COMPENDIUM ON FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE - Flipbook - Page 890
● Autoimmune prevention: Monitor antibodies every 6 months
if elevated
● Maintenance: Annual testing once stabilized
Key Inflammatory Markers: C-Reactive Protein
C-reactive protein (CRP) serves as one of the most valuable
inflammatory biomarkers in functional medicine practice,
providing critical insights into systemic inflammation that may be
driving numerous chronic conditions.
Standard vs. Functional Interpretation
Conventional Reference Range
The standard laboratory reference range for high-sensitivity CRP
(hs-CRP) is typically below 3.0 mg/L, with values above 10 mg/L
generally considered indicative of acute inflammation [67, 68].
Functional Optimal Range
Functional medicine practitioners utilize much tighter reference
ranges to identify low-grade chronic inflammation:
● Optimal:
2.0 mg/L
Research shows that even mild elevations between 1.0-3.0 mg/L
indicate increased cardiovascular risk and potential systemic
inflammation [69, 70].
Clinical Significance and Interpretation
Beyond Cardiovascular Risk
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