Metabolic/insulin resistance syndrome is an extremely common, yet clinically silent, condition that if left untreated can cause chronic cardiometabolic illness; therefore, early identification of these patients is essential. Early detection of cardiometabolic risk factors is essential to optimize health and longevity, and reduce an individual’s risk of developing chronic metabolic conditions including obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, PCOS, and cognitive decline. [7., 9.]
This profile, conducted through dried blood spot testing, assesses major cardiometabolic indicators to uncover an individual’s current risk of developing chronic cardiometabolic illness and facilitate timely interventions to reduce these risks.
The CardioMetabolic Profile - Blood Spot from ZRT Laboratory tests for several key biomarkers associated with cardiometabolic health:
Glucose: Measurement of fasting glucose levels is a crucial first step in assessing insulin resistance and diabetes risk. Elevated fasting glucose is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes. [5.]
Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c): HbA1c provides a measure of long-term blood sugar control, reflecting average blood glucose levels over the past 2-3 months. Elevated HbA1c levels are indicative of poor glycemic control and increased risk of CVD and diabetes. [12.]
Insulin: elevated insulin levels indicate insulin resistance, a key driver of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Elevated fasting insulin levels are associated with dyslipidemia, hypertension, and obesity, all contributing factors to CVD risk. [5.] A fasting insulin level also provides a much more comprehensive picture of overall blood sugar control than glucose and HbA1c alone, and can point to blood sugar dysregulation long before HbA1c levels rise. [8., 11.]
Lipids (Total Cholesterol, LDL Cholesterol, VLDL Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol, Triglycerides): Lipid profile assessment is essential for evaluating cardiovascular risk. Elevated LDL and VLDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, along with low HDL cholesterol, are key components of dyslipidemia and contribute to atherosclerosis and CVD development. [8.] Dyslipidemia in the setting of insulin resistance can cause or worsen non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD.
C-Reactive Protein, High Sensitivity (hs-CRP): hs-CRP is a marker of systemic endothelial inflammation and predicts cardiovascular events independent of traditional risk factors. Because hs-CRP correlates with inflammation at the level of the endothelium, or the inner lining of blood vessels, elevated hs-CRP levels are associated with increased risk of CVD and can guide preventive interventions. [10.]
Including these biomarkers in the CardioMetabolic Profile - Blood Spot test allows for comprehensive assessment of cardiometabolic health and enables early intervention to mitigate associated risks.
Individuals With a Family History of Cardiometabolic Conditions: people with a family history of cardiometabolic conditions including obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease (CVD) or diabetes can all benefit from the insights provided by the CardioMetabolic Profile - Blood Spot from ZRT Laboratory Test. Many of these conditions are driven by genetic factors, and disease progression may occur for years before clinically apparent signs or symptoms manifest. [4.]
Individuals at Risk of Developing Cardiometabolic Conditions: in addition to having a family history of cardiometabolic conditions, many lifestyle factors are implicated in disease progression. These include eating a [standard American diet], high sugar and carbohydrate intake, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, a sedentary lifestyle, and inadequate restful sleep. [13.]
Individuals who have been diagnosed with a cardiometabolic condition: being diagnosed with a cardiometabolic condition often inspires diet and lifestyle changes in individuals. The CardioMetabolic Profile - Blood Spot from ZRT Laboratory is an effective tool to monitor objective changes in a person’s health profile in response to such changes. [1.] It can also monitor disease progression and alert the clinician to the need to increase therapeutic interventions.
People interested in optimizing their health and wellness: The CardioMetabolic Profile - Blood Spot from ZRT Laboratory is an effective screening tool for anyone interested in optimizing their health and wellness. Using a simple blood spot sample, it provides comprehensive insights into key biomarkers associated with cardiometabolic health including fasting glucose and insulin, lipids, and hs-CRP, enabling early detection of cardiometabolic risk factors and allowing individuals to take proactive steps to improve their health.
Adjustments to hormone usage may be necessary for accurate testing. Discuss this with your healthcare provider.
Avoid anti-aging face creams for 3 days before the test.
Overnight fasting (10-12 hours) is required prior to sample collection.
Collect the sample within an hour of waking.
Ship the samples back to the lab promptly using the provided, prepaid envelope.
Timing may vary based on the type of hormones used.
Avoid anti-aging face creams and 7-Keto DHEA for 3 days before the test (this does not apply to DHEA).
Fast overnight (10-12 hours) before sample collection.
Wash hands, rub arms together for circulation, and label the collection card.
Cleanse hands and the selected finger for blood collection.
Activate lancet and collect blood drops onto the filter paper circles.
Ensure each circle is filled with blood drops.
Allow the card to air dry for at least 4 hours.
Place the dried collection card and completed requisition form in the provided envelope.
Apply the prepaid label and ship the samples promptly after collection.
Results are typically available 3-5 business days after samples are received at the lab.
Your healthcare provider will notify you of the results and schedule a follow-up appointment for review
[1.] Beavers KM, Nicklas BJ. Effects of lifestyle interventions on inflammatory markers in the metabolic syndrome. Front Biosci (Schol Ed). 2011 Jan 1;3(1):168-77. doi: 10.2741/s142. PMID: 21196367; PMCID: PMC3665333.
[2.] Eftekhari MH, Mozaffari-Khosravi H, Shidfar F, Zamani A. Relation between Body Iron Status and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease. Int J Prev Med. 2013 Aug;4(8):911-6. PMID: 24049617; PMCID: PMC3775168.
[3.] Grundy SM, Cleeman JI, Daniels SR, Donato KA, Eckel RH, Franklin BA, Gordon DJ, Krauss RM, Savage PJ, Smith SC Jr, Spertus JA, Costa F; American Heart Association; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Diagnosis and management of the metabolic syndrome: an American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Scientific Statement. Circulation. 2005 Oct 25;112(17):2735-52. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.105.169404. Epub 2005 Sep 12. Erratum in: Circulation. 2005 Oct 25;112(17):e297. Erratum in: Circulation. 2005 Oct 25;112(17):e298. PMID: 16157765.
[4.] Imes CC, Lewis FM. Family history of cardiovascular disease, perceived cardiovascular disease risk, and health-related behavior: a review of the literature. J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2014 Mar-Apr;29(2):108-29. doi: 10.1097/JCN.0b013e31827db5eb. PMID: 23321782; PMCID: PMC3633646.
[5.] Kahn SE, Cooper ME, Del Prato S. Pathophysiology and treatment of type 2 diabetes: perspectives on the past, present, and future. Lancet. 2014 Mar 22;383(9922):1068-83. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)62154-6. Epub 2013 Dec 3. PMID: 24315620; PMCID: PMC4226760.
[6.] Kell DB, Pretorius E. Serum ferritin is an important inflammatory disease marker, as it is mainly a leakage product from damaged cells. Metallomics. 2014 Apr;6(4):748-73. doi: 10.1039/c3mt00347g. PMID: 24549403.
[7.] Kosmas CE, Bousvarou MD, Kostara CE, Papakonstantinou EJ, Salamou E, Guzman E. Insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease. J Int Med Res. 2023 Mar;51(3):3000605231164548. doi: 10.1177/03000605231164548. PMID: 36994866; PMCID: PMC10069006.
[8.] Legro RS, Finegood D, Dunaif A. A fasting glucose to insulin ratio is a useful measure of insulin sensitivity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1998 Aug;83(8):2694-8. doi: 10.1210/jcem.83.8.5054. PMID: 9709933.
[9.] Puwar A, Nagpure S. Insulin Resistance in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Cureus. 2022 Oct 16;14(10):e30351. doi: 10.7759/cureus.30351. PMID: 36407241; PMCID: PMC9665922.
[10.] Ridker PM, Hennekens CH, Buring JE, Rifai N. C-reactive protein and other markers of inflammation in the prediction of cardiovascular disease in women. N Engl J Med. 2000 Mar 23;342(12):836-43. doi: 10.1056/NEJM200003233421202. PMID: 10733371.
[11.] Saravia G, Civeira F, Hurtado-Roca Y, Andres E, Leon M, Pocovi M, Ordovas J, Guallar E, Fernandez-Ortiz A, Casasnovas JA, Laclaustra M. Glycated Hemoglobin, Fasting Insulin and the Metabolic Syndrome in Males. Cross-Sectional Analyses of the Aragon Workers' Health Study Baseline. PLoS One. 2015 Aug 4;10(8):e0132244. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132244. PMID: 26241903; PMCID: PMC4524641.
[12.] Selvin E, Steffes MW, Zhu H, Matsushita K, Wagenknecht L, Pankow J, Coresh J, Brancati FL. Glycated hemoglobin, diabetes, and cardiovascular risk in nondiabetic adults. N Engl J Med. 2010 Mar 4;362(9):800-11. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa0908359. PMID: 20200384; PMCID: PMC2872990.
[13.] Shi S, Huang H, Huang Y, Zhong V, Feng N. Lifestyle Behaviors and Cardiometabolic Diseases by Race and Ethnicity and Social Risk Factors Among US Young Adults, 2011 to 2018. Journal of the American Heart Association. 2023;12(17). doi:https://doi.org/10.1161/jaha.122.028926
The CardioMetabolic Profile allows for early detection of major indicators of metabolic syndrome and screens for cardiovascular disease risks.
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On December 11th, join Dr. Terry Wahls in a 
