Question 1

Why is ApoB considered a better predictor of heart disease than LDL cholesterol, and does Vitals Vault test it?

Accepted Answer

ApoB (Apolipoprotein B) measures the total number of atherogenic (plaque-causing) particles in your blood — every LDL, VLDL, IDL, and Lp(a) particle carries exactly one ApoB protein. Standard LDL testing measures the cholesterol content carried inside particles, which can be misleading: someone with small, dense LDL particles can have a “normal” LDL-C while carrying a dangerous number of particles. Multiple large-scale studies, including INTERHEART and the Copenhagen City Heart Study, have confirmed ApoB is a superior predictor of cardiovascular events. Less than 5% of Americans get ApoB tested annually through their physician. Vitals Vault includes ApoB in the Advanced and Max plans, along with the LDL-C/ApoB ratio — a calculated value that reveals particle size and density.

Question 2

What blood tests does my annual physical miss that Vitals Vault includes?

Accepted Answer

The most clinically significant gaps between a standard annual physical and Vitals Vault’s comprehensive panel include: ApoB (superior cardiovascular risk marker, not on standard panels), Lp(a) (genetic cardiovascular risk factor affecting 1 in 5 people, rarely tested), fasting insulin (detects insulin resistance 10–15 years before HbA1c becomes abnormal), hs-CRP (high-sensitivity inflammation marker that predicts cardiac events independently of cholesterol), homocysteine (cardiovascular and cognitive risk marker), DHEA-S (adrenal hormone reflecting physiological aging), free testosterone and SHBG (total testosterone alone misses functional deficiency), Vitamin D 25-OH (deficient in ~42% of U.S. adults), thyroid antibodies TPO/TgAb (detect Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, which TSH alone misses), ferritin (iron storage, missed by standard iron tests), uric acid (metabolic and gout risk), and more than 80 additional biomarkers. The standard annual physical was designed for population-level triage, not individual health optimization.

Question 3

Should I get my Lp(a) tested, and why do European guidelines say everyone should have it checked at least once?

Accepted Answer

Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is a genetically determined cardiovascular risk factor that affects approximately 20% of the population — roughly 1 in 5 people. High Lp(a) independently doubles or triples the risk of heart attack and stroke, and unlike most cardiovascular risk factors, it cannot be meaningfully lowered through diet, exercise, or statins. The European Atherosclerosis Society and the European Society of Cardiology both recommend that every adult get Lp(a) tested at least once in their lifetime, since knowing your level early allows for aggressive management of all other modifiable risk factors. In the U.S., most physicians do not routinely order Lp(a) — it is not included in standard lipid panels. Vitals Vault includes Lp(a) in the Advanced and Max plans.

Question 4

Which Vitals Vault biomarkers detect insulin resistance years before a diabetes diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Insulin resistance — where cells stop responding properly to insulin — precedes type 2 diabetes by an average of 10–15 years and is associated with weight gain, fatigue, cardiovascular disease, and hormonal disruption. The standard test (fasting glucose or HbA1c) doesn’t flag a problem until insulin resistance has been progressing for years. Vitals Vault’s Advanced and Max plans include fasting insulin, which detects insulin resistance directly; HOMA2-IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance), a calculated ratio using insulin and glucose; HOMA2-%B (beta cell function) and HOMA2-%S (insulin sensitivity); QUICKI (quantitative insulin sensitivity check); and the TyG Index (triglyceride-glucose index, a proxy for insulin resistance) — all of which can reveal dysfunction years before glucose or HbA1c crosses the clinical threshold for prediabetes.

Question 5

What inflammation markers does Vitals Vault test, and why does chronic inflammation matter if I feel fine?

Accepted Answer

Chronic low-grade inflammation is a silent driver of cardiovascular disease, cancer, autoimmune conditions, cognitive decline, and accelerated aging — and it produces no noticeable symptoms in its early stages. Vitals Vault’s Inflammation & Immunity system tests hs-CRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein), Sed Rate (erythrocyte sedimentation rate), and Ferritin (also an acute-phase inflammation marker), plus a suite of calculated immune ratios that are emerging as powerful prognostic tools: NLR (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio), PLR (platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio), LMR (lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio), SII (systemic immune-inflammation index), SIRI, and NLPR. These ratios provide a complete picture of immune balance and systemic inflammation that a single CRP value cannot capture.

Question 6

Does Vitals Vault include a full thyroid panel — Free T3, Free T4, and TSH — or just TSH?

Accepted Answer

Vitals Vault’s Essential plan includes TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone). The Advanced and Max plans add the Advanced Thyroid Add-On option, which includes TPO Antibodies (thyroid peroxidase), Thyroglobulin Antibodies, T4 Total, T3 Total, and Reverse T3 — the full picture needed to identify Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, conversion problems, and subclinical thyroid dysfunction. This matters because TSH alone misses a large proportion of thyroid problems: a person can have a “normal” TSH while producing inadequate Free T3 (the active thyroid hormone), or while carrying elevated antibodies that indicate autoimmune thyroid disease. Symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, and brain fog often persist despite “normal” TSH when the full panel is abnormal.

Question 7

Which Vitals Vault biomarkers do longevity physicians like Peter Attia consider essential?

Accepted Answer

Peter Attia, one of the most cited voices in longevity medicine, has publicly emphasized testing ApoB (calls LDL “a terrible metric” for cardiovascular risk), Lp(a) (recommends universal screening), fasting insulin and HOMA-IR (insulin resistance as a “four-alarm fire”), hs-CRP (systemic inflammation), homocysteine, Lp-PLA2 (arterial inflammation), testosterone and SHBG, cortisol patterns, Vitamin D, ferritin, uric acid, ALT (liver health), and eGFR (kidney function). Bryan Johnson’s Blueprint protocol also tracks DHEA-S, IGF-1, HbA1c, triglyceride ratios, and LDL particle number. Vitals Vault’s Max plan ($399) covers virtually all biomarkers from this longevity-focused list, including calculated ratios like the Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) and TyG-BMI Index.

Question 8

How are Vitals Vault’s 10 body system categories different from a standard CBC and metabolic panel?

Accepted Answer

A standard CBC (Complete Blood Count) covers Blood Health only — white cells, red cells, and platelets. A standard comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) covers basic kidney function, liver enzymes, glucose, and electrolytes. Together, they touch 2 of Vitals Vault’s 10 body systems — and only superficially. Vitals Vault organizes its full panel across: Blood Health (full CBC with differential), Energy & Metabolism (glucose, HbA1c, insulin resistance markers, biological age), Heart Health (full lipid panel plus ApoB, Lp(a), homocysteine), Hormonal Health (thyroid, testosterone, estradiol, DHEA-S, cortisol), Inflammation & Immunity (hs-CRP, sed rate, immune ratios), Kidney Health (BUN, creatinine, eGFR, electrolytes, uric acid), Liver Health (full hepatic panel including GGT, bilirubin ratios), Nutrients, Vitamins & Minerals (Vitamin D, B12, iron/ferritin, magnesium, folate), Pancreas Health (amylase, lipase — Max plan only), and Urine Analysis (full urinalysis). This is a fundamentally different scope than a routine physician workup.

Question 9

Does Vitals Vault test hormones like testosterone, cortisol, and DHEA-S for both men and women?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Vitals Vault’s hormone panels are designed for both sexes equally. The Essential plan includes TSH and Total Testosterone for all genders. The Advanced plan adds Estradiol, SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin), DHEA Sulfate, Free Testosterone, Bioavailable Testosterone, and calculated ratios including the T:E2 ratio and Testosterone/ApoB ratio. The Max plan adds Cortisol, Progesterone, IGF-1, and Z-Score. For women, estradiol, progesterone, and DHEA-S are as clinically important as testosterone is for men. Vitals Vault does not treat hormonal health as a gender-specific add-on — it is included across all tiers for all members.

Question 10

What calculated ratios does Vitals Vault include, and why do ratios sometimes matter more than individual values?

Accepted Answer

Vitals Vault includes a significant library of calculated ratios not found on standard lab reports. These include: Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) (log of triglycerides/HDL — a superior predictor of small, dense LDL and cardiovascular risk), TyG Index (proxy for insulin resistance), TyG-BMI Index, Glycation Gap (reveals discordance between HbA1c and average glucose), HOMA2-IR, HOMA2-%B, HOMA2-%S (insulin resistance and beta cell function), LDL:HDL ratio, Triglyceride:HDL ratio (a proxy for particle size), Non-HDL/Total Cholesterol ratio, LDL-C/ApoB ratio (reveals particle density), AST:ALT ratio (De Ritis ratio for liver pathology pattern), BUN/Creatinine ratio (hydration and kidney function), NLR, PLR, LMR, SII, SIRI (immune balance ratios), and more. Ratios are powerful because they reveal relationships between biomarkers that individual values cannot — a triglyceride of 150 and HDL of 40 both look borderline acceptable individually, but a triglyceride/HDL ratio of 3.75 reveals significant insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk.

Your Body Tells
a Story

What We Test

Hormonal Health (21)

Nutrients Vitamins & Minerals (11)

Inflammation & Immunity (11)

Heart Health (17)

Energy & Metabolism (15)

Kidney Health (11)

Blood Health (33)

Liver Health (14)

Urine (26)

Pancreas Health (2)

Your Health. Your Choice. 1,000+ Tests.

Find Your Nearest Lab Location

Have questions?

Your Body Tells
a Story

What We Test

Hormonal Health (21)

Nutrients Vitamins & Minerals (11)

Inflammation & Immunity (11)

Heart Health (17)

Energy & Metabolism (15)

Kidney Health (11)

Blood Health (33)

Liver Health (14)

Urine (26)

Pancreas Health (2)

Your Health. Your Choice. 1,000+ Tests.

Find Your Nearest Lab Location

Have questions?

Your Body Tellsa Story

What We Test

Hormonal Health (21)

Nutrients Vitamins & Minerals (11)

Inflammation & Immunity (11)

Heart Health (17)

Energy & Metabolism (15)

Kidney Health (11)

Blood Health (33)

Liver Health (14)

Urine (26)

Pancreas Health (2)

Your Health. Your Choice. 1,000+ Tests.

Find Your Nearest Lab Location

Have questions?

Your Body Tellsa Story

What We Test

Hormonal Health (21)

Nutrients Vitamins & Minerals (11)

Inflammation & Immunity (11)

Heart Health (17)

Energy & Metabolism (15)

Kidney Health (11)

Blood Health (33)

Liver Health (14)

Urine (26)

Pancreas Health (2)

Your Health. Your Choice. 1,000+ Tests.

Find Your Nearest Lab Location

Have questions?

Your Body Tells
a Story

Your Body Tells
a Story