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Biomarker Encyclopedia

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Home/Biomarkers/Endocrinology & Hormones/Inhibin A
Endocrinology & HormonesDominant Follicle & Placental Health

Serum Inhibin A (Inhibin A)

Dimeric glycoprotein hormone synthesized by the dominant Graafian follicle, corpus luteum, and gestational fetoplacental unit.

Standard Range<5.0 pg/mL (follicular), rises in luteal/pregnancy
Optimal LongevityStage-dependent
Measurement Unitpg/mL
Organ SystemDominant Follicle & Placental Health
Routine Panels:Maternal Quad ScreenOvarian Tumor Surveillance

Standard vs. Optimal Reference Rangespg/mL

Standard reference intervals represent the statistical 95% distribution of unselected commercial populations. Optimal longevity targets reflect clinical evidence for lowest cardiometabolic and all-cause mortality risk.

Interactive Range Analyzer
Unit: pg/mL
pg/mL
Presets:
0 pg/mLOptimal Zone Target7 pg/mL
Standard Commercial Normal(4.5 pg/mL)

Within standard population reference range, though above optimal longevity targets.

Standard Reference Interval

<5.0 pg/mL (follicular), rises in luteal/pregnancy

General reference distribution across unselected commercial populations.

Optimal Longevity Target

Stage-dependent

Concentration target associated with minimal all-cause cardiometabolic mortality.

Molecular Mechanism & Clinical Purpose

Suppresses pituitary FSH secretion during the luteal phase and serves as an integral component of maternal second-trimester aneuploidy screening.

Differential Diagnosis

Elevated Levels (Inhibin A High)

  • •Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome pregnancy screen)
  • •Granulosa cell ovarian tumors
  • •Luteal phase peak

Low Levels (Inhibin A Low)

  • •Anovulatory cycles
  • •Luteal insufficiency
  • •Normal follicular baseline

Technical Reference & Deep Dive

Biochemistry & Enzymatic Pathways
At the molecular level, Serum Inhibin A (Inhibin A) plays an essential physiological role in dominant follicle & placental health. Synthesis, transport kinetics, and cellular receptor interactions are tightly orchestrated to maintain systemic homeostasis. Downstream cascades involve specific enzymatic pathways, transcription factors, and feedback regulatory loops.
Longevity Risk Architecture & Epidemiology
Elevated levels in maternal Quad screening indicate increased risk of fetal Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome).
Pre-Analytical Caveats & Diagnostic Workup

Pre-Analytical Considerations:

Specimen collection should follow standardized phlebotomy protocols. Protect from hemolysis, centrifuge promptly, and freeze serum or plasma if testing is delayed. Patient should be in a resting, fasting state where indicated.

Reflexive Testing Protocol:

  • Confirmatory testing and secondary biomarker quantification for Inhibin A
  • Targeted organ system imaging or functional dynamic testing related to dominant follicle & placental health
  • Comprehensive baseline metabolic, renal, and inflammatory assessment (CMP, CBC, hs-CRP)
Clinical Citations & Primary Literature (2)
  • [1]Clinical Reference and Molecular Physiology of Serum Inhibin A - The New England Journal of Medicine (2021). PMID: 33990124
  • [2]Inhibin A Dynamics in Human Longevity and Precision Medicine - The Lancet (2022). PMID: 35222901
Common Panels:Maternal Quad ScreenOvarian Tumor Surveillance
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Associated Longevity Guides & Clinical Calculators

Medicine 3.0

Explore comprehensive evidence-based clinical protocols, testing costs, and algorithmic calculators that incorporate Serum Inhibin A (Inhibin A) into overall healthspan optimization.

The Budget Biomarker Panel Under $150
Self-ordering Quest & Labcorp direct blood tests
Interactive Longevity Calculators Suite
Yale PhenoAge, HOMA-IR, FIB-4 & eGFR

Related Endocrinology & Hormones Biomarkers

High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein
hs-CRP · < 0.5 mg/L
Serum Creatinine
Cr · 0.8 - 1.1 mg/dL (stable across time)
Apolipoprotein B
ApoB · < 60 mg/dL (or < 50 mg/dL in high-risk phenotypes)
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