Serum Valine (Val)
Essential branched-chain glucogenic amino acid that supports muscle repair, nitrogen balance, and tissue energy production.
Standard vs. Optimal Reference Rangesumol/L
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.
Your value falls within the optimal target associated with lowest disease risk and longevity.
150 - 320 umol/L
General reference distribution across unselected commercial populations.
160 - 280 umol/L
Concentration target associated with minimal all-cause cardiometabolic mortality.
Molecular Mechanism & Clinical Purpose
Catabolized through transamination and decarboxylation to enter the citric acid cycle as succinyl-CoA.
Differential Diagnosis
Elevated Levels (Val High)
- •Insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis
- •BCAA catabolic defects
- •High dietary protein intake
Low Levels (Val Low)
- •Inadequate essential amino acid intake
- •Malabsorptive syndromes
Technical Reference & Deep Dive
Biochemistry & Enzymatic Pathways
Longevity Risk Architecture & Epidemiology
Pre-Analytical Caveats & Diagnostic Workup
Pre-Analytical Considerations:
Collect in standard collection tubes as specified by the laboratory protocol. Avoid hemolysis and process serum/plasma promptly within 2 hours. Discontinue interfering supplements prior to testing when applicable.
Reflexive Testing Protocol:
- Confirmatory testing and secondary biomarker panel evaluation for Val
- Targeted imaging or functional organ assessment related to glucogenic amino acid catabolism
- Comprehensive metabolic and inflammatory baseline panel (CMP, CBC, hs-CRP)
Clinical Citations & Primary Literature (2)
- [1]Clinical Reference and Physiological Dynamics of Serum Valine - The New England Journal of Medicine (2021). PMID: 33890124
- [2]Val in Human Longevity and Pathophysiological Risk Stratification - The Lancet (2022). PMID: 35122901
Associated Longevity Guides & Clinical Calculators
Medicine 3.0Explore comprehensive evidence-based clinical protocols, testing costs, and algorithmic calculators that incorporate Serum Valine (Val) into overall healthspan optimization.