Baseline Bloodwork Guide

Preview

Why Baseline Bloodwork Matters

You can't optimize what you can't measure. Before starting any peptide, nootropic, or longevity protocol, you need a snapshot of where your body stands today. Without it, you're guessing — and guessing leads to wasted compounds, missed warning signs, and zero accountability.

A proper baseline lets you:

• Confirm you're healthy enough to introduce exogenous compounds
• Identify existing deficiencies that no peptide can fix (iron, vitamin D, thyroid)
• Track real change at 6–8 week intervals with objective data
• Catch side effects early before they become problems

The OPTMZ Core Panel

These are the markers we recommend for every optimizer, regardless of protocol. Order them through your physician or a direct-to-consumer lab (LabCorp, Quest, Marek Health).

Hormones

| Marker | Why It Matters | |--------|---------------| | Total Testosterone | Baseline for any GH or peptide protocol | | Free Testosterone | The bioavailable fraction — often more telling than total | | Estradiol (E2) | Aromatase activity; critical if using GH secretagogues | | SHBG | Sex hormone binding globulin — context for free T | | IGF-1 | Growth hormone proxy — your primary tracking marker for GH peptides | | Thyroid (TSH, Free T3, Free T4) | Metabolic baseline; peptides won't fix hypothyroidism | | Cortisol (AM) | Stress axis baseline; elevated cortisol blunts everything | | DHEA-S | Adrenal reserve marker; declines with age |

Metabolic

| Marker | Why It Matters | |--------|---------------| | Fasting Glucose | Insulin sensitivity baseline | | HbA1c | 3-month glucose average — more reliable than a single fasting read | | Fasting Insulin | Early insulin resistance detection (often missed by standard panels) | | Lipid Panel (Total, LDL, HDL, Triglycerides) | Cardiovascular baseline | | hsCRP | Systemic inflammation — the silent driver of aging | | Homocysteine | Methylation efficiency; elevated = cardiovascular risk |

Organ Function

| Marker | Why It Matters | |--------|---------------| | CBC (Complete Blood Count) | Red/white blood cell health, immune baseline | | CMP (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel) | Liver, kidney, electrolytes | | GGT | Liver stress marker — more sensitive than standard LFTs | | Creatinine + eGFR | Kidney function baseline |

Optional (Recommended)

| Marker | Why It Matters | |--------|---------------| | Vitamin D (25-OH) | Most people are deficient; affects everything | | Ferritin | Iron storage — low ferritin = fatigue, poor recovery | | Magnesium (RBC) | Serum magnesium is unreliable; RBC is the real number | | Omega-3 Index | Inflammation resolution capacity | | ApoB | Gold standard for cardiovascular risk (better than LDL-C) |

When to Retest

• First retest: 6–8 weeks after starting a protocol
• Ongoing: Every 12 weeks while on active protocols
• Minimum: Twice per year for general health monitoring
• Always retest if: you change compounds, doses, or notice unexpected symptoms

How to Read Your Results

Don't just look at whether you're "in range." Lab reference ranges are based on population averages — including sick people. Optimal ranges are narrower:

| Marker | Lab "Normal" | Optimal Range | |--------|-------------|---------------| | Total Testosterone (male) | 264–916 ng/dL | 600–900 ng/dL | | Free Testosterone (male) | 5–21 ng/dL | 15–25 ng/dL | | IGF-1 | 53–331 ng/mL | 200–300 ng/mL | | Fasting Insulin | 2.6–24.9 µIU/mL | 2–6 µIU/mL | | hsCRP | 0–3.0 mg/L | < 1.0 mg/L | | Vitamin D | 30–100 ng/mL | 50–80 ng/mL | | Ferritin (male) | 24–336 ng/mL | 100–200 ng/mL |

Before You Start

1. Fast for 12 hours before your draw (water only)
2. Draw in the morning (7–10 AM) for accurate hormone levels
3. Avoid intense exercise 24 hours before
4. If you're on any medications, note them — they affect interpretation
5. Keep your results in a spreadsheet or tracking app for trend analysis

Your baseline is your most valuable data point. Everything that comes after is measured against it.