TL;DR — Longevity protocols without measurement are guesswork. This guide maps Tier 1 baseline panels, Tier 2 advanced markers, retest cadence, and stack-adjustment triggers — tied to TNiC Labs, hallmark risks, and honest evidence tiers. Draw baseline Day 0; retest on schedule, not when marketing emails arrive.
What this guide does (and why it matters)
Supplements change nothing you can verify without paired timepoints. A single GSH value is a photograph; two values twelve weeks apart are a movie. TNiC Labs applies the same biomarker-guided logic used in clinical trials — locally, in your browser.
Primary outcomes tracked: GlutathioneYour body's most abundant internal antioxidant, made from glycine, cysteine, and glutamate. Full glossary → · NAD+ index · hs-CRP · oxLDL · AKG — mapped to hallmarks and stack presets.
Biomarker-guided protocol adjustment is standard practice in clinical trials. Kumar GlyNAC RCT (PMID 33783984) and Igarashi NMN RCT (PMID 36482258) used scheduled draws — not subjective guessing.
Tier 1 — Baseline panel (essential)
| Marker | ID | Unit | Optimal | Compounds | Hallmarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glutathione (GSH) | gsh | μmol/L | 5.0–8.5 | GlyNAC, sulforaphane, R-ALA | Mito, proteostasis, inflammation |
| NAD+A molecule every cell needs for energy production, DNA repair, and activating longevity genes (sirtuins). Full glossary → Level | nad | relative index | 80–100 | NMN, resveratrol | Mito, genomic, epigenetic |
| hs-CRP | hscrp | mg/L | <1.0 | Sulforaphane, resveratrol, GlyNAC | Inflammation, senescence |
| Oxidized LDL | oxldl | U/L | <60 | R-ALA, sulforaphane | Mito, inflammation, genomic |
| Alpha-Ketoglutarate | akg | μmol/L | Lab ref | Ca-AKG | Epigenetic, mito, stem |
← Swipe for more columns →
When Tier 1 is non-negotiable
Draw Tier 1 within 90 days of starting any TNiC preset if any apply:
- First evidence-graded stack ever
- Age 45+ with no prior longevity panel
- The NICO Starter Questionnaire routed you to Starter Elite or Full Hybrid
- Subjective energy ≤6/10 with no recent labs
Defer Tier 2 until Tier 1 trends are interpretable at week 12.
Start tracking today
Upload CSV or log values manually. TNiC calculates optimal/watch/critical status automatically.
Open Labs hubTier 2 — Advanced panel (optional)
| Marker | When to add | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| 8-OHdG | Genomic instability focus | DNA oxidative damage |
| Fasting insulin + HOMA-IR | Metabolic concerns | Nutrient sensing |
| HbA1c | 3-month metabolic window | Glucose control |
| Epigenetic clockA lab test measuring DNA methylation patterns across thousands of sites to calculate your true cellular age. Full glossary → (GrimAge) | 6–12 month tracking | Epigenetic hallmark |
| Leukocyte telomere length | Annual | Telomere hallmark |
| CBC + lipids | Rapamycin/Rx protocols | Safety monitoring |
| ALT/AST/GGT | TUDCA or hepatic history | Proteostasis safety |
Retest cadence matrix
| Marker | Baseline | On-stack check | Full retest | Trigger early retest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GSH | ✓ Day 0 | Week 12 | Week 24 | No change at 12 wk |
| NAD+ index | ✓ Day 0 | Week 4 | Week 12 | No response at 4 wk |
| hs-CRP | ✓ Day 0 | Month 3 | Month 6 | Illness, injury, stress spike |
| oxLDL | ✓ Day 0 | Month 6 | Month 12 | Diet change |
| AKG | ✓ Day 0 | Month 3 | Month 6 | Ca-AKG added |
| 8-OHdG | Optional | Month 6 | Month 12 | Sleep protocol change |
← Swipe for more columns →
Which panel do I need?
Running TNiC OTC stack (Starter / NRF2 / Mito)?
Tier 1 baseline → week 4 NAD+ → week 12 full Tier 1
node | Lifestyle-only phase 8+ weeks?
Tier 1 baseline only — defer stack until trends reviewed
Fix sleep + exercise → retest decision in 8 weeks
Acute illness or injury — pause interpretation; retest hs-CRP after recovery
Educational decision aid — a way to organize the evidence, not a prescription. Doses and timing shown are those used in studies; confirm anything you act on with a clinician or pharmacist.
Interpretation playbook
Status tiers (TNiC Labs)
| Status | Meaning | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Optimal | In target range | Maintain protocol |
| Watch | Borderline | Review compliance, lifestyle, dose |
| Critical | Significantly off | Physician consult; do not escalate supplements blindly |
Trend rules
| Direction | Good for | Bad for |
|---|---|---|
| ↑ | GSH, NAD+, AKG | — |
| ↓ | hs-CRP, oxLDL, 8-OHdG | — |
| ↑ | — | hs-CRP, oxLDL, 8-OHdG |
| ↓ | — | GSH, NAD+ |
Rule: Single point-in-time values matter less than direction over 2+ timepoints.
GSH
4.0–5.0 μmol/L
NAD+ index
55–70
hs-CRP
1.5–3.0 mg/L
Morning energy
5–6/10
GSH
5.5–7.0+
NAD+ index
80+
hs-CRP
<1.0
Morning energy
7–8/10
Stack-adjustment triggers
| Observation | Likely cause | Adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| GSH low after 24 wk GlyNAC | Compliance, glycine insufficiency | Verify dose; add dietary glycine; buyer guide |
| NAD+ low after 4 wk NMN | Product quality, dose | Verify third-party tested NMN; increase to 500 mg; NMN vs NR |
| hs-CRP rising | Stress, sleep, infection | Lifestyle first; do not add antioxidants for acute infection |
| oxLDL rising | Diet, not stack | Review fat quality; maintain NRF2 triad |
| All markers optimal | Protocol working | Maintain 6-month monitoring |
| Flat across board at 12 wk | Wrong stack for primary hallmark | NRF2 vs Mito compare |
Lab day checklist
- [ ] Fasted 10–12 hours (water OK) for metabolic markers
- [ ] Log stack version + compliance score in Labs hub notes
- [ ] Same lab vendor when possible — reduce inter-lab noise
- [ ] Schedule next draw before leaving clinic
- [ ] Export CSV backup from Labs hub
CSV upload format
`
date,marker_id,marker_name,value,unit,status
2026-01-15,gsh,Glutathione (GSH),4.2,μmol/L,watch
2026-03-20,gsh,Glutathione (GSH),5.8,μmol/L,optimal
`
Personal monitoring dashboard template
My master lab log
| Date | GSH | NAD+ | hs-CRP | oxLDL | AKG | Stack version | Lifestyle score (1–10) | Action taken |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YYYY-MM-DD | — | — | — | — | — | NRF2A protein that turns on 200+ antioxidant and detox genes when activated. Full glossary → triad | — | Baseline |
| YYYY-MM-DD | — | — | — | — | — | + NMN | — | Added NAD+ |
| YYYY-MM-DD | — | — | — | — | — | Full mito stack | — | 12-wk review |
← Swipe for more columns →
Hallmark → biomarker quick reference
| Hallmark | Primary markers | Secondary markers |
|---|---|---|
| Genomic instability | 8-OHdG | γ-H2AX (research) |
| Mitochondrial dysfunction | NAD+, RHR trend | oxLDL |
| Chronic inflammation | hs-CRP | IL-6 (if available) |
| Epigenetic alterations | GrimAge / DunedinPACE | AKG |
| Loss of proteostasis | GSH | ALT/AST |
| Nutrient sensing | Fasting glucose, insulin | HbA1c |
Compare stacks by biomarker
NMN vs NR, NRF2 vs Mito — pick the stack your labs justify.
Evidence comparisonsHow TNiC grades evidence
Understand Tier A/B/C before interpreting supplement-specific marker expectations.
Evidence methodologyAlign testing with your stack
Each stack includes a monitoring checklist matched to its compounds.
Open Stack ArchitectReferences
- Kumar P et al. GlyNAC supplementation improves glutathione deficiency in aging humans. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci (2021). PMID 33783984
- Fukamizu Y et al. NMN supplementation elevates NAD+ levels in healthy adults. GeroScience (2022). PMID 36482258
Links open PubMed. TNiC does not sell supplements; citations support education, not medical advice.