Function Health Basic Panel for Heart Disease Risk
Hyman's recommended set of lab tests to properly assess cardiovascular and metabolic risk, available through Function Health
Assembled by Cited from Mark Hyman's recorded recommendations across multiple sources. It is not an ordered program and was not created or endorsed by them — it's our grouping of what they've said on the record.
Components
8-
In a protocol
Test Lp(a) — a genetic marker elevated in ~20% of people that is a strong independent risk factor for heart disease.
“LpA, which most people don't check, which is a highly important genetic marker
TD▶ 2:10CaveatsCurrently difficult to directly lower; manage other risk factorsCertaintyexplicitrecommendationLp(a) genetic marker -
In a protocol
Check hsCRP as a marker of inflammation — possibly more predictive of heart disease than LDL.
“high-sensitivity C-reactive protein is important, maybe more important than LDL
TD▶ 5:40Certaintyexplicitstrong endorsementhsCRP inflammation marker -
In a protocol
Check fasting insulin — possibly the most important test for health and longevity, but rarely done.
“probably the most important test for understanding your health and longevity
TD▶ 18:00Certaintyexplicitstrong endorsementFasting insulin -
In a protocol
Track triglyceride/HDL ratio as a simple proxy for insulin resistance; aim for ~1:1 or less.
“Your triglyceride divided by your HDL
TD▶ 13:00DosageHDL >60 ideal (>50 ok); triglycerides <100 (better <70); ratio ~1:1Certaintyexplicitstrong endorsementTriglyceride/HDL ratio -
In a protocol
Do lipoprotein fractionation to know cholesterol particle size, density, and number — not just total weight.
“the quality and the size and the number of your cholesterol particles
TD▶ 4:40CertaintyexplicitrecommendationLipoprotein fractionation -
In a protocol
Get a coronary calcium score as a baseline to actually image arterial plaque rather than rely on cholesterol surrogates.
“a calcium score, which I think is important for most people as a baseline
TD▶ 22:40CertaintyexplicitrecommendationCalcium score baseline -
Sponsor read In a protocol
Function offers calcium score imaging via partner Ezra — cheap, quick, safe way to assess plaque.
“through our partner Ezra, which you can do imaging
TD▶ 23:00CaveatsPartnership disclosureCertaintyexplicitrecommendationImaging via Function partner Ezra
How this protocol has evolved
Hyman has shifted from standard cholesterol panel to this expanded panel as science evolved (ApoB recognized as causal in 2023-2024 guidelines)