If you are increasing your protein intake to build muscle, particularly if you regularly participate in weight training, it is advisable to have routine blood tests to monitor both the safety and effectiveness of your nutrition and training programme.
Kidney Function
- Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
- Serum Creatinine
- Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR)
- Cystatin C (more accurate than creatinine in individuals with greater muscle mass)
Purpose:
To assess whether a high-protein diet is having any adverse effect on kidney function.
Liver Function
- Total Bilirubin
- Albumin
- Total Protein
- AST
- ALT
- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
- Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT)
Purpose:
To evaluate liver health and assess overall nutritional status.
Protein Status and Nutritional Assessment
- Total Protein
- Albumin
- Prealbumin (Transthyretin)
Purpose:
To determine whether your body is receiving an adequate amount of dietary protein.
Muscle Health and Recovery
- Creatine Kinase (CK/CPK)
- Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH)
Purpose:
To assess muscle damage and recovery following exercise.
Metabolic Health
- Fasting Blood Glucose
- HbA1c
- Fasting Insulin
- HOMA-IR
Purpose:
To evaluate insulin sensitivity, which plays an important role in muscle growth and nutrient utilisation.
Hormones Involved in Muscle Growth
- Total Testosterone
- Free Testosterone
- Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG)
- DHEA-S
- Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1)
- Morning Cortisol
Purpose:
To assess hormonal balance, which significantly influences muscle growth, recovery and overall physical performance.
Vitamins and Minerals
- Vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D)
- Vitamin B12
- Magnesium
- Zinc
- Ferritin
- Folate (Vitamin B9)
Purpose:
To support muscle function, recovery, energy production and overall health.
Note: Folate is Vitamin B9, not Vitamin B7. Vitamin B7 is Biotin.
Inflammation
- Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
- High-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP)
Purpose:
To detect chronic inflammation, which may impair recovery and muscle development.
Recommended Blood Test Programme for Muscle Building
- Fasting Blood Glucose
- HbA1c
- Fasting Insulin
- HOMA-IR
- Kidney Function (BUN, Creatinine, eGFR)
- Cystatin C
- Lipid Profile
- Liver Function (Total Protein, Albumin, Globulin, Total Bilirubin, Direct Bilirubin, AST, ALT, ALP, GGT)
- Creatine Kinase (CK/CPK)
- Vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D)
- Intracellular Magnesium (preferred, as it reflects tissue magnesium levels more accurately than serum magnesium)
- Zinc
- Ferritin
- Vitamin B12
- Total Testosterone
- Free Testosterone
- SHBG
- DHEA-S
- IGF-1
- Morning Cortisol
- hs-CRP
Summary
For Longevity and Functional Medicine clinics, this testing programme provides a comprehensive assessment of muscle performance, recovery, nutritional status, metabolic health, hormonal balance, and the long-term safety of a high-protein diet.
The results enable healthcare practitioners to personalise nutritional strategies, optimise exercise programmes, identify potential deficiencies or imbalances, and support safe, effective muscle development while promoting long-term health and performance.
