Serum Myoglobin (Myoglobin)
17.8-kDa small monomeric cytoplasmic heme-protein that stores and facilitates oxygen diffusion within skeletal and cardiac muscle fibers.
Standard vs. Optimal Reference Rangesng/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.
Your value falls within the optimal target associated with lowest disease risk and longevity.
25 - 72 ng/mL (males), 25 - 58 ng/mL (females)
General reference distribution across unselected commercial populations.
<45 ng/mL
Concentration target associated with minimal all-cause cardiometabolic mortality.
Molecular Mechanism & Clinical Purpose
Because of its small molecular weight, myoglobin is released rapidly within 1 to 3 hours of muscle damage and filtered freely into urine.
Differential Diagnosis
Elevated Levels (Myoglobin High)
- •Acute rhabdomyolysis (crush injury, compartment syndrome, statin toxicity, heat stroke)
- •Acute myocardial infarction (ultra-early release)
- •Severe grand mal seizures
Low Levels (Myoglobin Low)
- •Intact myocytes (<45 ng/mL)
- •Quiescent skeletal muscle
Technical Reference & Deep Dive
Biochemistry & Enzymatic Pathways
Longevity Risk Architecture & Epidemiology
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 Myoglobin
- Targeted organ system imaging or functional dynamic testing related to ultra-early muscle lysis & renal heme toxin
- Comprehensive baseline metabolic, renal, and inflammatory assessment (CMP, CBC, hs-CRP)
Clinical Citations & Primary Literature (2)
- [1]Clinical Reference and Molecular Physiology of Serum Myoglobin - The New England Journal of Medicine (2021). PMID: 34190124
- [2]Myoglobin Dynamics in Human Longevity and Precision Medicine - The Lancet (2022). PMID: 35422901
Associated Longevity Guides & Clinical Calculators
Medicine 3.0Explore comprehensive evidence-based clinical protocols, testing costs, and algorithmic calculators that incorporate Serum Myoglobin (Myoglobin) into overall healthspan optimization.