Biomarker Glossary
Biomarker: A distinctive biological or biologically derived indicator (such as a molecule or other measurable substance) of a process, event, or condition.
Your body is a treasure trove of these indicators. Measure and improve your biomarkers and enhance your wellbeing.
11-Deoxycortisol (11DC)
11-Deoxycortisol is useful in diagnosing patients with 11-beta-hydroxylase deficiency (second leading cause of congenital adrenal hyperplasia) and primary (adrenal failure) or secondary (hypothalamic-pituitary ACTH deficiency) adrenal insufficiency.
17-OH Progesterone (17OHPg)
The analysis of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHPG) is 1 of the 3 analytes along with cortisol and androstenedione, that constitutes the best screening test for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), caused by either 11- or 21-hydroxylase deficiency.
Analysis for 17-OHPG is also useful as part of a battery of tests to evaluate females with hirsutism or infertility; both can result from adult-onset CAH.
7-Keto DHEA (7keto)
7-Keto DHEA is a metabolite of DHEA that is nonhormonal.
Aldosterone (Ald)
Aldosterone (ALD) is a hormone that helps regulate your blood pressure by managing the levels of sodium (salt) and potassium in your blood and impacting blood volume. Having too much or too little aldosterone in your body can cause health issues.
Allopregnanolone (AlloP)
Allopregnanolone is a naturally occurring neurosteroid which is made in the body from the hormone progesterone.
Androstenedione (Adione)
Androstenedione is an endogenous steroid often described as a “prohormone” since it can be converted to testosterone in the body.
Androsterone (Andro)
Androsterone is a type of chemical known as a "prohormone” since it can be converted to testosterone in the body.
Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)
Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)
Cholesterol (CH), total
This measures the total amount of cholesterol in the body, including HDL and LDL.
Copper (Cu)
Copper (Cu)
Cortisol (C)
Cortisol is known as the stress hormone because of its role in the body’s stress response. But cortisol is about more than just stress.
Cortisol is an essential hormone that affects almost every organ and tissue in your body. It plays many important roles, including: Regulating your body's stress response. Helping control your body's use of fats, proteins and carbohydrates, or your metabolism.
Creatinine (Crtn)
Creatinine is a chemical compound left over from energy-producing processes in your muscles. Healthy kidneys filter creatinine out of the blood. Creatinine exits your body as a waste product in urine.
Deoxycorticosterone (DOC)
Deoxycorticosterone (DOC) is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal gland that possess mineralocorticoid activity and acts as a precursor to aldosterone.
DHEA (D)
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a hormone produced by the body's adrenal glands. The body uses DHEA to make androgens and estrogens, the male and female sex hormones. DHEA levels peak at about age 25, then go down steadily as you get older.
DHEA-S (DS)
DHEAS stands for dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. DHEAS is a male sex hormone that is found in both men and women. DHEAS plays an important role in making the male sex hormone testosterone and the female sex hormone estrogen. It's also involved in the development of male sexual characteristics at puberty.
DOPAC
Dopac (aka 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid) is a metabolite of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine serves as the reward and pleasure center in the brain. DOPAC and HVA (Homovanillic Acid) are dopamine metabolites.
Dopamine (DA)
Dopamine (DA) plays a vital role in reward and movement regulation in the brain.
Epi-testosterone (Epi-T)
Epitestosterone is a natural steroid, an inactive epimer of the hormone testosterone.
Epinephrine (Epi)
Epinephrine is also known as adrenaline. Higher than normal levels of dopamine, norepinephrine, and/or epinephrine can be a sign of a serious health condition.
Estriol (E3)
Estriol is one of three estrogen hormones. Estriol levels rise throughout pregnancy, helping to keep your uterus and unborn baby healthy. The levels are at their highest right before childbirth. They help prepare your body for labor and delivery.
Estrone (E1)
Estrone is one of three estrogen hormones. The weakest type of estrogen, it’s typically higher after menopause. Like all estrogen, estrone supports female sexual development and function. Low or high estrone can cause symptoms such as irregular bleeding, fatigue or mood swings.
Ferritin (FER)
Ferritin levels indicate the amount of iron stored in your body and can reveal whether you have an iron deficiency. You can elevate low iron levels with dietary changes and supplementation.
Folate (FOL)
Folate test measures the amount of folate in the blood. Folate is one of many B vitamins. The body needs folate for normal growth and to make red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), and platelets. Folate also is important for the normal development of a baby (fetus).
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
FSH is made by your pituitary gland, a small gland located underneath the brain. FSH plays an important role in sexual development and functioning.
Free Cortisol (FC)
Cortisol is the main stress hormone produced by your adrenal glands. Chronic stress can lead to high cortisol levels and is known to affect heart health. The cortisol test measures whether your cortisol levels are high or low, which may be a sign of an adrenal gland condition.
Free Thyroxine (fT4)
T4 (thyroxine) is the main hormone produced by the thyroid gland.
Free Triiodothyronine (fT3)
Triiodothyronine (T3) is one of the main hormones produced by the thyroid gland. Although produced in smaller amounts than thyroxine (T4), it is about 4 times more potent.
Glutamate (Glu)
Glutamate is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter released by nerve cells in your brain. It plays a major role in learning and memory. For your brain to function properly, glutamate needs to be present in the right concentration in the right places at the right time. Too much glutamate is associated with such diseases as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington’s disease.
Glycine (Gly)
Glycine is an amino acid that your body uses to create proteins, which it needs for the growth and maintenance of tissue and for making important substances, such as hormones and enzymes.
Growth Hormone (GH)
Growth hormone is released into the bloodstream from the anterior pituitary gland. The pituitary gland also produces other hormones that have different functions from growth hormone.
Growth hormone acts on many parts of the body to promote growth in children. Once the growth plates in the bones (epiphyses) have fused growth hormone does not increase height. In adults, it does not cause growth but it helps to maintain normal body structure and metabolism, including helping to keep blood glucose levels within set levels.
HDL Cholesterol (HDL)
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is known as the "good" cholesterol because it helps remove other forms of cholesterol from your bloodstream. Higher levels of HDL cholesterol are associated with a lower risk of heart disease.
Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)
A hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) is a biomarker analyzed and tested whereby the average blood sugar (glucose) level can be illustrated over the past two to three months.
Glucose is a type of sugar in your blood that comes from the foods you eat. Your cells use glucose for energy. A hormone called insulin helps glucose get into your cells. If you have diabetes your body doesn't make enough insulin, or your cells don't use it well. As a result, glucose can't get into your cells, so your blood sugar levels increase.
High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP)
Your body makes C-reactive protein (CRP) in response to inflammation and elevated levels of CRP are associated with an increased risk of heart disease and heart attack. CRP levels can be lowered by lifestyle changes, as well as statin medications.
Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
LH is made by your pituitary gland, a small gland located underneath the brain. LH plays an important role in sexual development and functioning.
Magnesium (Mg)
Magnesium is a mineral that supports healthy muscles, nerves, heart, and bones. When you don’t have enough, you may experience symptoms like muscle cramps, weakness, or fatigue. Testing your magnesium levels lets you know whether you need to add a supplement to your diet or eat more magnesium-rich foods.
Melatonin (Mel)
Melatonin is a hormone that your brain produces in response to darkness. It helps with the timing of your circadian rhythms (24-hour internal clock) and with sleep. Being exposed to light at night can block melatonin production.
Melatonin (MT6s)
Urinary 6-Sulfatoxymelatonin (MT6s) is the main metabolite of melatonin. MT6s itself has no physiologic activity, but testing it in the urine is a good indicator of whole body melatonin production. Low urinary MT6s is an indication for melatonin supplementation.
Norepinephrine (NE)
Norepinephrine, also known as noradrenaline, is both a neurotransmitter and a hormone. It plays an important role in your body’s “fight-or-flight” response. As a medication, norepinephrine is used to increase and maintain blood pressure in limited, short-term serious health situations.
Phenethylamine (PEA)
Phenethylamine is used for athletic performance, depression, weight loss, and to improve mood and attention, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Phenethylamine stimulates the body to make certain chemicals that play a role in depression and other psychiatric conditions. People who don't make enough phenethylamine naturally may be helped by taking phenethylamine as a supplement. However, too much phenethylamine might cause side effects similar to the drug amphetamine.
Progesterone (Pg)
Progesterone is one of two female sex hormones, the other being estrogen. Its main functions are regulating menstruation and supporting pregnancy in the female body.
Prolactin (PRL)
Prolactin is a hormone made by the pituitary gland, a small gland at the base of the brain. Prolactin causes the breasts to grow and make milk during pregnancy and after birth. Prolactin levels are normally high for pregnant women and new mothers. Levels are normally low for nonpregnant women and for men.
Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)
Prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, is a protein produced by normal, as well as malignant cells of the prostate gland. The PSA test measures the level of PSA in the blood.
Serotonin (5-HT)
Serotonin is a chemical nerve cells produce, and it sends signals between your nerve cells. Serotonin is found in many parts of your body: in your digestive system, blood platelets, and throughout the central nervous system. It’s also thought to play a role in regulating your mood.
Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG)
SHBG stands for sex hormone binding globulin. It's a protein made by the liver and attaches itself to sex hormones found in both men and women. These hormones are:
- Testosterone, the main sex hormone in men
- Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), another male sex hormone
- Estradiol, a form of estrogen, the main sex hormone in women
SHBG controls how much of these hormones are delivered to the body's tissues. Although SHBG attaches to all three of these hormones, an SHBG test is mostly used to look at testosterone. SHBG levels can show if there is too much or too little testosterone being used by the body.
Testosterone (T)
Testosterone is known as a "male" sex hormone, but females have testosterone in smaller amounts.
In adult males, testosterone controls sex drive, maintains muscle mass, and helps make sperm. In females, testosterone is important for the growth of bones and muscles, and healthy organs.
Thyroglobulin
Thyroglobulin is a protein made by cells in the thyroid. The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located near the throat. A thyroglobulin test is mostly used as a tumor marker test to help guide thyroid cancer treatment.
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOab)
Thyroid peroxidase is a type of protein (called an enzyme) that cells in the thyroid gland use to make thyroid hormone. If these enzymes leak out into the bloodstream (as when thyroid cells are damaged) the immune system makes antibodies against these proteins. The thyroid peroxidase antibody test measures these antibodies in the blood.
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
TSH stands for thyroid stimulating hormone. TSH levels that are too high or too low may be a sign of a thyroid problem.
Thyroxine (T4), total
A T4 (thyroxine) test is a blood test that helps diagnose thyroid conditions. T4 is a thyroid hormone, and too much or too little of it can indicate an issue with your thyroid.
Triglycerides (TG)
Triglycerides are a type of fat (lipid) found in your blood. When you eat, your body converts any calories it doesn't need to use right away into triglycerides. The triglycerides are stored in your fat cells.
Vitamin B12 (B12)
Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, is naturally found in animal foods. It can also be added to foods or supplements. Vitamin B12 is needed to form red blood cells and DNA. It is also a key player in the function and development of brain and nerve cells. Vitamin B12 binds to the protein in the foods we eat.
Vitamin D (25-OH D2/25-OH D3)
Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that helps regulate calcium and phosphorus in the body. It also plays a role in maintaining proper bone structure.
Zinc (Zn)
Zinc is a trace mineral, meaning that the body only needs small amounts, and yet it is necessary for almost 100 enzymes to carry out vital chemical reactions. It is a major player in the creation of DNA, growth of cells, building proteins, healing damaged tissue, and supporting a healthy immune system.