Do you experience digestive problems, headaches, fatigue, aches, and pains, or other chronic symptoms? Chronic inflammation may be the reason why, and it is the primary cause of most chronic diseases and symptoms. Testing for inflammation markers can help pinpoint underlying health issues and discover the prime cause of your symptoms. Having this information enables your doctor to create an appropriate treatment plan so you regain your health and vitality.
What Is inflammation?
Inflammation is your body’s natural defense mechanism against toxins, allergens, foreign pathogens, or other harm. Your immune system responds to these threats by increasing blood flow, leukocyte infiltration, capillary dilation, and the production of an array of chemical mediators. This process produces cytokines and antibodies, which help to protect your body and fight harmful pathogens by eliminating toxic agents and repairing tissue damage.
In a response to an injury, inflammation can also protect the area and support recovery. Inflammation helps the body in cases of acute infections and injuries. However, chronic, low-grade systemic inflammation can cause harm.
The problems with chronic inflammation
Acute inflammation is a critical part of your body’s survival response to injury, illness, or infection. It protects you from pathogens and helps with the repair of damaged cells. Acute inflammation begins quickly once there is an infection. It may last from a few days to several weeks. It will decrease gradually and end once you have recovered. Signs of acute inflammation may include pain, swelling, redness, heat, itching, or in case of respiratory issues or allergies, sneezing, coughing, congestion, and watery eyes.
However, low-grade, chronic inflammation is systemic. It may last months, years, or for life if not treated. Typically, chronic inflammation has no single causative factor. It may develop over a length of time from a combination of issues like poor lifestyle choices, poor diet, environmental toxin exposure, chronic stress, and other factors. They place an excessive stress load on your body, which produces inflammatory modulators throughout your body. This response can overwhelm your immune system and negatively impact your overall wellbeing.
Chronic, ongoing inflammatory stimulus can lead to cellular alterations, white blood cell recruitment, and increased inflammation. Excess white blood cells may attack your cells, tissues, or internal organs, which leads to a continuous inflammatory response and ongoing health issues.
Chronic inflammation and chronic disease
Chronic inflammation can be very harmful to your body. Symptoms of chronic inflammation can include fatigue, chronic pain, headaches, migraines, muscles aches, joint pain, skin issues, brain fog, memory issues, insomnia, gastrointestinal issues, anxiety, depression, mood swings, weight gain, weight loss, obesity, hormonal issues, frequent infections, early signs of aging, and more.
Chronic inflammation can affect all areas of your body, including your digestive system, kidneys, liver, lungs, brain, endocrine system, hormonal health, heart, skin, muscles, and bones. According to a 2015 article in the British Journal of Nutrition, chronic, low-grade, systemic inflammation is likely involved in the early stages of disease development. Scientific research has linked chronic inflammation to major degenerative diseases, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
It is also linked to autoimmune diseases. A 2015 study published in JAMA Psychiatry has linked chronic inflammation to brain inflammation, mental health issues, and brain health problems. Chronic inflammation may be connected to depression, anxiety, addictions, other mental health issues, memory issues, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Mitochondria are tiny structures within just about every cell of your body. They are responsible for producing the energy your cells need to carry out their functions. They are highly vulnerable to chronic inflammation. Damage to your mitochondria reduces your body’s ability to function and heal. It saps energy from every system in your body.
Top inflammatory lab markers
Because chronic inflammation can cause so many symptoms, diseases, and health issues, it’s critical to test for inflammatory markers. Understanding inflammatory lab markers is critical for identifying underlying health issues and making appropriate changes to repair your body and regain your health and energy. It will help your doctor create a personalized treatment plan with lifestyle recommendations, dietary changes, and the right supplements to improve your health. These are the top inflammatory markers to understand.
ESR
The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a common hematology test to look for inflammation. It is the rate at which your red blood cells in anticoagulated whole blood go down in a standardized tube over a period of one hour.
According to a 2014 study published in the Journal of Clinical Lab Analysis, ESR markers may be able to indicate inflammation in the body. A rate above 20 mm/hr is a sign of significant inflammation and optimal results should be under 10 mm/hr.
Platelets are also a measurement tool of inflammation and the stickiness of blood. Platelets elevated above 250 is a sign of inflammation. The optimal levels for platelets is between 175 and 250. Below 175, immune function and blood clotting are compromised; the same is true for levels above 250.
LDH
Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) is an enzyme found in all living cells. It helps support energy production in the lactate and pyruvate cycle of glycolysis. Elevated levels may indicate inflammation. According to a 2020 observational study published in Aging, elevated LDH markers may be a risk factor for severe respiratory illness. Optimal levels are between 140-180. Levels over 180 indicate inflammation.
Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio
Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) is a measure of stress and inflammation that may affect your health. According to a 2012 study published in the International Archives of Medicine, NLR is a good measure of inflammation associated with prevalent chronic diseases.
When you experience chronic inflammation, the lymphocyte levels will drop and the neutrophil levels will rise and cause an imbalance. NLR is usually measured with the absolute count, and the optimal level is roughly 1.2-2.0. If the number of neutrophils is more than twice the number of lymphocytes, then it is a sign of chronic inflammation.
Liver enzymes
Liver enzyme levels may also indicate inflammation in addition to liver, gallbladder, bile, or kidney issues. According to a 2019 study published in the Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry, there is a link between elevated liver enzyme levels, inflammation, and cardiometabolic problems.
Alkaline phosphatase is a liver enzyme made by the mucosal cells that line the bile system of the liver and helps normal bile flow. Elevated levels (over 95) may indicate inflammation and liver and gallbladder problems.
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is a liver enzyme. Elevated levels may indicate inflammation. Normal levels are between 10 and 26 IU/L.
Aspartate transaminase (AST) is an enzyme present in the live during times of increased liver stress. Elevated levels may indicate inflammation Normal levels are between 10 and 26 IU/L.
Gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase (GGT) is an enzyme in the liver, pancreas, and kidneys. Elevated levels may indicate inflammation and liver disease, usually due to alcoholism and/or sluggish gallbladder or gallstone obstruction. Normal levels are between 10 and 26 IU/L. Levels lower than 10 IU/L can be an indication of a vitamin B6 deficiency.
Lipid panel
Your lipid panel may be another indication of inflammation and related issues, such as clogged arteries and cardiovascular issues. According to a 2019 article in The Effect of Inflammation and Infection on Lipids and Lipoproteins published by Endotext, elevated lipid levels may indicate inflammation or infection.
Having a balanced ratio of LDL to HDL and triglycerides to HDL is critical to your overall health. Optimal levels for LDL: HDL are 3:1 or less. 2:1 is optimal. Triglycerides, should be under 100 with the Tri:HDL ratio to be 2:1 or less, 1:1 being optimal. Higher rates may indicate insulin resistance and inflammation. For more info on the lipid panel, read this article. Optimal levels:
VLDL cholesterol: The ideal range is 5 to 30 mg/dl.
HDL cholesterol: The idea range is 55 to 80. Levels above 100 can indicate chronic inflammation or active infection in the body.
Triglycerides: The ideal range is 40 to 80.
Vitamin D3
Vitamin D3 is an important vitamin that most of our population is deficient in. Poor levels may indicate inflammation. A 2014 study published in the Journal of Inflammation Research has connected low levels of vitamin D to inflammatory diseases, including atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic kidney disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and asthma.
Optimal healthy levels of vitamin D are between 50 ng/mL and 70 ng/mL, while therapeutic levels are over 70 ng/mL up to 100 ng/mL
Comprehensive blood analysis
A comprehensive blood analysis (CBA) is the most detailed blood test that looks at all of these markers of inflammation. This test is more sophisticated than most conventional doctors are able to order.
It examines all parameters for inflammation, blood sugar levels, thyroid function, zinc and copper ratio, vitamin A and D levels, a complete metabolic panel, complete blood count, liver function, nutrient deficiencies, and more.
Hs-CRP
The C-Reactive Protein or CRP test is a key test. It measures a protein (CRP) produced in your liver that indicates inflammation levels in your body. A 2013 study found that increased levels of CRP may be associated with muscle weakness in knee arthritis.
The clinical range is between 0 and 3 mg/L while the optimal range is 0 to 1 mg/L. A level of over 1 mg/L, may indicate an inflammatory response that could be due to acute trauma or chronic conditions. CRP levels should be as low as possible under 1 mg/L and more like .01 mg/L.
HbA1C
Blood sugar imbalances are one of the main causes of inflammation, so checking your hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) levels is important. A 2005 study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, inflammation, stress, and diabetes are interlinked.
According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrine Metabolism, eating the typical American diet increases the risk of obesity and metabolic diseases, which are linked to blood sugar imbalance, increased risk of inflammation, and age-related chronic diseases. Your HbA1C levels measure your average blood sugar over the past 2 to 3 months.
Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) gives the average amount of glucose in your blood or blood sugar over the past 3 months making it one of the top tests for inflammation and diabetes. The clinical range is between 4.8 and 5.6 while the optimal range is 4.5 – 5.2.
Fasting insulin
Blood sugar imbalances may increase your risk of inflammation. A 2016 study found that the development of insulin resistance and increased inflammatory responses in your body may be interlinked.
In addition to testing your HbA1C levels, check your fasting insulin levels. Testing your fasting insulin can reveal elevated blood sugar levels and can detect inflammation, insulin resistance, blood sugar issues, and diabetes.
The clinical range for fasting insulin is 2.6 – 24.9 uIU/ml and the optimal range is 1.0 – 5.0 uIU/ml.
Serum ferritin
Serum ferritin measures the level of ferritin in your body to detect iron deficiency anemia and other health issues. A 2012 study found that increased ferritin levels may be associated with underlying iron deficiency and age-related inflammation in older people.
Elevated serum ferritin levels may indicate inflammation, liver disease, autoimmune disease, or even cancer. The optimal range is 30 to 400 and the optimal range is 50 to 150 for females and 75 to 150 for males.
Red blood cell width
The size of your blood cells has to do with maturation and also depend on methylating agents, such as folate and vitamin B12. Red Blood Cell Distribution (RDW) markers are a great way to detect underlying inflammation in your body. A 2018 study found that RDW levels may be linked to sarcopenia, an inflammation-related condition affecting older people.
The clinical range is between 12.3 and 15.4 percent while the optimal range is 11.5 and 13 percent. When this level is above 13% it may be a sign that inflammation has impacted the development of the red blood cell.
Homocysteine
Homocysteine is a common amino acid in your blood that you mostly get from eating meat. Homocysteine is particularly a good marker for cardiovascular issues. According to a 2010 study, elevated homocysteine levels may indicate inflammation and acute coronary syndrome.
The optimal range for homocysteine is between 6 and 9 umol/L. Some practitioners like to see it under 8 umol/L.
Final thoughts
Chronic inflammation is the root cause of most chronic symptoms and diseases. Testing for inflammation markers helps you and your doctor pinpoint the underlying causes. You can then develop an effective treatment plan and regain your energy and vitality. A comprehensive blood analysis will look at all of the above markers, or your doctor may want to look at specific issues.