Nine values from one draw, each read beside the bands the research gives for that marker, the optimal band first where one is stated, and the conventional range as a labeled reference. Under that: what moves it, and the studies. This is how your own numbers will read. Measurement, not diagnosis.
Sample: one adult, one draw, nine values. Not a real person.
This is a sample. Your own numbers after you join.
Each marker below has its own date and a calendar file. Starting dates, not medical advice. The Lab Atlas never emails or texts you.
Ferritin
24 ng/mL
Drawn Sep 15, 2026
Over time (ng/mL)
One result so far. Add the next one and the line appears.
Shaded: Standard range 15-250 ng/mL. A reference with a history, not a verdict. The note gives 15-150 for women and 20-250 for men; the widest limits are shown.
Test again: Dec 15, 2026
Starting date: 3 months after the last draw. These are starting dates, not medical advice. Change any date, and follow your clinician's schedule when it differs.
The bands, as the research states them
Standard: Ferritin ~15-150 ng/mL (women), ~20-250 ng/mL (men); Iron 60-170 mcg/dL; Saturation 20-50%; TIBC 250-450 mcg/dL. Functional-optimal (opinion): ferritin 50-100 ng/mL often cited as a better functional target than the low end of normal, particularly in women with fatigue.
Units differ between labs. Compare your number in the same unit as the band.
What it measures: The full iron-status picture -- stored iron (ferritin), circulating iron, the percentage of iron-carrying capacity in use, and how much carrying capacity is available.
What moves it
Vitamin C -- Enhances non-heme iron absorption by reducing ferric iron to the more absorbable ferrous form; meta-analyses show adding vitamin C to iron supplementation produces a small but statistically significant boost in hemoglobin and ferritin.
Copper -- Required cofactor (via ceruloplasmin/hephaestin) for iron to be loaded onto transferrin; copper deficiency can cause an iron-refractory anemia, though this is uncommon in typical diets.
What moves together18 relationships in the graph, 14 of them rest on one study.
Vitamin D (25-Hydroxyvitamin D) · one shared studyHH-21164
Read as ferritin, serum ferritin, urinary ferritin in the graph. Every count is the number of approved studies in this library that recorded the claim; a count is attention, not a verdict, and a lone row is a reading to check, not a conclusion. Human, animal and lab readings are named so nothing is mixed.
What it needs to move18 nutrients the library ties to it
A lab number moves with its cofactors, not on its own. These are shown as a set, in alphabetical order; a count is how much has been read, never how strong.
Copper and ceruloplasmin · for copper, tied to Ferritin · listed on How to get measured (Walk-In Lab)
Folate · for folate (vitamin b9), tied to Ferritin · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Quest (questhealth.com), Walk-In Lab)
Urinary iodine · for iodine, tied to Ferritin · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Magnesium (red-cell) · for magnesium, tied to Ferritin · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Walk-In Lab)
Omega-3 Index · for omega-3 fats (epa, dha), tied to Ferritin · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Selenium · for selenium, tied to Ferritin · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Vitamin A (retinol) · for vitamin a, tied to Ferritin · listed on How to get measured (Walk-In Lab)
Vitamin B12 · for vitamin b12, tied to Ferritin · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Quest (questhealth.com), Walk-In Lab)
Plasma vitamin C · for vitamin c, tied to Ferritin · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Vitamin D (25-hydroxy) · for vitamin d, tied to Ferritin · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Quest (questhealth.com), Walk-In Lab)
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) · for vitamin e, tied to Ferritin · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Zinc · for zinc, tied to Ferritin · listed on How to get measured (Walk-In Lab)
Food first: Heme iron (red meat, poultry, fish) is more bioavailable than plant iron; pair plant iron with vitamin C (citrus, peppers, tomatoes); avoid taking iron with coffee, tea, or calcium supplements, which block absorption.
When to see someone: Iron is the mineral where confirming the deficiency first genuinely matters. Overload -- from haemochromatosis or from sustained over-supplementation -- causes irreversible damage to the liver, heart and pancreas, and hereditary haemochromatosis affects roughly 1 in 200 people of Northern European ancestry. Ferritin also rises with inflammation, so it can read falsely normal in someone who is both deficient and inflamed; read it alongside saturation, TIBC and CRP.
One result so far. Add the next one and the line appears.
Shaded: Standard range 20-50%. A reference with a history, not a verdict.
Test again: Mar 15, 2027
Starting date: 6 months after the last draw. These are starting dates, not medical advice. Change any date, and follow your clinician's schedule when it differs.
The bands, as the research states them
Standard: Ferritin ~15-150 ng/mL (women), ~20-250 ng/mL (men); Iron 60-170 mcg/dL; Saturation 20-50%; TIBC 250-450 mcg/dL. Functional-optimal (opinion): ferritin 50-100 ng/mL often cited as a better functional target than the low end of normal, particularly in women with fatigue.
Units differ between labs. Compare your number in the same unit as the band.
What it measures: The full iron-status picture -- stored iron (ferritin), circulating iron, the percentage of iron-carrying capacity in use, and how much carrying capacity is available.
What moves it
Vitamin C -- Enhances non-heme iron absorption by reducing ferric iron to the more absorbable ferrous form; meta-analyses show adding vitamin C to iron supplementation produces a small but statistically significant boost in hemoglobin and ferritin.
Copper -- Required cofactor (via ceruloplasmin/hephaestin) for iron to be loaded onto transferrin; copper deficiency can cause an iron-refractory anemia, though this is uncommon in typical diets.
What moves together1 relationship in the graph, every one of them rests on one study.
What it depends on
No cofactor row in the library yet.
What raises it
Iron (intravenous)nutrient · one study (1 human)HH-48420
Read as transferrin saturation in the graph. Every count is the number of approved studies in this library that recorded the claim; a count is attention, not a verdict, and a lone row is a reading to check, not a conclusion. Human, animal and lab readings are named so nothing is mixed.
What it needs to move18 nutrients the library ties to it
A lab number moves with its cofactors, not on its own. These are shown as a set, in alphabetical order; a count is how much has been read, never how strong.
Copper and ceruloplasmin · for copper, tied to Transferrin Saturation (Iron Saturation) · listed on How to get measured (Walk-In Lab)
Folate · for folate (vitamin b9), tied to Transferrin Saturation (Iron Saturation) · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Quest (questhealth.com), Walk-In Lab)
Urinary iodine · for iodine, tied to Transferrin Saturation (Iron Saturation) · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Magnesium (red-cell) · for magnesium, tied to Transferrin Saturation (Iron Saturation) · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Walk-In Lab)
Omega-3 Index · for omega-3 fats (epa, dha), tied to Transferrin Saturation (Iron Saturation) · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Selenium · for selenium, tied to Transferrin Saturation (Iron Saturation) · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Vitamin A (retinol) · for vitamin a, tied to Transferrin Saturation (Iron Saturation) · listed on How to get measured (Walk-In Lab)
Vitamin B12 · for vitamin b12, tied to Transferrin Saturation (Iron Saturation) · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Quest (questhealth.com), Walk-In Lab)
Plasma vitamin C · for vitamin c, tied to Transferrin Saturation (Iron Saturation) · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Vitamin D (25-hydroxy) · for vitamin d, tied to Transferrin Saturation (Iron Saturation) · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Quest (questhealth.com), Walk-In Lab)
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) · for vitamin e, tied to Transferrin Saturation (Iron Saturation) · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Zinc · for zinc, tied to Transferrin Saturation (Iron Saturation) · listed on How to get measured (Walk-In Lab)
Food first: Heme iron (red meat, poultry, fish) is more bioavailable than plant iron; pair plant iron with vitamin C (citrus, peppers, tomatoes); avoid taking iron with coffee, tea, or calcium supplements, which block absorption.
When to see someone: Iron is the mineral where confirming the deficiency first genuinely matters. Overload -- from haemochromatosis or from sustained over-supplementation -- causes irreversible damage to the liver, heart and pancreas, and hereditary haemochromatosis affects roughly 1 in 200 people of Northern European ancestry. Ferritin also rises with inflammation, so it can read falsely normal in someone who is both deficient and inflamed; read it alongside saturation, TIBC and CRP.
One result so far. Add the next one and the line appears.
Shaded: Standard: 3.0 mg/L or under. A reference with a history, not a verdict. The note reads under 1.0 as low, 1.0-3.0 as average, above 3.0 as high.
Test again: Mar 15, 2027
Starting date: 6 months after the last draw. These are starting dates, not medical advice. Change any date, and follow your clinician's schedule when it differs.
The bands, as the research states them
Standard: under 1.0 mg/L low cardiovascular risk, 1.0-3.0 average, above 3.0 high risk (AHA/CDC cutoffs).
Units differ between labs. Compare your number in the same unit as the band.
What it measures: The liver's output of a systemic inflammation signal, used in cardiology as an add-on risk marker alongside lipids.
What moves it
EPA (Omega-3) -- Anti-inflammatory eicosanoid effects reduce CRP in some but not all trials; effect size is modest.
Vitamin D -- Meta-analysis found supplementation lowered hs-CRP by ~1.08 mg/L overall, with a larger ~2.21 mg/L drop in people whose baseline was 5 mg/L or higher; effect is much smaller in people already vitamin-D-replete.
Curcumin -- Multiple meta-analyses show significant CRP reduction, but effect varies by condition and curcumin has poor natural bioavailability so results depend on the extract/formulation used.
Magnesium -- Co-supplementation trials (with vitamin D/E) in obese/overweight adults show modest inflammatory marker improvement, but isolating magnesium's independent effect is hard.
What moves together56 relationships in the graph, 52 of them rest on one study.
What it depends on
No cofactor row in the library yet.
What raises it
Inverted behavioral cyclesexposure · one study (1 human)HH-2052
Saffron petal teafood · one study (1 animal)HH-47252
Ultramarathon runningpractice · one study (1 human)HH-48321
Microbiome Diversity (Shannon Index) · one shared studyHH-48255
Read as crp, c-reactive protein, hs-crp, high-sensitivity crp, c-reactive protein (crp), blood crp, hscrp, salivary c-reactive protein, c reactive protein in the graph. Every count is the number of approved studies in this library that recorded the claim; a count is attention, not a verdict, and a lone row is a reading to check, not a conclusion. Human, animal and lab readings are named so nothing is mixed.
What it needs to move3 nutrients the library ties to it
A lab number moves with its cofactors, not on its own. These are shown as a set, in alphabetical order; a count is how much has been read, never how strong.
Ferritin and iron studies · for iron, tied to hs-CRP (High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein) · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Quest (questhealth.com), Walk-In Lab)
Omega-3 Index · for omega-3 fats (epa, dha), tied to hs-CRP (High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein) · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Vitamin D (25-hydroxy) · for vitamin d, tied to hs-CRP (High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein) · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Quest (questhealth.com), Walk-In Lab)
Food first: Mediterranean-pattern eating (olive oil, fatty fish, vegetables, nuts), weight loss if overweight, and smoking cessation move hs-CRP more reliably than any single nutrient.
When to see someone: hs-CRP rises with any acute infection or injury -- a single elevated reading isn't meaningful without ruling out a cold, dental work, or recent exercise. Curcumin supplements can interact with blood thinners.
One result so far. Add the next one and the line appears.
Shaded: Standard range about 0.4-4.5 mIU/L. A reference with a history, not a verdict. Varies by lab and assay.
Test again: Mar 15, 2027
Starting date: 6 months after the last draw. These are starting dates, not medical advice. Change any date, and follow your clinician's schedule when it differs.
The bands, as the research states them
Standard: roughly 0.4-4.5 mIU/L (varies by lab/assay). Functional-optimal (opinion): 1.0-2.0 mIU/L commonly cited as ideal by functional-medicine practitioners -- not an official diagnostic cutoff.
Units differ between labs. Compare your number in the same unit as the band.
What it measures: How hard the pituitary is signaling the thyroid to make hormone, the most sensitive single screen of thyroid over- or under-activity.
What moves it
Iodine -- A direct building block of thyroid hormone; both deficiency and excess raise TSH and can cause goiter or thyroid dysfunction. TSH typically rises once iodine intake drops below ~100 mcg/day.
Selenium -- Required for the deiodinase enzymes and glutathione peroxidase that protect the thyroid; RCTs in autoimmune (Hashimoto's) thyroiditis show selenium can lower TSH and thyroid antibodies, more consistently for antibodies than TSH itself.
What moves together14 relationships in the graph, 13 of them rest on one study.
What it depends on
No cofactor row in the library yet.
What raises it
Nickel chlorideexposure · one study (1 animal)HH-38363
Social stressorexposure · one study (1 human)HH-19493
Vitex agnus-castuscompound · one study (1 animal)HH-17538
Wi-fi router electromagnetic exposureexposure · one study (1 animal)HH-7296
What lowers it
Ayurvedic protocol with diet, yoga and herbal formulapractice · one study (1 human)HH-61785
Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb) · one shared studyHH-48654
Total T3 (Triiodothyronine) · one shared studyHH-7296
Read as tsh, thyroid-stimulating hormone, serum tsh in the graph. Every count is the number of approved studies in this library that recorded the claim; a count is attention, not a verdict, and a lone row is a reading to check, not a conclusion. Human, animal and lab readings are named so nothing is mixed.
What it needs to move12 nutrients the library ties to it
A lab number moves with its cofactors, not on its own. These are shown as a set, in alphabetical order; a count is how much has been read, never how strong.
Copper and ceruloplasmin · for copper, tied to TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) · listed on How to get measured (Walk-In Lab)
Urinary iodine · for iodine, tied to TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Ferritin and iron studies · for iron, tied to TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Quest (questhealth.com), Walk-In Lab)
Magnesium (red-cell) · for magnesium, tied to TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Walk-In Lab)
Selenium · for selenium, tied to TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Tyrosine (amino acid panel) · for tyrosine, tied to TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Vitamin A (retinol) · for vitamin a, tied to TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) · listed on How to get measured (Walk-In Lab)
Vitamin D (25-hydroxy) · for vitamin d, tied to TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Quest (questhealth.com), Walk-In Lab)
Zinc · for zinc, tied to TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) · listed on How to get measured (Walk-In Lab)
Food first: Adequate iodine (iodized salt, dairy, seafood) without megadosing; selenium from 1-2 Brazil nuts/day or a modest supplement in deficient/autoimmune contexts.
When to see someone: Both iodine deficiency AND iodine excess can worsen thyroid disease -- more is not automatically better, especially in people with autoimmune thyroiditis or nodules. Selenium above 400 mcg/day risks toxicity (hair loss, GI upset, garlic breath).
One result so far. Add the next one and the line appears.
Shaded: Conventional range about 0.8-1.8 ng/dL. A reference with a history, not a verdict. Assay-dependent.
Test again: Mar 15, 2027
Starting date: 6 months after the last draw. These are starting dates, not medical advice. Change any date, and follow your clinician's schedule when it differs.
The bands, as the research states them
Conventional: roughly 0.8-1.8 ng/dL (assay-dependent). Functional optimal (opinion): upper-middle of the range is often preferred by functional practitioners, particularly in symptomatic patients with a low-normal TSH -- this is opinion, not an official target, and Free T4 is meant to be interpreted alongside TSH, not in isolation.
Units differ between labs. Compare your number in the same unit as the band.
What it measures: The unbound, biologically available fraction of T4, the storage/precursor form of thyroid hormone that tissues convert to the more active T3 as needed.
What moves it
Seleniumsolid -- an RCT in autoimmune hypothyroidism found selenium supplementation increased free T4 and lowered thyroglobulin antibodies compared with placebo. (source: RCT, autoimmune hypothyroidism, PMC11129078)
Iodinesolid -- direct substrate for T4 synthesis; deficiency lowers Free T4, and correcting deficiency restores it. (source: NIH ODS Iodine Health Professional Fact Sheet)
Zincemerging -- a 12-month supplementation study in hypozincemic (zinc-deficient) individuals normalized free T3/T3 and improved the TRH-stimulated TSH response; a separate short RCT combining zinc, vitamin A, and magnesium in hypothyroid patients found a significant increase in Free T4 in the treatment group after 10 weeks, alongside lower hs-CRP, with no significant change in TSH or Free T3. (source: RCT, Biological Trace Element Research, 2021, PMID 33409923)
What moves together2 relationships in the graph, every one of them rests on one study.
Cognitive impairmentstate indicates it · one study (1 human)HH-48655
Panel neighbours
Free T3 (Free Triiodothyronine) · 2 shared studiesHH-47032HH-48655
TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) · one shared studyHH-47032
Read as free t4 in the graph. Every count is the number of approved studies in this library that recorded the claim; a count is attention, not a verdict, and a lone row is a reading to check, not a conclusion. Human, animal and lab readings are named so nothing is mixed.
What it needs to move12 nutrients the library ties to it
A lab number moves with its cofactors, not on its own. These are shown as a set, in alphabetical order; a count is how much has been read, never how strong.
Copper and ceruloplasmin · for copper, tied to Free T4 (Free Thyroxine) · listed on How to get measured (Walk-In Lab)
Urinary iodine · for iodine, tied to Free T4 (Free Thyroxine) · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Ferritin and iron studies · for iron, tied to Free T4 (Free Thyroxine) · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Quest (questhealth.com), Walk-In Lab)
Magnesium (red-cell) · for magnesium, tied to Free T4 (Free Thyroxine) · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Walk-In Lab)
Selenium · for selenium, tied to Free T4 (Free Thyroxine) · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Tyrosine (amino acid panel) · for tyrosine, tied to Free T4 (Free Thyroxine) · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Vitamin A (retinol) · for vitamin a, tied to Free T4 (Free Thyroxine) · listed on How to get measured (Walk-In Lab)
Vitamin D (25-hydroxy) · for vitamin d, tied to Free T4 (Free Thyroxine) · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Quest (questhealth.com), Walk-In Lab)
Zinc · for zinc, tied to Free T4 (Free Thyroxine) · listed on How to get measured (Walk-In Lab)
Food first: Ensure adequate iodine, selenium, iron, and zinc through diet (seafood, eggs, dairy, meat, nuts, seeds). Correcting an underlying deficiency, if present, is the evidence-based lever -- supplementing beyond sufficiency has not been shown to raise Free T4 further in replete people.
When to see someone: If you are on levothyroxine, dose is titrated to TSH and Free T4 together, and changing mineral intake around your medication timing can shift the reading independent of true thyroid status -- worth telling whoever manages your dose.
One result so far. Add the next one and the line appears.
Shaded: Conventional range about 2.3-4.2 pg/mL. A reference with a history, not a verdict. Lab-dependent.
Test again: Mar 15, 2027
Starting date: 6 months after the last draw. These are starting dates, not medical advice. Change any date, and follow your clinician's schedule when it differs.
The bands, as the research states them
Conventional: roughly 2.3-4.2 pg/mL (lab-dependent). Functional optimal (opinion): upper-middle of range is often preferred; not an official target.
Units differ between labs. Compare your number in the same unit as the band.
What it measures: The unbound, biologically active thyroid hormone that actually acts on tissue receptors; most circulating T3 is made by peripheral conversion of T4 rather than direct thyroid secretion, so Free T3 partly reflects conversion efficiency, not just gland output.
What moves it
Seleniumsolid -- selenium-dependent deiodinase enzymes (DIO1/DIO2) carry out the T4-to-T3 conversion; selenium deficiency directly impairs this step. (source: RCT, autoimmune hypothyroidism, PMC11129078)
Ironsolid -- iron is a cofactor for thyroid peroxidase and for the deiodinase enzymes that convert T4 to T3; nutritional iron deficiency has been shown to lower circulating T3 and reduce peripheral T4-to-T3 conversion. (mechanism well-described in thyroid-iron physiology literature; see Iron/Ferritin entry below for supporting studies)
Zincemerging -- a 12-month oral zinc sulfate trial in zinc-deficient individuals normalized serum Free T3 and T3 and decreased reverse T3. (source: zinc supplementation and thyroid hormone metabolism, referenced in zinc-thyroid literature; see Zinc entry below)
What moves together2 relationships in the graph, every one of them rests on one study.
TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) · one shared studyHH-47032
Read as free t3 in the graph. Every count is the number of approved studies in this library that recorded the claim; a count is attention, not a verdict, and a lone row is a reading to check, not a conclusion. Human, animal and lab readings are named so nothing is mixed.
What it needs to move12 nutrients the library ties to it
A lab number moves with its cofactors, not on its own. These are shown as a set, in alphabetical order; a count is how much has been read, never how strong.
Copper and ceruloplasmin · for copper, tied to Free T3 (Free Triiodothyronine) · listed on How to get measured (Walk-In Lab)
Urinary iodine · for iodine, tied to Free T3 (Free Triiodothyronine) · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Ferritin and iron studies · for iron, tied to Free T3 (Free Triiodothyronine) · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Quest (questhealth.com), Walk-In Lab)
Magnesium (red-cell) · for magnesium, tied to Free T3 (Free Triiodothyronine) · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Walk-In Lab)
Selenium · for selenium, tied to Free T3 (Free Triiodothyronine) · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Tyrosine (amino acid panel) · for tyrosine, tied to Free T3 (Free Triiodothyronine) · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Vitamin A (retinol) · for vitamin a, tied to Free T3 (Free Triiodothyronine) · listed on How to get measured (Walk-In Lab)
Vitamin D (25-hydroxy) · for vitamin d, tied to Free T3 (Free Triiodothyronine) · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Quest (questhealth.com), Walk-In Lab)
Zinc · for zinc, tied to Free T3 (Free Triiodothyronine) · listed on How to get measured (Walk-In Lab)
Food first: Correct any underlying selenium, iron, or zinc deficiency through diet or targeted, tested supplementation; extreme calorie restriction and acute illness both lower Free T3 independent of nutrient status (a physiological down-regulation, not a deficiency to chase with supplements).
When to see someone: Low Free T3 in the setting of illness ("euthyroid sick syndrome" / non-thyroidal illness syndrome) is a normal adaptive response, not something to correct with iodine or thyroid supplements -- treating it as a deficiency in an acutely ill person can do harm.
One result so far. Add the next one and the line appears.
Shaded: Standard fasting range 70-99 mg/dL. A reference with a history, not a verdict.
Test again: Mar 15, 2027
Starting date: 6 months after the last draw. These are starting dates, not medical advice. Change any date, and follow your clinician's schedule when it differs.
The bands, as the research states them
Standard: 70-99 mg/dL normal, 100-125 mg/dL prediabetes range, 126+ mg/dL diabetes range (fasting). Functional-optimal (opinion): 70-85 mg/dL often cited as ideal, tighter than the standard range.
Units differ between labs. Compare your number in the same unit as the band.
What it measures: The amount of sugar circulating in the blood at the moment of the draw, the most basic screen of blood-sugar regulation.
What moves it
Magnesium -- Meta-analyses in type 2 diabetics show supplementation modestly lowers fasting glucose and HbA1c; low magnesium status is common in diabetics and worsens insulin resistance.
Chromium -- Some meta-analyses show meaningful fasting glucose/HbA1c reduction in type 2 diabetics, others show no significant effect -- response appears to depend heavily on baseline insulin sensitivity and chromium status.
hs-CRP (High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein) · one shared studyHH-3731
Read as blood glucose, fasting blood glucose, fasting glucose, glucose, plasma glucose in the graph. Every count is the number of approved studies in this library that recorded the claim; a count is attention, not a verdict, and a lone row is a reading to check, not a conclusion. Human, animal and lab readings are named so nothing is mixed.
What it needs to move19 nutrients the library ties to it
A lab number moves with its cofactors, not on its own. These are shown as a set, in alphabetical order; a count is how much has been read, never how strong.
Copper and ceruloplasmin · for copper, tied to Fasting Glucose · listed on How to get measured (Walk-In Lab)
Folate · for folate (vitamin b9), tied to Fasting Glucose · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Quest (questhealth.com), Walk-In Lab)
Ferritin and iron studies · for iron, tied to Fasting Glucose · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Quest (questhealth.com), Walk-In Lab)
Magnesium (red-cell) · for magnesium, tied to Fasting Glucose · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Walk-In Lab)
Omega-3 Index · for omega-3 fats (epa, dha), tied to Fasting Glucose · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Selenium · for selenium, tied to Fasting Glucose · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Tyrosine (amino acid panel) · for tyrosine, tied to Fasting Glucose · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Vitamin B12 · for vitamin b12, tied to Fasting Glucose · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Quest (questhealth.com), Walk-In Lab)
Plasma vitamin C · for vitamin c, tied to Fasting Glucose · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Vitamin D (25-hydroxy) · for vitamin d, tied to Fasting Glucose · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Quest (questhealth.com), Walk-In Lab)
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) · for vitamin e, tied to Fasting Glucose · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Zinc · for zinc, tied to Fasting Glucose · listed on How to get measured (Walk-In Lab)
Food first: Reduce refined carbohydrate/added sugar, prioritize fiber and protein at meals, regular physical activity, adequate sleep.
When to see someone: Chromium picolinate at high doses has case reports of renal impairment; use standard supplement doses (200-1000 mcg/day) only, and magnesium supplementation should be dose-adjusted in kidney disease.
One result so far. Add the next one and the line appears.
Shaded: Standard: under 5.7%. A reference with a history, not a verdict.
Test again: Dec 15, 2026
Starting date: 3 months after the last draw. These are starting dates, not medical advice. Change any date, and follow your clinician's schedule when it differs.
The bands, as the research states them
Standard: under 5.7% normal, 5.7-6.4% prediabetes range, 6.5%+ diabetes range. Functional-optimal (opinion): under 5.3% sometimes cited as an ideal target, tighter than standard.
Units differ between labs. Compare your number in the same unit as the band.
What it measures: Average blood sugar over roughly the prior 2-3 months, reflected by how much sugar has attached to red blood cells.
What moves it
Magnesium -- Modest HbA1c reduction in magnesium-deficient/diabetic populations.
Chromium -- Mixed evidence -- some trials show benefit, others don't, same caveats as fasting glucose.
EPA (Omega-3) -- No consistent direct HbA1c effect; benefits are mainly on triglycerides, not glycemic control.
What moves together40 relationships in the graph, 36 of them rest on one study.
What it depends on
No cofactor row in the library yet.
What raises it
Abiraterone plus prednisonecompound · one study (1 human)HH-49522
Vitamin D (25-Hydroxyvitamin D) · one shared studyHH-21164
Read as hba1c, blood glycated hemoglobin in the graph. Every count is the number of approved studies in this library that recorded the claim; a count is attention, not a verdict, and a lone row is a reading to check, not a conclusion. Human, animal and lab readings are named so nothing is mixed.
What it needs to move19 nutrients the library ties to it
A lab number moves with its cofactors, not on its own. These are shown as a set, in alphabetical order; a count is how much has been read, never how strong.
Copper and ceruloplasmin · for copper, tied to HbA1c (Hemoglobin A1c) · listed on How to get measured (Walk-In Lab)
Folate · for folate (vitamin b9), tied to HbA1c (Hemoglobin A1c) · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Quest (questhealth.com), Walk-In Lab)
Ferritin and iron studies · for iron, tied to HbA1c (Hemoglobin A1c) · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Quest (questhealth.com), Walk-In Lab)
Magnesium (red-cell) · for magnesium, tied to HbA1c (Hemoglobin A1c) · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Walk-In Lab)
Omega-3 Index · for omega-3 fats (epa, dha), tied to HbA1c (Hemoglobin A1c) · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Selenium · for selenium, tied to HbA1c (Hemoglobin A1c) · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Tyrosine (amino acid panel) · for tyrosine, tied to HbA1c (Hemoglobin A1c) · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Vitamin B12 · for vitamin b12, tied to HbA1c (Hemoglobin A1c) · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Quest (questhealth.com), Walk-In Lab)
Plasma vitamin C · for vitamin c, tied to HbA1c (Hemoglobin A1c) · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Vitamin D (25-hydroxy) · for vitamin d, tied to HbA1c (Hemoglobin A1c) · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Quest (questhealth.com), Walk-In Lab)
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) · for vitamin e, tied to HbA1c (Hemoglobin A1c) · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Zinc · for zinc, tied to HbA1c (Hemoglobin A1c) · listed on How to get measured (Walk-In Lab)
Food first: Same levers as fasting glucose -- lower glycemic load, more fiber, weight management, consistent movement (especially post-meal walks).
When to see someone: HbA1c can be falsely altered by conditions affecting red blood cell lifespan (anemia, recent blood loss/transfusion, some hemoglobinopathies) -- interpret cautiously if CBC is abnormal.
One result so far. Add the next one and the line appears.
Shaded: Standard lab range about 2-25 uIU/mL. A reference with a history, not a verdict. The note calls this wide enough to include almost everyone.
Test again: Mar 15, 2027
Starting date: 6 months after the last draw. These are starting dates, not medical advice. Change any date, and follow your clinician's schedule when it differs.
The bands, as the research states them
Standard laboratory range is roughly 2-25 microIU/mL, which is wide enough to include almost everyone. Functional-optimal (opinion, not a clinical cutoff): commonly cited under about 7 microIU/mL fasting. HOMA-IR is calculated from this and fasting glucose -- (glucose mg/dL x insulin microIU/mL) / 405 -- with under about 1.5 often cited as optimal. Both are interpretive conventions rather than diagnostic thresholds.
Units differ between labs. Compare your number in the same unit as the band.
What it measures: How much insulin the pancreas is having to produce to hold blood sugar steady overnight. Glucose and HbA1c report the result; insulin reports the effort. The effort rises first -- often years before the result moves -- which is why a normal glucose and a normal HbA1c can sit on top of a metabolism already working much harder than it should be.
What moves it
Myo-inositolmixed -- An umbrella meta-analysis of 46 randomized trials in 30,133 people with polycystic ovary syndrome found myo-inositol improved insulin sensitivity. A 2024 systematic review graded the PCOS evidence limited and inconsistent and recommended shared decision-making rather than routine use -- both readings ship here.
Magnesiumemerging -- A randomized controlled trial adding magnesium to drinking water reported improvement in long-term metabolic and insulin measures. Magnesium is a cofactor for the enzymes that handle glucose, which is the mechanism underneath the association.
Vitamin Dsolid -- A meta-analysis of 20 trials in 2,703 people with type 2 diabetes found supplementation raised 25(OH)D and lowered insulin-resistance scores without changing fasting glucose. A 2025 meta-analysis of 12 trials in 1,538 children found improved insulin sensitivity ONLY where baseline vitamin D was low -- correcting a shortfall, not adding a drug.
Dietary fibersolid -- Fiber slows the rate at which a meal arrives in the bloodstream, which lowers the insulin required to clear it. The cheapest available lever, and it works at every meal rather than once a day.
What moves together37 relationships in the graph, 34 of them rest on one study.
Read as insulin, blood insulin, fasting insulin in the graph. Every count is the number of approved studies in this library that recorded the claim; a count is attention, not a verdict, and a lone row is a reading to check, not a conclusion. Human, animal and lab readings are named so nothing is mixed.
What it needs to move19 nutrients the library ties to it
A lab number moves with its cofactors, not on its own. These are shown as a set, in alphabetical order; a count is how much has been read, never how strong.
Copper and ceruloplasmin · for copper, tied to Fasting Insulin · listed on How to get measured (Walk-In Lab)
Folate · for folate (vitamin b9), tied to Fasting Insulin · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Quest (questhealth.com), Walk-In Lab)
Ferritin and iron studies · for iron, tied to Fasting Insulin · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Quest (questhealth.com), Walk-In Lab)
Magnesium (red-cell) · for magnesium, tied to Fasting Insulin · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Walk-In Lab)
Omega-3 Index · for omega-3 fats (epa, dha), tied to Fasting Insulin · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Selenium · for selenium, tied to Fasting Insulin · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Tyrosine (amino acid panel) · for tyrosine, tied to Fasting Insulin · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Vitamin B12 · for vitamin b12, tied to Fasting Insulin · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Quest (questhealth.com), Walk-In Lab)
Plasma vitamin C · for vitamin c, tied to Fasting Insulin · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Vitamin D (25-hydroxy) · for vitamin d, tied to Fasting Insulin · listed on How to get measured (Labcorp OnDemand, Quest (questhealth.com), Walk-In Lab)
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) · for vitamin e, tied to Fasting Insulin · ask for it by name; no direct-access page was read for it. See How to get measured.
Zinc · for zinc, tied to Fasting Insulin · listed on How to get measured (Walk-In Lab)
Food first: Protein and fiber at the first meal rather than carbohydrate alone; legumes, oats, chia and vegetables alongside any starch; magnesium from pumpkin seeds, dark leafy greens and cacao; oily fish. Walking for ten minutes after a meal lowers the insulin that meal demands, and costs nothing.
It lives on this device and nowhere else. Carry it as a file, print it for an appointment, or hand someone a read-only view you can end at any time. The Lab Atlas never holds a copy it can read.
Not food, and they move markers. They ride on every panel and every plan.
Move until you sweat or are winded
For an extended stretch, at least 3 times a week.
High-intensity aerobic training raised HDL most consistently across 84 studiesHH-54757, lowered fasting glucose, blood pressure, HbA1c and triglycerides in older adults with type 2 diabetesHH-108690, and at 3 to 5 sessions a week lowered 24-hour blood pressure across 15 trialsHH-109062.
Our view: where we stop citing and start stating. The sweat-or-winded, 3-times-a-week threshold is ours, drawn from the intensity and frequency those trials used.
Get outside
Sunlight on your skin and in your eyes, in nature.
Sunlight on skin drives vitamin D synthesisHH-2808, though a supplement raised levels more than sunlight advice did in people already deficientHH-15648. Across 143 studies, more green space went with lower cortisol, heart rate and blood pressureHH-44403HH-44414. 2 or more hours of outdoor light a day halved new nearsightedness in childrenHH-324668.
Catch the morning light and the sunset
Before full sunrise, and again at sunset, for circadian rhythm and the hormones that ride on it.
Bright morning light, with dimmer evenings, moved the body clock earlier in 20 people whose sleep ran lateHH-15770. In 500 students, more daytime light meant earlier sleep timing, and light after dusk delayed itHH-53418. Through 126 sunless Antarctic days, 4 people's melatonin and cortisol rhythms drifted free of clock timeHH-15583.
Our view: where we stop citing and start stating. The before-sunrise and sunset timing is ours; the library holds no row yet on pre-sunrise light, and it is on the search list.
Manage mental and emotional stress
It shows up in the blood.
Across 58 trials, stress-management practice reliably lowered cortisolHH-43214; a workplace mindfulness trial lowered IL-6, a marker of inflammationHH-2623, and mindfulness-based stress reduction went with modest drops in blood pressureHH-5020.
How are you managing your mental and emotional stress?
Pick what you want to work with. Each one opens as its own page, and Back brings you here. In sample mode picks are not saved.
What Am I Feeling?Start with good, bad, mad, sad or stressed and narrow to the word that fits, with the studies behind it.Open
Meet YourselfA guided self-portrait: your patterns, your archetype, your growth edge.Open
BreathworkThe mechanisms and the methods: the breath as a daily lever on your nervous system.Open
Nervous System ResetCome back to calm in about 2 minutes: breath, sigh, and grounding.Open
Gratitude3 plain prompts a day, body, mind and beliefs, that build a record over time.Open
JournalingOne written question a day through 9 pillars of what you believe. No dogma, no right answers.Open
Reparenting5 steps to meet your own unmet needs, plus a daily kept promise.Open
Love or FearIs what is reaching you built on love, or on fear?Open
Ego or IntuitionIs this certainty yours, or were you handed it?Open
The Daily 3-6-93 minutes at a time: move, reflect and breathe. Scales to 3, 6, 9, 30, 60 or 90 minutes.Open
Chakra ToningGuided vowel-sound toning with a 3-6-9 breath.Open
Nothing picked yet.
Sleep belongs with these. 6 weeks of 1.5 hours less sleep a night raised fasting insulin in womenHH-88238; under 7 hours went with higher fasting glucose across 15 cohortsHH-138615.
What your diet means
Your body, your feelings and your nutrients are one system
A feeling has chemistry under it. The chemistry runs on nutrients, and what you believe, practice and pay attention to changes the chemistry back. Belief shapes biology, and biology shapes belief. So this part of the page starts where most people do: with how you feel. Pick a feeling and the diet page opens on the nutrients, practices and markers the library links to it.
It opens full-screen, one tap away, like an app. Full app coming soon.
Show me how
iPhone and iPad
Open thelabatlas.org in Safari.
Tap the Share button (the square with an arrow pointing up).
Scroll down and tap "Add to Home Screen."
Tap "Add."
Android
Open thelabatlas.org in Chrome.
Tap the three-dot menu in the top right.
Tap "Add to Home screen" (or "Install app").
Confirm.
How to get measured
A number you do not have yet can be ordered without a visit.
A direct-access order is a lab test without a visit: the provider supplies the order, you are drawn at a Labcorp or Quest patient centre or collect at home, and the results go to you. The Lab Atlas never sees a result unless you enter it yourself. Nothing here is sent to a provider and nothing comes back.
From $399 at Quest (questhealth.com) (read 2026-10-15); 2 options on the page.
State law limits direct-access testing in some states (New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island are named by most providers; Hawaii, Arizona, Maryland and Massachusetts by some). Each provider's own line is quoted below, and the checkout is where it is enforced.