Interleukin-6 (IL-6)
What This Test Measures
Pro-inflammatory cytokine
Conventional vs. Functional Optimal Range
The gap between these ranges is why you feel terrible with "normal" labs. Conventional medicine waits for disease. Functional medicine optimizes for health.
Gabriel's Take
IL-6 is a key inflammatory cytokine. Elevated IL-6 (>5) = systemic inflammation → cardiovascular disease, diabetes, autoimmunity, aging. Functional optimal <3. Reduced by weight loss, anti-inflammatory diet, omega-3s, exercise.
When This Test Is High
Chronic inflammation, autoimmune disease, infections, cancer
When This Test Is Low
Low inflammation
Related Conditions
Cardiovascular disease, autoimmune conditions, chronic infections
Recommended Follow-Up
Identify inflammation source: gut, infections, obesity; anti-inflammatory interventions
Related Tests in Inflammation / Immune
C-Reactive Protein (CRP) / hs-CRP
Inflammatory marker; predictor of cardiovascular disease
hs-CRP (High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein)
Sensitive inflammatory marker; cardiovascular risk predictor
ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)
Non-specific inflammation marker