Getting Started
Indices
Inflammation
Bone and mineral
Glucose and insulin
Lipids
Nerve and blood vessel
Oxidative stress and fibrosis
Kidney and protein
Cartilage
IL-6
Interleukin-6
High
9.8pg·mL⁻¹Ref 0.5–7 pg·mL⁻¹
Z +3.72↑ Bad
The card shows an example result of 9.8 pg·mL⁻¹, which is 3.72 SD above the mean.
What it measures
Interleukin-6 is a cytokine released by immune cells, fat tissue, and working muscle. It tells the liver to make CRP and other acute-phase proteins.
Reference range
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | IL-6 |
| Group | Inflammation |
| Unit | pg·mL⁻¹ |
| Healthy range | 0.5–7 |
| Mean | 3.75 |
| SD | 1.625 |
| Direction | ↑ Bad — a raised value is the concern. |
The mean is (low + high) / 2 and the SD is (high − low) / 4, so the healthy range covers Z from −2 to +2.
Reading the result
- High — Points to active inflammation. Long-term raised levels are linked to ageing, frailty, and cardiometabolic disease.
- Low — Not a concern.
Notes
- Exercise raises IL-6 for a few hours. Test at rest.
- Results vary between assays, so compare values from the same lab.
- This page is general information, not medical advice. Discuss results with a clinician.