Total Blood & Urine Arsenic (As)
Toxic metalloid that binds lipoic acid sulfhydryls on pyruvate dehydrogenase and uncouples oxidative phosphorylation by competing with phosphate.
Standard vs. Optimal Reference Rangesug/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.
<10.0 ug/L (blood), <35.0 ug/g Cr (urine)
General reference distribution across unselected commercial populations.
<5.0 ug/L
Concentration target associated with minimal all-cause cardiometabolic mortality.
Molecular Mechanism & Clinical Purpose
Trivalent arsenite inhibits the pyruvate dehydrogenase multi-enzyme complex; pentavalent arsenate uncouples ATP synthesis in mitochondria.
Differential Diagnosis
Elevated Levels (As High)
- •Consumption of contaminated groundwater / well water
- •High dietary intake of unwashed rice or brown rice syrup
- •Occupational pesticide / semiconductor exposure
Low Levels (As Low)
- •Minimal environmental arsenic burden
- •Intact mitochondrial aerobic respiration
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 As
- Targeted organ system imaging or functional dynamic testing related to pyruvate dehydrogenase inhibition
- Comprehensive baseline metabolic, renal, and inflammatory assessment (CMP, CBC, hs-CRP)
Clinical Citations & Primary Literature (2)
- [1]Clinical Reference and Molecular Physiology of Total Blood & Urine Arsenic - The New England Journal of Medicine (2021). PMID: 34090124
- [2]As Dynamics in Human Longevity and Precision Medicine - The Lancet (2022). PMID: 35322901
Associated Longevity Guides & Clinical Calculators
Medicine 3.0Explore comprehensive evidence-based clinical protocols, testing costs, and algorithmic calculators that incorporate Total Blood & Urine Arsenic (As) into overall healthspan optimization.