The 5 Lab Markers Every Man Over 40 Should Track
You got the standard labs. They told you everything “looks fine.” Maybe they even said you’re just getting older.
Let me guess—you’ve been to your doctor. You got the standard labs. They told you everything “looks fine.” Maybe they even said you’re just getting older.
But you don’t feel fine.
Your energy is crashing. Your strength’s dipping. You’re not as sharp, your gut’s off, and let’s not even talk about what’s going on in the bedroom.
Here’s the truth: most doctors don’t look deep enough. They run surface-level tests—basic panels that miss what’s really driving your symptoms. If you’re a man over 40, your health story needs more than a glance at cholesterol and glucose.
These are the 5 lab markers I check with every client—and they almost always reveal what’s really going on.
1. Free Testosterone (Not Just Total Testosterone)
Most doctors check total testosterone. But that’s like knowing you have money in the bank—without knowing if you can actually spend it.
Free testosterone is the active form your body can use. It affects everything: energy, drive, strength, mood, even memory.
Low free T often gets missed because your total T might still be “normal.” But if free T is low, you’ll feel it. And it matters more than the textbook ranges your lab prints out.
Optimal, not average—that’s the difference between coasting and thriving.
2. SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin)
This one’s rarely tested—but it tells a critical story.
SHBG binds to testosterone and makes it inactive. If your SHBG is too high, it’s locking up your free T. If it’s too low, that points to insulin resistance or liver stress.
I’ve seen guys with solid total testosterone who still feel like garbage—because high SHBG is blocking their hormones from doing their job.
If your doctor’s not looking at SHBG, they’re missing the hormone equation.
3. hs-CRP (High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein)
This is a marker for inflammation.
Chronic inflammation doesn’t always show up with pain—but it quietly drains your energy, slows your metabolism, and messes with your brain function. It also increases your risk for heart disease and cognitive decline.
Hs-CRP is simple to measure—and when it’s elevated, it’s a red flag that your body’s under fire.
And no, it’s not just aging. It’s something we can fix.
4. Fasting Insulin (Not Just Fasting Glucose)
Your blood sugar might be “normal”—but that doesn’t mean you’re metabolically healthy.
Fasting insulin tells us how hard your body’s working to keep your blood sugar stable. Elevated insulin is one of the earliest signs of metabolic dysfunction. It can explain stubborn belly fat, cravings, energy crashes, and even low testosterone.
Most doctors wait until you’re diabetic to intervene. I catch it before it gets that far.
5. Reverse T3
Here’s one almost no one talks about.
Reverse T3 is a thyroid hormone blocker. It builds up when your body’s stressed—whether from poor sleep, overtraining, calorie restriction, or chronic illness.
It blocks your active thyroid hormone, leaving you tired, foggy, and slow—even if your TSH and T4 look “fine.”
If you’re dragging despite “normal” thyroid labs, this is the marker your doctor missed.
So, What Now?
If you’re over 40 and feeling off—but your labs came back “normal”—it’s time for a better approach.
These five markers are part of every CODEX client’s baseline testing. They help me uncover the real cause of what’s holding you back. Not symptoms. Not guesses. Data.
Here’s the deal: you don’t have to accept fatigue, weight gain, or low drive as your new normal. But you can’t fix what you don’t measure.
Ready to Get Answers?
If you’re ready to go beyond generic care and take a real look at what your body’s telling you—schedule a comprehensive consultation. We’ll run the right labs, read them the right way, and build you a personalized blueprint for getting back to peak performance.
Because most doctors treat symptoms.
I treat the root cause.
CODEX
The Art of Aging Well
A revolutionary approach, created by award-winning, board-certified physician and surgeon, Dr. Peter Marta, combining the precision of conventional medicine and the nuance of functional medicine. At the heart of Codex is hormone optimization, with a comprehensive system addressing seven core areas vital for men’s wellness. What even many physicians overlook is that hormonal health and gut health are inextricably linked—you can’t have one without the other. Codex addresses these connections, unlocking vitality and balance through a tailored, easy-to-follow, scientific approach.
