen forms esters with fatty acids (primarily PUFA, as the study shows) and these get delivered to target tissues, and are almost never tested for in common steroid panel bloodwork.

 

[Mito]

The way I understood was simply to confirm if an elevated 1,25(OH)2D coincides with greater inflammation due to chronic infection. However:

Inflammation and vitamin D: the infection connection

"Intracellular bacteria can modulate cytokine production [99]; and in monocytes and macrophages, cytokine activation markedly inhibits 1,25(OH)2D/VDR gene transcription [100].

 

[ddjd]

Missing:

Estradiol e2
Reverse T3

ESR also correlates with prolactin so you could just save on that