Biological Age - PhenoAge

The PhenoAge Blood Biomarker Test provides a comprehensive assessment of your biological age using a set of nine key blood biomarkers.

Thyroid Function

Your thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate growth and energy expenditure. Thyroid disorders are quite common, and many people don’t have any symptoms at all. This thyroid test screens for the thyroid hormones that play a key role in regulating the body’s metabolism.

Blood Glucose

Blood glucose is generated from carbohydrates and to use this fuel for energy your body needs insulin. With type 2 diabetes the cells either ignore the insulin or the body doesn't produce enough of it. Glucose then builds up leading to problems with the heart, kidneys, eyes, nerves, and blood vessels.

Cholesterol

Lipids and cholesterol are fat-like substances in your blood. Some are necessary for good health, but when you have a high level of cholesterol in your blood, a lot of it ends up being deposited in the walls of your arteries and other vital organs. Lifestyle choices including diet, exercise and alcohol intake can all influence cholesterol levels and your risk of developing heart disease.

Apolipoprotein Ratio

The apo B/apo A1 ratio indicates the cholesterol balance between potentially atherogenic (bad) and anti-atherogenic (good) particles. For men this should be below 0.9 and for women it should be below 0.8.

Hormone Panel

No matter what your fitness goals are, one of the main determinants of whether you will reach them is your hormonal status. This hormone test measures the key hormones that must be in balance and play an important role in regulating sexual health, fertility and athletic performance.

Iron Stores

This ferritin test is a measure of how much iron you have stored in your body. Low ferritin can be a sign of anaemia caused by iron deficiency. This test can also be used to investigate iron overload syndrome (haemochromatosis) which is an inherited condition where your body cannot remove excess iron.

B Vitamins

B vitamins are a class of water-soluble vitamins which play important roles in cell metabolism, converting food into fuel and metabolising fats and proteins. They are important for the nervous system and brain function as well as a healthy liver, hair, skin and eyes, and they also strengthens the immune system.

Bone Health

These bone health markers are part of a complex feedback loop that play a critical role in maintaining bone health. When you don’t get enough calcium, you increase your risk of developing osteoporosis and stress fractures.

Inflammation

Inadequate recovery from exercise or overtraining can result in inflammation and muscle damage. In addition to c-reactive protein and creatine kinase, this panel also measures homocysteine which is another recognised risk factor for cardiovascular disease, as well as osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s.

Full Blood Count

A full blood count provides a good snapshot of overall health and screens for a variety of disorders. It is used to assess immune function, infection, and anaemia, as well as nutritional status and exposure to toxic substances.

Liver Function

Your liver processes drugs and alcohol, filters toxic chemicals, stores vitamins and minerals, and makes bile, proteins and enzymes. This liver function test examines enzymes and other markers for evidence of damage to your liver cells or a blockage near your liver which can impair its function.

Kidney Function

Your kidneys filter waste from your body and regulate salts in your blood. They also produce hormones and vitamins that direct cell activities in many organs and help to control blood pressure. When the kidneys aren't working properly, waste products and fluid can build up to dangerous levels creating a life-threatening situation.

Digestive & Metabolic Markers

The presence of meat fibres may indicate poor digestion from too little gastric acid or reduced output from the pancreas.

Beneficial Bacteria

Significant numbers of bacteria are normally present in the healthy gut. Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria in particular, are essential for gut health because they help to inhibit gut pathogens and carcinogens, control pH, reduce cholesterol and synthesise vitamins.

Opportunistic Bacteria

In a healthy individual with a balanced gut microbiome, opportunistic bacteria are usually kept in check by the beneficial bacteria that dominate the gut ecosystem. However, when the microbial balance is disrupted or the immune system is weakened, these opportunistic bacteria can multiply and potentially lead to infection or other health issues.

Yeasts

This test looks for evidence of candida or other yeast overgrowth. Whilst yeasts are a normal inhabitant of the gastrointestinal tract, they may become an opportunistic pathogen after disruption of the mucosal barrier, imbalance of the normal intestinal flora or impaired immunity. This can be caused by things like antibiotics, antacids and stress.

Parasites

Some gut problems can be a consequence of an undetected gut infection. A significant number of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) cases could actually be due to undiagnosed gut parasites such as Blastocystis hominis and Dientamoeba fragilis.

Pancreatic Function

Proteins, fats, and carbohydrates are broken down by stomach acids, enzymes produced by the pancreas, and bile from the liver. This process also releases micronutrients. This blood test measures the levels of enzymes produced by the pancreas.