My Bloodwork After 3 Years of Supplements: Every Number

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I’ve had my blood drawn 5 times in the last 3 years. Here’s exactly what changed — the wins, the surprises, the one result that scared me, and the markers that didn’t improve.

Five blood tests over three years reveal the real impact of a 34-supplement protocol, statin therapy, and carb reduction. My LDL dropped 67%, triglycerides fell 69%, and HDL doubled — but not every marker improved. Here are all the numbers, the honest attribution, and the lessons from $600+ in lab work.

Most supplement articles give you theory. “This compound may support healthy cholesterol.” Cool. What actually happened when a real person took 34 supplements daily for three years and tracked every blood marker? I’m going to show you. No cherry-picking. No hiding the bad numbers. Every result from every test.

The Full Cardiovascular Timeline

Here’s every major cardiovascular marker across all five blood draws. Some tests didn’t include every marker — dashes mean that marker wasn’t tested that round.

Marker	Nov 2022	Sep 2024	Feb 2025	Oct 2025	Feb 2026
Total Cholesterol	207	255	252	200	128
Triglycerides	239	—	232	144	74
HDL-C	28	43	49	41	56
LDL-C	136	171	160	133	57
LDL-P	—	2,582	—	1,861	713
CRP	—	—	3.0	<1	<1

Read that table left to right and you’ll see something that doesn’t fit a clean narrative. It got worse before it got better. That’s real life.

The Starting Point (November 2022)

My first serious blood panel at 38 years old. The number that stopped me cold: HDL 28.

Under 40 is the danger zone. Under 30 is actively bad. I was sitting at 28 with triglycerides at 239 — nearly 2.5x the optimal level. My total cholesterol looked “borderline” at 207, the kind of number a doctor might glance at and say “keep an eye on it.” But the HDL-to-triglyceride ratio told a different story. That ratio is one of the strongest predictors of metabolic health, and mine was terrible.

This single blood draw is the reason I spent the next three years researching longevity blood markers, building a supplement protocol, and getting tested regularly. One $150 lab panel changed the trajectory.

It Got Worse Before Better (September 2024)

Almost two years into my supplement stack. I was expecting improvement. Instead:

LDL-P hit 2,582.

That’s LDL particle count — arguably a more important marker than LDL cholesterol. Peter Attia has talked extensively about LDL-P being the driver of atherosclerotic risk, not just LDL-C. My particle count was categorized as “very high.”

HDL had climbed from 28 to 43 — a real win. But the LDL picture was concerning. Supplements alone weren’t moving the needle fast enough on the dangerous side of the equation.

I kept the protocol going. Added higher-dose omega-3 (the specific fish oil I use), started tracking ApoB research more closely, and scheduled more frequent testing.

The Turning Point (October 2025)

This is where everything shifted. And it started with a scare.

I got a CT coronary calcium score. At 41, I expected a zero. It came back elevated for my age. I’m not going to sugarcoat it — that result shook me. A calcium score isn’t a blood test, but it’s what pushed me to combine medication with my existing protocol.

Three Changes at Once

1. Started atorvastatin 20mg + Prelipid — prescribed based on the calcium score and LDL history
2. Cut carbs significantly — not full keto, but aggressive reduction in refined carbs and sugar
3. Continued the full supplement stack — all 34 supplements, including CoQ10 (ubiquinol), berberine, niacin, garlic, and taurine

But here’s what most people miss about my October 2025 results: CRP had already dropped from 3.0 to under 1 BEFORE I started the statin.

CRP (C-reactive protein) is a systemic inflammation marker. A reading of 3.0 puts you in the highest cardiovascular risk category. Mine dropped to under 1 between February and October 2025 — months before any medication. That improvement was supplements and lifestyle alone. Omega-3, curcumin, garlic, and reduced processed food.

The Vitamin D Scare

The October panel also showed my Vitamin D at 192 ng/mL. The reference range tops out at 100.

I was taking 40,000 IU per day. That’s aggressive — I knew it was aggressive — but I was chasing Dr. Stanfield’s discussion of higher vitamin D targets for longevity. The problem: I felt completely fine at 192. Zero symptoms. No nausea, no fatigue, no kidney issues. Without this blood test, I would have kept overdosing indefinitely.

This is the single strongest argument for regular bloodwork while supplementing. Feeling good is not the same as being safe. I immediately cut to 10,000 IU every other day.

The Payoff (February 2026)

Four months after adding the statin and cutting carbs. Every major marker at its best level in three years.

Marker	Oct 2025	Feb 2026	Change
LDL-C	133	57	-57%
Triglycerides	144	74	-49%
HDL-C	41	56	+37%
LDL-P	1,861	713	-62%
Small LDL-P	914	519	-43%
ApoB	—	54	First test, well below <90 target
Insulin	21.3	8.3	-61%
CRP	<1	<1	Holding (was <1 before statin)
Vitamin D	192	76.9	-60% (corrected, not worsened)
AST (liver)	17	19	Stable, excellent
ALT (liver)	18	16	Stable, excellent
eGFR (kidney)	80	91	+14%

An ApoB of 54 on my first test was the highlight. Peter Attia calls ApoB the most important cardiovascular marker — and under 60 puts you in a strong position. LDL particle count dropping from 2,582 (Sep 2024) to 713 is a 72% reduction over 17 months.

Honest Attribution

I need to be straight about this: three things changed simultaneously between October 2025 and February 2026. The statin, the carb reduction, and the continued supplement protocol. I can’t isolate which intervention drove which result with precision.

Here’s my best assessment:

• The statin likely drove the LDL drop. A 57% reduction in LDL-C in four months is consistent with atorvastatin 20mg. Supplements can nudge LDL 10-15%, not 57%.
• Carb reduction likely drove triglycerides and insulin. Triglycerides falling 49% and insulin dropping 61% align with reduced carbohydrate intake. Berberine likely contributed to the insulin improvement as well.
• The supplements provided the foundation. Omega-3 for triglycerides and inflammation. Niacin for HDL. Garlic and berberine for lipids. CoQ10 to offset statin-related depletion. Taurine for cardiovascular function.

And here’s what most people miss: my CRP dropped from 3.0 to under 1 BEFORE I started the statin. That was supplements and lifestyle alone. The inflammation was already handled by the time the medication entered the picture.

Markers That Didn’t Improve

Not everything moved in the right direction. I’m showing you these because hiding bad results is something supplement companies do, not something I do.

Marker	Oct 2025	Feb 2026	Status	Reference
Large VLDL-P	0.8	3.6	Worsened, flagged High	≤2.7
VLDL Size	44.2	53.3	Worsened, flagged High	≤46.6
LDL Size	21.0	20.0	Decreased, flagged Low	≥20.5
LP-IR Score	50	53	Slightly worsened, still High	≤45

The VLDL changes and LP-IR score concern me. These are markers of insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction that didn’t respond the way the headline markers did. My doctor is aware of these, and we’re tracking them at my next draw.

On the positive side: Large HDL-P jumped from under 1.3 to 6.5, blowing past the 4.8 optimal threshold. That’s a big win for reverse cholesterol transport — HDL particles pulling cholesterol out of arterial walls.

This is why I test regularly — to catch trends and adjust with my doctor. One snapshot doesn’t tell you much. Four or five snapshots show you where you’re heading.

The Vitamin D Lesson

This deserves its own section because it’s the scariest “I was wrong” moment.

40,000 IU per day. Vitamin D hit 192 ng/mL. The upper reference limit is 100. I was nearly double it.

I’ve written about this in detail in how vitamin D bloodwork may have saved me from long-term damage. The short version: vitamin D is fat-soluble. It accumulates. And at extremely high levels, it can cause calcium buildup in soft tissues, kidney damage, and other problems that develop silently.

I had zero symptoms at 192. Felt great. Sleeping well. Energy was fine. Without the blood test, I’d still be taking 40,000 IU daily. I cut to 10,000 IU every other day, and four months later I was at 76.9 — comfortably in the optimal range.

If you take vitamin D and you haven’t tested your levels, stop reading this and order a blood test. Seriously. At-home test kits cost under $50. There’s no excuse.

The Liver Story: Statins + 34 Supplements

The first question every doctor asks when you mention 34 daily supplements plus a statin: “How’s your liver?”

AST: 19. ALT: 16. Both excellent. Both stable from the previous draw.

I attribute this to a dual-layer liver protection strategy: TUDCA and milk thistle (silymarin). TUDCA is a bile acid that supports liver cell integrity and bile flow. Milk thistle has decades of research behind it for liver protection. I take both daily and have since before starting the statin.

This matters for anyone considering a statin alongside supplements. The standard medical concern is valid — statins can elevate liver enzymes. Monitoring is non-negotiable. But my results suggest that targeted liver support can keep enzymes stable even under a heavy supplementation load.

The Insulin Story

21.3 to 8.3. A 61% drop in three months.

Fasting insulin is the metabolic marker I’m most obsessed with. A level of 21.3 in October 2025 indicated significant insulin resistance — my body was pumping out excess insulin to manage blood sugar. That’s a precursor to type 2 diabetes and is associated with accelerated aging in longevity research.

Three things likely drove the drop: aggressive carb reduction, berberine (which has been shown in studies to have metformin-like effects on blood sugar), and potentially the statin itself (some research suggests statins can improve insulin sensitivity in certain patients).

Getting below 10 was my target. 8.3 exceeded it.

Two Markers I’m Watching

B12: Too High?

My B12 went from 705 to over 2,000 in three months. The reference range is 232-1,245 depending on the lab. I’m supplementing B12 three different ways — Thorne B12, a methylfolate + B12 combo, and a B complex. That’s clearly too much redundancy. I’m discussing this with my doctor at my next visit to pare it back.

Ferritin: Trending Up

Ferritin went from 281 to 341, trending toward the upper limit of around 400. High ferritin can indicate iron overload, inflammation, or liver stress — though in my case, liver enzymes and CRP are both clean. Still, it’s a trend I’m not ignoring. If it keeps climbing, I may need to reduce iron-containing supplements or consider blood donation (which naturally lowers ferritin).

What I’d Do Differently

• Test earlier. I waited until 38 for my first serious panel. Should have started at 30.
• Test more markers from the start. My first test didn’t include LDL-P, ApoB, or insulin. Those turned out to be the most important numbers.
• Don’t mega-dose without monitoring. 40,000 IU of vitamin D was reckless without quarterly testing. I got lucky that the only consequence was a high blood level and not calcium deposits.
• Track trends, not snapshots. One blood test means almost nothing. Five tests over three years shows you the trajectory. That’s what matters.

What These Numbers Mean

Five blood tests. Three years. The numbers moved. Not from one magic pill — from a systematic approach combining medication, diet, and targeted supplementation, guided by regular testing and a doctor who reviews every result.

If you’re spending $200+ per month on supplements like I am and you haven’t run full bloodwork, you’re flying blind. You might be overdosing on vitamin D. You might have an LDL particle count that demands medical intervention. You might be wasting money on supplements that aren’t doing anything for YOUR specific biomarkers.

The blood doesn’t lie. Get tested. Read the full guide on which longevity blood tests to ask for, then find a testing option that works for your budget at the best at-home blood test services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do supplements actually show up in bloodwork?

Yes — but not all of them show direct markers. Omega-3 supplementation shows up through triglyceride levels, the omega-3 index, and inflammation markers like CRP. Vitamin D supplementation directly raises serum 25(OH)D levels. NMN doesn’t have a standard blood marker yet, though NAD+ testing is emerging. The best approach is testing the downstream markers each supplement targets rather than looking for the supplement itself in your blood.

How often should you get bloodwork on supplements?

Every 3-6 months for the first year, then every 6-12 months once your levels stabilize. I test every 3-4 months because I’m on a statin and a large supplement stack — more variables means more frequent monitoring. If you’re only taking 3-5 supplements, twice a year is usually enough. Always test when you make a significant change to your protocol so you can see the before-and-after impact.

Can supplements replace statins?

Based on my experience, no — not for aggressive LDL reduction. My supplements moved HDL, CRP, and triglycerides meaningfully, but LDL-C and LDL particle count didn’t budge until I added atorvastatin. Supplements like berberine, red yeast rice, and plant sterols can lower LDL 10-20% in studies, but a statin dropped mine 57% in four months. The decision to use a statin should be between you and your doctor based on your individual risk profile — not based on internet advice. I wrote more about how I approach the statin + supplement question here.

What blood tests should I ask for?

At minimum: a standard lipid panel (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides), fasting insulin, fasting glucose, HbA1c, CRP, vitamin D, B12, liver enzymes (AST/ALT), and a CBC. For a more complete picture, add: LDL particle count (LDL-P), ApoB, LP(a), a thyroid panel (TSH, free T3, free T4), ferritin, and homocysteine. I cover the full list in my longevity blood tests guide.

How much does regular bloodwork cost?

It depends on the test panel and provider. A basic lipid panel through your doctor with insurance might cost $0-30 as part of an annual physical. A full panel like the NMR LipoProfile I use runs $100-200 through direct-to-consumer labs like Marek Health or Quest via an online ordering service. At-home finger-prick tests for individual markers (vitamin D, testosterone, thyroid) cost $30-80 each. Over three years, I’ve spent roughly $600 total on five panels — about $120 per test. That’s less than one month of my supplement spend, and it’s the only way to know if those supplements are actually working.

Medical disclaimer: This article documents my personal bloodwork results and supplement experience. It is not medical advice. My protocol was developed and monitored in consultation with my physician. Supplement and medication decisions should be made with your doctor based on your individual health profile, risk factors, and lab results. Do not start, stop, or change any medication or supplement based on this article.