Protocols
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Blood Markers to Monitor When Using Supraphysiological Testosterone, Other PEDs, or Growth Hormone
| Marker | Standard Reference Range | Optimal for Skin Health | Concerning Levels | Critical Levels | Key Interpretation Notes (PED Users) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MMP Activation | |||||
| hs-CRP | 0–3.0 mg/L | < 0.5 mg/L | 1.0–3.0 mg/L | > 3.0 mg/L | Systemic inflammation; triggers MMP surge. Elevated during blasts sacrifices skin quality. |
| GGT | 0–40 U/L (varies by lab) | < 20 U/L | 20–40 U/L | > 40 U/L | Oxidative stress; glutathione depletion. Predicts MMP activation even if ALT/AST normal. |
| Uric Acid | 3.5–7.2 mg/dL (varies by gender/lab) | 4.0–5.5 mg/dL | 5.5–7.0 mg/dL | > 7.0 mg/dL | Oxidative damage from cell turnover. Levels >6.5 mg/dL suggest burden exceeds capacity. |
| LDH | 140–280 U/L | < 200 U/L | 240–280 U/L | > 280 U/L | Tissue breakdown; confirms oxidative/inflammatory damage. Test after 48–72 hours rest. |
| Glycation | |||||
| HbA1c | 4.0–5.6% | 4.2–5.0% | 5.0–5.6% | > 5.6% | Long-term glycation (2–3 months). GH/insulin users: Even small rises accelerate skin aging. |
| Serum Fructosamine | 200–285 μmol/L | < 250 μmol/L | 250–285 μmol/L | > 285 μmol/L | Short-term glycation (2–3 weeks). Catches spikes HbA1c misses during blasts/diet shifts. |
| Glycated Albumin (GA) | 11–16% | 11–13.5% | 13.5–16% | > 16% | Specific short-term glycation (2 weeks). Useful for altered red cell turnover in PED users. |
| Fasting Glucose | 70–99 mg/dL | 75–85 mg/dL | 86–99 mg/dL | > 100 mg/dL | Daily snapshot; persistent highs indicate constant sugar exposure damaging skin. |
| Lipid Peroxidation | |||||
| Oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL) | < 60 U/L | < 50 U/L | 50–70 U/L | > 70 U/L | Direct lipid peroxidation; precursor to ALEs. Request separately if not in standard panel. |
| Triglyceride/HDL Ratio | Varies (calculated) | < 1.5 | 1.5–3.0 | > 3.0 | Ectopic fat predictor; indicates insulin resistance promoting peroxidation. |
| ALT/AST Ratio | ALT <40 U/L, AST <40 U/L | ALT <25 U/L, AST similar/higher | ALT 25–50 U/L (ALT > AST) | ALT >50 U/L (AST normal) | Suggests NAFLD/ectopic fat if ALT high. Muscle-related if post-training. |
| VLDL | 5–40 mg/dL | < 20 mg/dL | 20–40 mg/dL | > 40 mg/dL | Ectopic fat transport; high levels shunt fat to wrong tissues, including skin. |
| Anion Gap (from CMP) | 5–12 mEq/L | 7–10 mEq/L | 10–12 mEq/L | > 12 mEq/L | Metabolic stress/acidosis; indicates mitochondrial ROS during cutting cycles. |
| BUN/Creatinine Ratio | 6:1 to 22:1 | 10:1 to 15:1 | 15–20:1 | > 20:1 | Catabolic stress; subtle sign of high mitochondrial ROS in fat oxidation states. |