Charts last updated 4/30/2013

I'm a retired anti-aging coach and have studied anti-aging research for more than 25 years. Blood testing should be a major component of any anti-aging program. However, there are several problems with the standard lab references listed on the blood test results you and/or your doctor will receive from any lab.

The labs base their reference ranges on the results of all the blood samples each particular lab has tested. The "normal" range reflects the test results of "healthy" subjects meaning anyone who did not have a clinical diagnosis of a disease at the time of the test. Unfortunately, there are many "healthy" individuals who are not in optimal health or are headed toward disease but have not reached the extremes that allow diagnosis yet. The U.S. medical culture is focused on diagnosing and treating disease, not on promoting and preserving optimal health.

For anti-aging purposes, there is an additional problem with these "standard" reference ranges because they are based on the "normal" lab results for the age of the subject. Many "normal" changes in hormone and other levels are common as we age and cause many of the symptoms of aging if not some facets of aging itself. I'm 64 years old and without intervention, my testosterone levels are normal for a 64-year-old but I function and feel better with the testosterone level of a 25 to 35 year-old. In addition, the higher level of testosterone helps protect me from heart disease, cancer, and other problems.

Not only are the standard reference ranges different from the optimal ranges, they do not take into account the relationships between different hormones and other factors. So when your doctor scans your blood tests for the typical "H" or "L" flags indicating measurements outside the "normal" range and ignores other less obvious implications, you are being done a disservice that can have dire health consequences for you.

Of course, research is ongoing so these references are subject to continuing update but these are the numbers I currently use with my clients, friends, family and myself.

Note: There is a link on page 1 for a calculator for rT3 ratios that is difficult to read and is not active. For those reasons, I include it here: http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/rt3-ratio/

For more information, see my other posts:

Save on discounted LabCorp blood tests: http://www.eroids.com/forum/general/general-talk/discounted-labcorp-bloo...
My Recommended Annual Blood Tests for Cardiac Risk Factors and General Health: http://www.eroids.com/pics/recommended-annual-labcorp-blood-tests-for-ca...