Description
An athlete biomarker blood panel is a series of blood tests that can help assess an athlete's health and performance. The tests can help identify areas for improvement, such as nutrition, training, and recovery.
This panel includes the following test:
Aldolase
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
Growth hormone (GH)
High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP)
Homocysteine
Lipid Panel
Testosterone
Fasting recommended.
Additional information about each test is listed below:
Aldolase is an enzyme that helps the body break down sugars to produce energy. It's mainly found in the brain, liver, and skeletal muscles.
A complete blood count (CBC) serves as a key athlete biomarker by providing insight into an athlete's overall health, including their oxygen carrying capacity, immune system function, and potential signs of anemia or iron deficiency, allowing coaches and medical professionals to monitor training load, identify potential health concerns, and optimize recovery strategies based on blood cell levels.
A Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) is used in athlete biomarker testing to provide a broad overview of an athlete's overall health by assessing key markers related to liver function, kidney function, electrolyte balance, blood sugar levels, and protein levels, helping to identify potential issues that could impact performance or recovery, such as nutritional deficiencies, dehydration, or early signs of overtraining.
Growth hormone (GH) tests are blood tests that check if your body is making a normal amount of GH. Hormones are chemical messengers in your bloodstream that control the actions of certain cells or organs. GH, also known as human growth hormone, controls your body's growth.
In athletes, High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) serves as a biomarker to indicate the level of inflammation in the body, which can be used to monitor potential overtraining, recovery status, and overall health by identifying signs of excessive stress on the body, even when symptoms may not be readily apparent; a significant rise in hs-CRP levels could suggest the need for rest or adjustments to training regimen to prevent injury or performance decline.
Homocysteine is an amino acid that occurs naturally in the blood and is produced when the body breaks down methionine. It's a homologue of cysteine, differing by an additional methylene bridge.
A lipid biomarker, when measured in an athlete's blood, serves as an indicator of their cardiovascular health by assessing their cholesterol and triglyceride levels, providing insight into potential risks for heart disease, even if they are physically fit; essentially, it helps monitor the "good" and "bad" fats in their body that can impact performance and overall health.
Athlete biomarker testing for testosterone levels can help evaluate an athlete's muscle growth, recovery, and fitness. It can also help identify potential injuries and inform training and recovery strategies.
