# Aging metrics in lab test?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-metrics-in-lab-test/753780>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 3, 2016, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-metrics-in-lab-test/753780 "2016-05-03T15:15:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-metrics-in-lab-test/753780/1 "2016-05-03T15:15:47Z")

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I was investigating some of the biochemistry theorized to be related to aging and, since I had a doctor who was giving me blood and urine tests each year since 2012, I am curious to determine how I am tracking on a few metrics. Unfortunately, none of the results listed seem to directly correlate to the chemicals that I was hoping to see, so I’m wondering if any of them can serve as proxies for those values?

Here’s the ones I would like to know:

Human growth hormone  
Sirtuins  
IGF-1  
Catalase  
Glutathione (specifically, glutathione peroxidase)  
H2O2 (or other reactive oxygen species)  
NAD+

Here’s what I have available in my reports:

- Blood -  
LDL, Lipids, HDL, Triglycerides, Cholesterol, WBC, RBC, Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW, Platelets, Neutrophils, Lymphs, Monocytes, Eos, Basos, Immature Granulocytes, Glucose, BUN, Creatinine, eGFR, Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Carbon Dioxide, Calcium, Protein, Albumin, Globulin, Bilirubin, Alkaline Phosphate, AST, ALT

- Urine -  
pH, WBC Esterase, Protein, Glucose, Ketones, **Occult Blood** \*, Bilirubin, Urobilinogen, Nitrite, WBC, RBC, Epithelial Cells, Mucus Threads, Bacteria, TSH, Vitamin D, C-Reactive Protein

Are any of those directly correlated to the ones I am curious about?

If not, what sort of test would I want to ask for to get the ones that I do want (if generally available)?

- Negative, despite expectations!

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**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aging-metrics-in-lab-test/753780/2 "2016-05-03T15:34:13Z")

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I am not a doctor, but I am a molecular biologist that’s worked on some of those age-related pathways in invertebrate model organisms.

Off the top of my head, most of the age-related things you’ve mentioned are intracellular proteins or molecules. Sirtuins expression levels, downstream components of the IGF receptor, intracellular NAD/NADH ratios, etc. wouldn’t show up in blood as far as I know, either directly or indirectly through some downstream target. You’d have to get a biopsy. Additionally, I’m not aware that any have been developed as clinically useful biomarkers.