What Lab Tests Show Inflammation from PUFAs?
TL;DR
High-sensitivity CRP measures systemic inflammation. Goal: under 1.0 mg/L. PUFAs raise CRP through oxidative stress. ESR, white blood cells, and cytokines also show inflammation. Eliminate seed oils. CRP drops within 8-12 weeks. Test every 3-6 months. Falling CRP = healing metabolism.
You feel inflamed.
Joints ache. Skin breaks out. Brain foggy. Gut bloated. Always tired.
Your doctor runs bloodwork. "Everything looks normal."
But you don't feel normal. You feel inflamed.
Standard labs miss chronic inflammation. You need specific markers.
Inflammation is like smoke from a fire. You can feel it. Smell it. But standard tests measure the temperature in the next room. Not useful.
The Best Inflammation Marker: hsCRP
High-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP)
What it measures: Acute-phase protein produced by liver in response to inflammation. Most sensitive marker for systemic inflammation.
Interpretation:
- Under 1.0 mg/L: Low inflammation (optimal)
- 1.0-3.0 mg/L: Moderate inflammation (concerning)
- Above 3.0 mg/L: High inflammation (requires intervention)
- Above 10 mg/L: Severe inflammation (often acute illness)
What causes high CRP:
- Oxidized PUFAs
- Chronic infections
- Obesity (fat tissue releases inflammatory cytokines)
- Autoimmune conditions
- Insulin resistance
- Poor sleep
- Chronic stress
Eliminate PUFAs. CRP usually drops within 8-12 weeks.
Other Inflammation Markers
ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)
What it measures: How fast red blood cells settle in test tube. Faster settling = more inflammation.
Normal ranges:
- Men: under 15 mm/hr
- Women: under 20 mm/hr
Less specific than CRP. But helpful for tracking chronic inflammatory conditions.
White Blood Cell Count (WBC)
What it measures: Number of white blood cells. Elevated = immune system activation.
Normal range: 4,000-11,000 cells/μL
High WBC can indicate:
- Infection
- Chronic inflammation
- Leaky gut (endotoxin exposure)
- Stress response
If chronically elevated without infection: Check for gut issues. Eliminate seed oils.
Ferritin
What it measures: Iron storage protein. But also an acute-phase reactant (rises with inflammation).
Normal range:
- Men: 30-300 ng/mL
- Women: 15-200 ng/mL
High ferritin with normal iron: Indicates inflammation, not iron overload. Common with PUFA consumption.
Low ferritin: True iron deficiency. Needs supplementation.
Fibrinogen
What it measures: Clotting protein that increases with inflammation.
Normal range: 200-400 mg/dL
High fibrinogen: Increased cardiovascular risk. Inflammation-driven.
Platelets
What they do: Blood clotting.
Normal range: 150,000-400,000/μL
High platelets (above 400,000): Can indicate inflammation or iron deficiency.
Advanced Inflammatory Markers
These aren't routine. Order if hsCRP is elevated and cause unclear.
Cytokines (IL-6, TNF-alpha)
What they measure: Inflammatory signaling molecules.
- Neuroinflammation
- Gut inflammation
- Autoimmune activation
Specialty labs only.
Omega-6:Omega-3 Ratio
What it measures: Ratio of inflammatory (omega-6) to anti-inflammatory (omega-3) fatty acids in blood.
Ideal ratio: Under 4:1 (lower is better)
Modern diet average: 15:1 to 20:1 (very inflammatory)
Eliminate seed oils (omega-6 source). Ratio improves over 6-12 months.
Oxidized LDL
What it measures: LDL cholesterol particles that have been oxidized by free radicals.
Oxidized LDL drives atherosclerosis. Standard cholesterol test doesn't measure this.
Specialty lab test. Useful if concerned about heart disease risk.
How to Lower Inflammation Markers
Eliminate all seed oils: Primary intervention. Stop eating vegetable oils, canola, soybean, sunflower, etc.
- Fatty fish (salmon, sardines) for omega-3
- Butter and coconut oil (stable, don't oxidize)
- Fruits and vegetables (antioxidants)
- Bone broth (glycine)
Support thyroid: Low thyroid increases inflammation.
- Adequate carbs
- Iodine and selenium
- Track temperature
Improve sleep: Poor sleep raises CRP. Fix sleep for better inflammation control.
Reduce stress: Chronic cortisol increases inflammation. Meditate. Walk. Lower training volume.
Fix gut health: Leaky gut = chronic inflammation. Heal gut lining with bone broth, simple foods.
Timeline:
- Week 4-8: Energy and symptoms improve
- Month 2-3: CRP begins dropping
- Month 3-6: CRP reaches optimal (under 1.0)
- Month 6-12: All inflammation markers normalize
Testing Schedule
Baseline (before starting):
- hsCRP
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Comprehensive metabolic panel
- Thyroid panel
- Lipid panel
Follow-up (every 3-6 months):
- hsCRP
- Thyroid panel
- Fasting insulin
Compare results. Track improvements. Falling CRP = healing.
When CRP Doesn't Drop
If CRP stays elevated after 12 weeks:
Check for:
- Hidden seed oils in diet
- Undereating (suppresses thyroid, increases inflammation)
- Overtraining
- Chronic infections (dental, gut, sinus)
- Autoimmune conditions (require medical management)
- Sleep apnea
- Chronic stress
Work with doctor to identify and address specific causes.
FAQ
Q: My CRP is 5.2. How long to normalize? A: Eliminate all seed oils. Most people see CRP drop to under 3.0 within 8-12 weeks, under 1.0 within 6 months. Track symptoms alongside labs.
Q: Can I test CRP at home? A: No. Requires blood draw and lab analysis. Request from doctor or order through online lab (LabCorp, Quest).
Q: What if my CRP is under 1.0 but I still feel bad? A: CRP measures systemic inflammation. You can have localized inflammation (gut, joints) without high CRP. Track symptoms and other markers.
Q: My doctor says CRP under 3.0 is fine. A: Standard reference is under 3.0. Optimal is under 1.0. Lower inflammation = better health outcomes. Aim for optimal, not just "normal."
This isn't medical advice. Work with your doctor for lab interpretation and treatment.