Baseline Labs
A key benefit of functional medicine begins with understanding your unique biology. That’s where baseline labs come in—serving as the critical first step toward personalized treatment. At Root, we believe in providing a comprehensive picture of your health starting with our proven Root Wellness Panel.
In this article, we'll explore the importance of evaluating baseline labs and break down the key categories of tests we include in this initial lab draw: nutrient levels, inflammation markers, and thyroid function. You'll also learn what abnormal results could mean and how they can guide us toward personalized strategies to reduce or eliminate symptoms by treating the root cause.
Nutrients
Nutrients (vitamins and minerals) play essential roles in energy production, immune function, hormone balance, and much more. Even subtle deficiencies can have significant impacts on your health. At Root, we prioritize assessing these levels through our baseline labs to identify deficiencies early and provide targeted dietary interventions and supplements that support overall well-being. Here is a breakdown of the key nutrient levels we assess as part of our baseline lab draw:
Ferritin (Iron)
Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in the body, making it a reliable marker for iron levels.
- Symptoms of Deficiency: fatigue, weakness, poor concentration, restless legs
- Associated Conditions: hypothyroidism, heavy menstrual cycles, pregnancy/postpartum, chronic inflammation (high ferritin), anemia, and iron-deficient diets
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)
Vitamin B12 plays a vital role in nerve function, red blood cell production, and thyroid function.
Plus, vitamin B12 is involved in the methylation process, which is a pathway that regulates the balance of sex hormones, like estrogen. Proper methylation is essential for preventing hormonal imbalances that can impact fertility, mood, and overall reproductive health.
- Symptoms of Deficiency: fatigue, numbness/tingling, cognitive changes, anemia
- Associated Conditions: type 2 diabetes or polycystic ovary syndrome (due to Metformin use), acid reflux (due to use of PPI drugs), vegetarian/vegan diets
Zinc
Zinc is a trace mineral essential for immune function, wound healing, and hormone production.
- Symptoms of Deficiency: getting sick often, hair loss or thinning hair, acne, altered taste/smell
- Associated Conditions: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), chronic stress, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), type 2 diabetes
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is crucial for bone health, immune function, and mood regulation.
Low vitamin D levels are widespread. In fact, approximately 40 percent of people living in the United States are estimated to have insufficient vitamin D levels (1). This is why we always include this vitamin in our baseline labs evaluation.
- Symptoms of Deficiency: brittle bones, getting sick often, mood disorders (depression), fatigue
- Associated Conditions: autoimmune disease, obesity, kidney disease, living in northern latitudes or limited sun exposure
Magnesium
Magnesium is involved in over 300 processes in the body, including energy production, muscle function, and blood sugar balance.
Red blood cell (RBC) magnesium reflects the amount of magnesium inside cells, offering a more accurate picture of magnesium status than standard blood serum tests.
Unfortunately, over half of Americans fail to meet daily magnesium requirements with their diet (2).
Unfortunately, over half of Americans fail to meet daily magnesium requirements with their diet (2).
- Symptoms of Deficiency: Muscle cramps, anxiety, fatigue, heart arrhythmias
- Associated Conditions: diabetes, migraines, and gastrointestinal disorders that impair absorption, such as Crohn’s disease or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Wellness Panel
Glucose, Fasting Insulin, HbA1c, Hepatic function, GGT, Lipids, Full Thyroid Panel with Antibodies, Homocysteine, hsCRP, Ferritin, Vit B12, Vit D, Zinc, RBC Mag, OmegaCheck
$195.00
Inflammation and Blood Sugar
Chronic, low-grade inflammation is a hallmark of many health conditions, from heart disease to autoimmune disorders. Inflammation can silently damage tissues, disrupt hormone function, and even alter metabolism, leading to symptoms that are often dismissed until they become significant health issues. This is why assessing inflammation through baseline labs is one of the most crucial steps in understanding root causes of your symptoms. Let’s discuss some of the key labs we evaluate to provide insight into inflammation and overall metabolic health.
High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP)
Hs-CRP is a key marker of inflammation and is often high in response to injury or infection.
It is produced by the liver in response to inflammation. In functional medicine, it is used to assess chronic low-grade inflammation linked to heart disease and other chronic conditions.
High Levels Indicate: systemic inflammation, which is often related to conditions like autoimmune disease, heart disease, diabetes, and more
High Levels Indicate: systemic inflammation, which is often related to conditions like autoimmune disease, heart disease, diabetes, and more
Homocysteine
Homocysteine is an amino acid in the blood produced when the body breaks down methionine, another amino acid.
- High Levels Indicate: increased risk for heart disease, stroke, and cognitive decline.
- Associated Conditions: B-vitamin deficiencies (B6, B12, folate), MTHFR gene mutations
Addressing MTHFR mutations typically involves supplementing with active forms of B vitamins, such as methylated folate and B12.
Omega 6:3 Ratio
The omega-6 to omega-3 ratio measures the balance of essential fatty acids in the body.
Omega-3 fatty acids (found in fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts) are anti-inflammatory, while omega-6 fatty acids (found in vegetable oils and processed foods) can promote inflammation when consumed in excess.
- High Omega 6:3 Ratio Indicates: excessive intake of vegetable oils/processed foods and/or low intake of foods rich in omega-3
- Associated Conditions: heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, obesity
Knowing your omega 6:3 ratio helps our dietitians personalize your dietary recommendations to lower inflammation in the body.
Fasting Insulin
Fasting insulin levels reflect how well the body controls blood sugar.
Insulin resistance, where cells fail to respond effectively to insulin, is a key marker of chronic inflammation. We measure fasting insulin levels in the blood to evaluate your risk for inflammatory conditions like insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
- High Levels Indicate: insulin resistance and chronic inflammation
- Associated Conditions: PCOS, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity
Hemoglobin A1c
Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) measures the average blood glucose levels over the past three months.
Elevated HbA1c levels can indicate chronic inflammation due to persistent high blood sugar levels.
- High Levels Indicate: chronic inflammation and high blood sugar levels
- Associated Conditions: prediabetes (A1c ≥ 5.7%) and diabetes (A1c ≥ 6.5%)
Fasting Glucose
Glucose levels indicate immediate blood sugar status.
Chronically high glucose contributes to inflammation and oxidative stress, damaging tissues throughout the body.
- Symptoms of Low Glucose: fatigue, shakiness, sugar cravings
- Symptoms of High Glucose: difficulty losing weight, frequent urination
A fasting glucose over 100 mg/dl typically indicates insulin resistance and/or prediabetes, while a fasting glucose over 126 mg/dl may be an indicator of diabetes.
Hepatic Function Panel
The hepatic (liver) function panel evaluates liver health, measuring enzymes and proteins that can reveal inflammation or damage to the liver.
In this panel, we will look at liver enzymes (ALT, AST, GGT, and alkaline phosphatase), bilirubin, and albumin levels.
- High Liver Enzymes Indicate: liver inflammation or damage from poor diet, alcohol use, metabolic dysfunction, toxin overload
- Associated Conditions: liver disease (cirrhosis, fatty liver, and/or hepatitis), celiac disease, thyroid disorders
Lipid Panel
A lipid panel measures cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood.
Imbalances in cholesterol, particularly high LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and low HDL (high-density lipoprotein), are markers of inflammation and heart disease risk.
- High Cholesterol Can Indicate: high intake of added sugar and/or processed foods, low intake of fiber, alcohol intake
- Associated Conditions: polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and hypothyroidism
Extremely low cholesterol can be a sign of malnutrition or hyperthyroidism, but low HDL is often a sign of poor heart health or physical inactivity.
Wellness Panel
Glucose, Fasting Insulin, HbA1c, Hepatic function, GGT, Lipids, Full Thyroid Panel with Antibodies, Homocysteine, hsCRP, Ferritin, Vit B12, Vit D, Zinc, RBC Mag, OmegaCheck
$195.00
Thyroid Health
The thyroid gland affects nearly every organ and process in the body. For example, the thyroid produces hormones that regulate metabolism, energy, heart rate, and body temperature. While traditional testing often focuses on thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) alone, our baseline labs include a comprehensive look at TSH, T4, T3, and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies. This full panel helps our Root doctors detect early signs of thyroid dysfunction, identify conversion issues, and uncover autoimmune factors that may affect thyroid health.
Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
TSH is produced by the pituitary gland in your brain and signals the thyroid to produce thyroid hormones called T4 and T3.
TSH maintains the balance of thyroid hormones in the bloodstream.
- High TSH Indicates: hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), suggesting that the pituitary is signaling for more thyroid hormone production
- Low TSH Indicates: hyperthyroidism (hyperactive thyroid) or possibly pituitary dysfunction if the body is producing too much thyroid hormone without TSH elevation
The conventional range for a normal TSH is approximately 0.5 - 4.5 mIU/L. However, this range is too wide and overlooks many cases of underlying thyroid disease. At Root, our functional medicine doctors prefer a narrower and more optimal range for TSH of 1.0 - 2.5 mlU/L. Do you have “normal” thyroid labs, but you’re still feeling symptoms of hypothyroidism? Read this blog to learn more.
Free T4
T4 is the primary hormone produced by the thyroid, though it’s relatively inactive.
In your cells, T4 is converted to T3, the active form of thyroid hormone.
- High T4 May Indicate: hyperthyroidism and/or poor conversion of T4 to T3 due to stress, poor gut health, or nutrient deficiencies
- Low T4 May Indicate: hypothyroidism (even if TSH is normal), indicating the thyroid isn’t producing enough thyroid hormone
Free T3
T3 is the active thyroid hormone that drives metabolism, energy production, and cellular function.
T3 is primarily converted from T4 in the liver and gut.
- High T3 May Indicate: hyperthyroidism or an overactive thyroid gland
- Low T3 May Indicate: hypothyroidism, possibly due to poor conversion of T4 to T3 or issues like chronic stress and inflammation
While T4 levels indicate production, T3 levels reveal how much of the hormone is active in the body. Testing T3 is crucial because some people may have adequate T4 but struggle to convert it to T3.
Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) Antibodies
TPO is an enzyme crucial for thyroid hormone production, helping convert iodine into thyroid hormone.
However, the presence of TPO antibodies suggests that the immune system is attacking the thyroid, commonly seen in autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease.
- High TPO Antibodies: suggests an autoimmune thyroid disorder like Hashimoto’s or Graves’
Checking TPO antibodies helps detect autoimmune thyroid disease, even when TSH and other thyroid hormone levels are within normal ranges.
Wellness Panel
Glucose, Fasting Insulin, HbA1c, Hepatic function, GGT, Lipids, Full Thyroid Panel with Antibodies, Homocysteine, hsCRP, Ferritin, Vit B12, Vit D, Zinc, RBC Mag, OmegaCheck
$195.00
Key Takeaways: Baseline Labs
By assessing nutrient levels, inflammation markers, and thyroid function, you can gain invaluable insights into your body’s current state and areas needing support. Evaluating your baseline labs is the first step in uncovering the root causes of health issues and achieving long-lasting wellness. With Root’s Access Membership, you have the unique ability to order your own labs and receive expert guidance in interpreting results.
A New Way to Access Functional Medicine
Order your own labs and get the support you need. With Root Access, taking charge of your health through a root-cause, data-driven approach has never been easier.
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