Optimal Range Reference Card
Blood Chemistry · functional optimal ranges · danhunter.be
Optimal ranges (functional targets), not lab reference ranges. M/F shown where they differ. = corrected from the original deck. Always read markers together and against the client.
| Marker & what it tells you | Optimal (SI / EU) | Optimal (US) |
|---|---|---|
| Complete Blood Count & Oxygen | ||
| RBC Oxygen-carrying capacity. High = dehydration/hypoxia/TRT; low = anaemia. | M4.5-5.5 10¹²/L F4.3-4.8 10¹²/L | M4.5-5.5 10⁶/µL F4.3-4.8 10⁶/µL |
| Haemoglobin The oxygen carrier. Read with ferritin & MCV before calling anaemia. | M140-160 g/L F130-140 g/L | M14-16 g/dL F13-14 g/dL |
| Haematocrit Packed cell volume. High often = dehydration, not true polycythaemia. | M40-49 % F35-39 % | M40-49 % F35-39 % |
| MCV Red-cell size. Low = iron; high = B12/folate (can mask low RBC). | 84-92 fL | 84-92 fL |
| MCH Haemoglobin per cell. Tracks with MCV. | 28-32 pg | 28-32 pg |
| MCHC Hb concentration per cell. | 330-350 g/L | 33-35 g/dL |
| Reticulocytes opt Young red cells. Rises when repletion is working. | 0.5-1.5 % | 0.5-1.5 % |
| Platelets Clotting cells. High = reactive (inflammation/iron); low → review. | 175-250 10⁹/L | 175-250 10³/µL |
| Iron Status | ||
| Serum Iron Fluctuates hourly — weak alone. Confirm with ferritin. | 14.3-17.9 µmol/L | 80-100 µg/dL |
| Ferritin Best single iron marker, but rises with inflammation (check CRP). | 50-150 µg/L | 50-150 ng/mL |
| Transferrin Saturation opt Transferrin saturation. >45% persistent → screen for overload. | 25-35 % | 25-35 % |
| Infection / Immunity | ||
| WBC Count Total immune cells. High = acute; low = chronic/viral. Needs differential. | 3.5-6 10⁹/L | 3.5-6 10³/µL |
| Neutrophils Bacterial/acute inflammation. Low = copper/B12/folate. | 50-60 % | 50-60 % |
| Lymphocytes Viral/autoimmune high; zinc deficiency or high cortisol low. | 30-35 % | 30-35 % |
| Monocytes Chronic inflammation / recovery phase. | < 6 % | < 6 % |
| Eosinophils Allergy & parasites high; cortisol low. | < 3 % | < 3 % |
| Basophils Allergy, inflammation, hypothyroid. | < 1 % | < 1 % |
| Proteins & Immune Dysregulation | ||
| Total Protein Albumin + globulin. Weak alone — read the split. | 64-80 g/L | 6.4-8 g/dL |
| Albumin Strongest dehydration marker (high); drops with inflammation/liver. | 45-50 g/L | 4.5-5 g/dL |
| Globulin Immune/inflammation. High gamma = autoimmune/chronic infection. | 19-30 g/L | 1.9-3 g/dL |
| Lipid Profile | ||
| Total Cholesterol Not a stand-alone heart-disease predictor. Particles matter more. | 4.1-6.2 mmol/L | 160-240 mg/dL |
| HDL Protective. Low with insulin resistance & inactivity. | M1.42-1.94 mmol/L F1.68-2.2 mmol/L | M55-75 mg/dL F65-85 mg/dL |
| LDL Read with particle size; high with low thyroid & IR. | 2.07-4.4 mmol/L | 80-170 mg/dL |
| Triglycerides Insulin-resistance & fatty-liver flag. Compute TG:HDL. | 0.56-1.02 mmol/L | 50-90 mg/dL |
| ApoB Counts atherogenic particles — beats LDL-C. Lower is better. | < 80 mg/dL | < 80 mg/dL |
| Lp(a) Genetic, independent CV risk. Measure once. | < 75 nmol/L | < 30 mg/dL |
| Blood Sugar Management | ||
| Fasting Glucose Fasting sugar. Optimal is tight — lab 'normal' hides early dysfunction. | 4.4-5 mmol/L | 80-90 mg/dL |
| HbA1c 3-month average glucose. Iron deficiency can falsely raise it. | 5-5.3 % | 5-5.3 % |
| Fasting Insulin opt Fasting insulin — enables HOMA-IR. Rises before glucose. | 2-6 µIU/mL | 2-6 µIU/mL |
| C-Peptide opt Stable proxy for insulin secretion. | 0.37-0.7 nmol/L | 0.37-0.7 nmol/L |
| Inflammation & Liver | ||
| ESR Slow inflammation marker (~1-week memory). | 0-10 mm/hr | 0-10 mm/hr |
| CRP (hs) Fast, sensitive inflammation marker. Chronic 1-3 = metabolic/CV risk. | 0-1 mg/L | 0-1 mg/L |
| AST (SGOT) AST = SGOT. Liver, but also heart & muscle (training raises it). | M12-26 IU/L F9-21 IU/L | M12-26 IU/L F9-21 IU/L |
| ALT (SGPT) ALT = SGPT. Most liver-specific. High-normal = fatty liver flag. | M13-22 IU/L F10-19 IU/L | M13-22 IU/L F10-19 IU/L |
| Creatinine Kidney marker, but scales with muscle mass & meat intake. | 71-97 µmol/L | 0.8-1.1 mg/dL |
| Creatine Kinase (CK) opt Muscle enzyme. High after training; very high → refer. | 40-180 IU/L | 40-180 IU/L |
| eGFR opt Kidney filtration. Persistently <60 → refer. | > 90 mL/min | > 90 mL/min |
| Electrolytes | ||
| Calcium Tightly regulated. Correct for albumin. | 2.35-2.45 mmol/L | 9.4-9.8 mg/dL |
| Phosphorus Bone/energy mineral. High with kidney issues. | M0.97-1.13 mmol/L F0.97-1.29 mmol/L | M3-3.5 mg/dL F3-4 mg/dL |
| Sodium Fluid balance. High = dehydration; tracks blood pressure. | 139-142 mmol/L | 139-142 mEq/L |
| Potassium High is often a sample artefact (haemolysis) — re-draw first. | 4-4.4 mmol/L | 4-4.4 mEq/L |
| Chloride Acid-base & hydration. | 102-105 mmol/L | 102-105 mEq/L |
| Bicarbonate Buffer. Low = blood acidity. | 25-28 mmol/L | 25-28 mEq/L |
| Oxidative Stress & Kidney | ||
| Uric Acid Oxidative-stress marker & antioxidant. High with fructose/alcohol/IR. | M220-327 µmol/L F190-262 µmol/L | M3.7-5.5 mg/dL F3.2-4.4 mg/dL |
| BUN / Urea Protein metabolism & hydration. Low on vegan/low-protein/deficit. | 4.3-6.8 mmol/L | 12-19 mg/dL |
| GGT Very sensitive to alcohol & oxidative/glutathione demand. | M12-24 IU/L F10-22 IU/L | M12-24 IU/L F10-22 IU/L |
| Bilirubin (total) Potent antioxidant — low can mean it's consumed (oxidative stress). | 8.5-13.7 µmol/L | 0.5-0.8 mg/dL |
| Nutrients & Methylation | ||
| Vitamin D (25-OH) Acts like a hormone — immune, insulin, testosterone. | 100-150 nmol/L | 40-60 ng/mL |
| Vitamin B12 Energy, nerves, red cells. Confirm low-normal with MMA. | 370-738 pmol/L | 500-1000 pg/mL |
| Folate (serum) Works with B12 for red cells & methylation. | 23-54 nmol/L | 10-24 ng/mL |
| Homocysteine Methylation / B-vitamin status & CV risk. Lower is better. | < 7 µmol/L | < 7 µmol/L |
| Magnesium (serum) Under-reads true status. Insulin, BP, sleep, muscle. | 0.85-0.95 mmol/L | 2.1-2.3 mg/dL |
| Zinc Testosterone, immunity, thyroid, stomach acid. | 13.8-18.4 µmol/L | 90-120 µg/dL |
| Hormone Binding & Adrenal | ||
| SHBG Sets free hormone. Low = insulin resistance flag. | 30-60 nmol/L | 30-60 nmol/L |
| DHEA-S Main adrenal androgen — vitality / adrenal reserve. | 5.4-10.9 µmol/L | 200-400 µg/dL |
| Endocrine — Thyroid | ||
| TSH Pituitary signal. Optimal ~1-2; lab range is too wide. | 1-2 mIU/L | 1-2 mIU/L |
| Free T4 Storage thyroid hormone. | 12-19 pmol/L | 12-19 pmol/L |
| Free T3 Active thyroid hormone. Low with normal TSH = conversion problem. | 4-5.4 pmol/L | 4-5.4 pmol/L |
| Reverse T3 opt Inactive T3 — rises with stress/dieting, blocks T3. | 0.1-0.22 ng/mL | 0.1-0.22 ng/mL |
| Thyroid Antibodies (TPO) opt Thyroid antibodies. Any elevation = autoimmune → refer. | 0-4.1 U/mL | 0-4.1 U/mL |
| Endocrine — Male Hormones | ||
| Total Testosterone Lab ranges are age-adjusted down — 'normal for age' is not optimal. | 20.8-31.2 nmol/L | 600-900 ng/dL |
| Free Testosterone The bioactive fraction. Driven down by high SHBG. | 120-250 pg/mL | 120-250 pg/mL |
| Oestradiol Male oestradiol. High = aromatase excess (fat, alcohol, low zinc). | 12-30 pg/mL | 12-30 pg/mL |
| Endocrine — Female Hormones | ||
| Oestradiol opt Strongly cycle-dependent — interpret against cycle day. | 50-170 pg/mL | 50-170 pg/mL |
| Progesterone opt Measure mid-luteal (~day 21) to confirm ovulation. | 0.5-1.5 µg/L | 0.5-1.5 ng/mL |
| FSH opt Low pre-menopause; high (>25) confirms menopause. | 3-10 (pre) IU/L | 3-10 (pre) IU/L |
| LH opt High LH:FSH ratio suggests PCOS. | 2-12 (pre) IU/L | 2-12 (pre) IU/L |
| Total Testosterone (F) opt Libido, muscle, drive. High = PCOS / insulin resistance. | 1.2-2.4 nmol/L | 35-70 ng/dL |
| Endocrine — Adrenal | ||
| Cortisol (AM serum) AM snapshot — confirm with a diurnal curve before acting. | 10-18 µg/dL | 10-18 µg/dL |
Coaching education only — not a medical diagnostic. Values outside conventional critical thresholds require physician referral. © danhunter.be