Field notes · The science

Understanding the Healthspan Panel

Nine biomarkers, what each one tells you, and how to read them together — answers to the questions we get most.
RootCause Health clinical team

What is the Healthspan panel?

The Healthspan Panel is an at-home finger-prick blood test that measures nine key biomarkers associated with metabolic and cardiovascular health. These biomarkers provide insight into important aspects of your body including cholesterol, inflammation, and insulin sensitivity.

The panel is designed to be simple and convenient to use at home, allowing you to monitor how your lifestyle, including diet, exercise, sleep, and other healthy habits, may be influencing these markers over time.

What does the Healthspan Panel measure?

The Healthspan Panel measures nine biomarkers that provide insight into your metabolic and cardiovascular health.

Metabolic health

Fasting insulin, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and HOMA-IR help assess blood sugar regulation and insulin sensitivity, providing a picture of your metabolic health.

Inflammation

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a marker of low-grade inflammation which provides a snapshot into the bodies health condition.

Cardiovascular health

Lipid Profile includes triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and VLDL cholesterol. Together, these measurements provide information about your cardiovascular health and help identify patterns associated with increased heart disease risk.

Together, these biomarkers offer a comprehensive snapshot of key aspects of your health and can help you monitor how lifestyle changes may influence your metabolic and cardiovascular well-being over time.

Do I need to fast before taking the test?

Yes. To ensure the most accurate results, you should fast for at least 8 hours before collecting your finger-prick blood sample. During this time, do not consume any food or beverages other than water or black coffee. Fasting is particularly important for accurately measuring markers such as fasting insulin, triglycerides, and HOMA-IR, which are influenced by recent food intake.

8hrs

Minimum fast before collection. Water and black coffee only — collect first thing in the morning for the cleanest insulin and triglyceride results.

What is insulin resistance and the HOMA-IR?

Insulin resistance is a metabolic condition in which the body's cells become less responsive to insulin, meaning more insulin is required to keep blood sugar levels under control.1 Over time, this can lead to elevated blood sugar, greater difficulty losing body fat, and an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.2

HOMA-IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance) is a widely used measure of insulin resistance. Traditionally, it is calculated using fasting glucose and fasting insulin. In the Healthspan Panel, we instead estimate HOMA-IR using your hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) together with your fasting insulin. Because HbA1c reflects your average blood sugar over the previous 2–3 months, this approach provides a more stable assessment of your long-term metabolic health than a single fasting glucose measurement.

What are the different types of lipids?

Lipids are fats that circulate in the bloodstream and play essential roles in energy storage, hormone production, and cell function. Because fats cannot travel freely in blood, they are transported by particles called lipoproteins.

HDL

HDL (high-density lipoprotein) is often referred to as the "good cholesterol." HDL helps remove excess cholesterol from tissues and blood vessels and transports it back to the liver, where it can be recycled or eliminated.

LDL

LDL (low-density lipoprotein) is commonly known as the "bad cholesterol." LDL delivers cholesterol to cells throughout the body, but when LDL levels are elevated, cholesterol can accumulate within the walls of arteries and contribute to the formation of atherosclerotic plaque.

VLDL

VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein) transports triglycerides and cholesterol from the liver to the body's tissues. As VLDL particles lose triglycerides, they are converted into remnant particles and eventually LDL. Increasing evidence suggests that VLDL and its remnant particles are also atherogenic and contribute to cardiovascular disease, particularly in people with elevated triglyceride levels.

Triglycerides

Triglycerides are one of the major forms of energy that our body uses, however, an increased triglyceride level is associated with cardiovascular events such as ischemic heart disease, stroke, and mortality.

How often should I repeat the Healthspan panel?

We recommend the Healthspan panel to be repeated every 3 months to monitor if lifestyle changes are making an impact on your health.

References

  1. James DE, Stockli J, Birnbaum MJ. The aetiology and molecular landscape of insulin resistance. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. Nov 2021;22(11):751-771. doi:10.1038/s41580-021-00390-6
  2. Martin S, Kempf K, Kolb H. Why hyperinsulinemia is detrimental to weight loss: insights from type 1 diabetes. BMC Med. Apr 10 2026;24(1) doi:10.1186/s12916-026-04849-1
  3. Ouimet M, Barrett TJ, Fisher EA. HDL and Reverse Cholesterol Transport. Circ Res. May 10 2019;124(10):1505-1518. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.119.312617
  4. Ference BA, Ginsberg HN, Graham I, et al. Low-density lipoproteins cause atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. 1. Evidence from genetic, epidemiologic, and clinical studies. A consensus statement from the European Atherosclerosis Society Consensus Panel. Eur Heart J. Aug 21 2017;38(32):2459-2472. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehx144
  5. Balling M, Afzal S, Varbo A, Langsted A, Davey Smith G, Nordestgaard BG. VLDL Cholesterol Accounts for One-Half of the Risk of Myocardial Infarction Associated With apoB-Containing Lipoproteins. J Am Coll Cardiol. Dec 8 2020;76(23):2725-2735. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2020.09.610
  6. Rosenson RS, Davidson MH, Hirsh BJ, Kathiresan S, Gaudet D. Genetics and causality of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. J Am Coll Cardiol. Dec 16 2014;64(23):2525-40. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2014.09.042
  7. Nordestgaard BG. Triglyceride-Rich Lipoproteins and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: New Insights From Epidemiology, Genetics, and Biology. Circ Res. Feb 19 2016;118(4):547-63. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.115.306249

Nine markers. One finger-prick.

Get your baseline, then re-test every three months to see whether your changes are working.

Explore the Healthspan Panel How it works
Nine markers. One finger-prick.