The Biomarker for Chronic Inflammation
The suPAR test is the first in the USA proven to accurately measure inflammation, delivering actionable insights that can significantly impact your health outcomes.
Easy Test Process
Blood Sample
A healthcare professional from our network will safely collect a blood sample and securely send it to our laboratory for analysis.
Laboratory Analysis
Your sample undergoes a detailed analysis to accurately measure the level of suPAR present in the blood.
Get the Results
Results will be available in your profile within 7 days for you to share with your healthcare practitioner.
What Does the suPAR Test Measures?
The suPAR test measures the levels of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) in the blood.
Indicator of Immune Activation:
suPAR is released during immune system activation and inflammation. It reflects the body's immune response, particularly in conditions of stress, injury, and chronic inflammation.
Chronic Inflammation and Disease Prediction:
Higher levels of suPAR are associated with chronic inflammation, immune dysfunction, and aging. It has been linked to various health conditions including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers, and overall mortality risk.
Stable Biomarker:
Unlike some other inflammatory markers, suPAR levels remain stable over time, making it a reliable indicator for assessing long-term health risks rather than short-term fluctuations.
Predictive Value:
Studies have shown that suPAR can predict disease outcomes and mortality more accurately than traditional biomarkers like CRP (C-reactive protein). For example, elevated suPAR levels can indicate a higher risk of severe respiratory failure in COVID-19 patients.
Lifestyle Influences:
suPAR levels are responsive to lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise, and can serve as an early warning sign for health deterioration.
How to Read the Results
Green suPAR score: your levels of chronic inflammation are low.
Red suPAR score: your levels of chronic inflammation are high.
Regardless of the test result, you'll gain meaningful insights into your health status, enabling you to adjust your lifestyle accordingly.
Understanding InflammAGE
InflammAGE refers to the complex biological process where chronic inflammation accelerates the aging process and contributes to age-related diseases.
This phenomenon links systemic inflammation to various health conditions, and is crucial for developing strategies that mitigate these risks and promote healthier aging.
Biological Age vs. Epigenetic Age
Biological age refers to how old your body seems based on its physical and health condition, rather than the number of years you've been alive. It's determined by various factors like fitness level and overall health.
Epigenetic age is a bit more complex. It deals with changes in your body that happen due to your environment—like your diet, stress levels, and exposure to toxins—and your genetic background. These changes affect the way your genes work, particularly through a process called DNA methylation.
While your biological age can show your current health status, your epigenetic age provides a deeper history of what your body has gone through over your lifetime.
The suPAR test gives you a quick look at where your health stands now, but your epigenetic age tells a longer story of the environmental and genetic influences you've experienced.
Health Risks Associated with Inflammation
Inflammation poses several significant health risks as it progresses with age. This persistent inflammatory state is linked to a range of age-related diseases and conditions.
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Inflammation is strongly associated with the development of atherosclerosis, hypertension, and heart failure. The continuous inflammatory response contributes to the deterioration of cardiovascular health, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
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Conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease are linked to chronic inflammation, which can exacerbate neurodegeneration and cognitive decline.
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Chronic inflammation can impair insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function, leading to type 2 diabetes. Inflammation-driven cellular damage also complicates diabetes management and increases the severity of its complications.
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Inflammation can promote oncogenesis by creating an environment that supports tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis. It also impairs the immune system’s ability to detect and destroy cancer cells.
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Inflammatory cytokines can lead to bone resorption and decreased bone density, increasing the risk of fractures and osteoporosis.
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Enhanced inflammatory response may trigger or worsen autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues.
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The loss of muscle mass and strength, often seen in older adults, can be accelerated by chronic inflammation, affecting mobility and overall quality of life.
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Chronic respiratory conditions such as COPD and asthma can be aggravated by ongoing inflammation, leading to more severe respiratory dysfunction and decreased lung capacity.
How suPAR Test Compare to Other Biomarker Tests?
The suPAR test stands out as a superior biomarker for predicting biological age and inflammation due to its unique ability to reflect the chronic immune activation within the body.
Unlike other biomarkers that typically capture acute reactions or are specific to certain diseases, suPAR provides a broader, more systemic perspective of an individual's overall health status.
Furthermore, suPAR remains stable in the bloodstream, offering consistent and reliable readings, which is crucial for tracking changes over time and assessing the impact of interventions.
FAQs
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Yes, the suPAR Health test is FDA approved for educational purposes only. It is designed to be used as a learning tool and should not be used for diagnostic or treatment decisions without professional medical advice.
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Yes, the suPAR Health test is backed by extensive scientific research. For a detailed look at the supporting scientific papers, please visit our Clinical Studies page to learn more about how the test has been developed and validated.
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Quit smoking: You can lower your suPAR by an average of 1.0 ng/ml by quitting smoking. The result can be measured as early as 4 weeks.3Haupt, T. H., Rasmussen, L. J. H., Kallemose, T., Ladelund, S., Andersen, O., Pisinger, C., & Eugen-Olsen, J. (2019). Healthy lifestyles reduce suPAR and mortality in a Danish general population study. Immunity & Ageing: I & A, 16, 1
Exercise: Inactive individuals can lower their suPAR by up to 0.4 ng/ml through exercise and training. Individuals with a BMI over 35 can lower their level by up to 0.5 ng/ml by losing weight.
Diet: You can lower your suPAR by up to 0.3 ng/ml by eating a healthy and varied diet.4Fagerberg, B., Borné, Y., Barregard, L., Sallsten, G., Forsgard, N., Hedblad, B., Persson, M., & Engström, G. (2017). Cadmium exposure is associated with soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor, a circulating marker of inflammation and future cardiovascular disease. Environmental research, 152, 185-191.
Sleep: Research suggests that you can lower your suPAR by ensuring you get enough sleep and optimizing your sleep quality.
Stress management: If you are stressed, you can reduce your suPAR by 0.3 ng/ml through stress management. This can be achieved through breathing exercises, meditation, forest bathing, or exercise.
Reduce alcohol intake: Excessive alcohol intake causes inflammation in the body and can therefore increase your suPAR level. The relationship between moderate alcohol consumption and suPAR is still being investigated, but research suggests that minimal alcohol intake can reduce your suPAR.
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The suPAR Health test can measure your biological age and aging rate based on the amount of chronic inflammation in your body. If your chronological age is 33, and your biological age is 33, you are aging at a rate of 1 year per year.
A low suPAR level indicates that you are aging slower (e.g., at a rate of 0.88 years per year) and have good health. Conversely, a high suPAR level indicates that you are aging faster than normal (e.g., at a rate of 1.5 years per year) and may have an increased risk of health problems.