Your CMP results can reveal more than just basic organ function - they offer insight into your metabolism, recovery, hydration, and even hormonal health.
At Catalyst, we go beyond the “normal range” to help you understand what your lab values actually mean for your energy, performance, and long-term health.
What Is a CMP?
The Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) is a group of 14 blood markers that give a snapshot of:
Liver function
Kidney function
Electrolyte and fluid balance
Blood sugar regulation
Protein levels and nutritional status
It’s one of the most common lab panels, but most doctors only flag values that are dangerously out of range. We look deeper.
Markers You Should Understand
Glucose
Tells us about your blood sugar regulation at the time of the test.
Ideally fasting glucose should be under 90 mg/dL for metabolic health.
Higher levels can signal insulin resistance or stress-related cortisol spikes.
BUN and Creatinine
Markers of kidney function, but also fluid balance and muscle mass.
A low BUN:Creatinine ratio can mean you're overhydrated or under-eating protein.
Elevated BUN in isolation may suggest dehydration or high protein turnover.
eGFR (Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate)
Assesses kidney filtration capacity.
We want this above 90 for optimal filtration. Lower values can reflect chronic kidney strain or low muscle mass in some cases.
ALT, AST, ALP, and Bilirubin
These are liver enzymes and bile pigments.
Mild elevations can reflect overtraining, medication use, or subclinical liver stress.
It’s important to audit your supplement list if levels are elevated to ensure there are not hepatotoxins
Albumin and Total Protein
Indicators of nutritional status, liver health, and recovery capacity.
Albumin is also a negative acute phase reactant, meaning it drops in the presence of inflammation
Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, CO2 (Bicarbonate)
These are your electrolytes, which impact hydration, blood pressure, and nerve/muscle function.
Patterns here can reveal adrenal function, acid-base balance, and over/under hydration.
Example: Low CO2 (bicarb) can indicate metabolic acidosis from low-carb diets or high training load.
Calcium
Often thought of in terms of bone health, but also a hormonal marker.
Calcium is tightly regulated, so if it’s trending high or low, we look at vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, magnesium, and more.
CMP in Context: Why It Matters for Optimization
On its own, the CMP is limited, but when interpreted alongside markers like hs-CRP, insulin, testosterone, cortisol, DHEA, and thyroid labs, it becomes a powerful diagnostic tool.
Examples:
Chronically low CO2 + fatigue = possible adrenal dysfunction
Elevated ALT + poor sleep = possible nighttime blood sugar spikes or alcohol sensitivity
Low albumin + slow recovery = possible inflammation or under-eating protein
CMP as a Baseline, Not the Whole Story
At Catalyst, your CMP is just one layer of your broader health map. We always interpret it alongside:
Hormones (testosterone, cortisol, thyroid, DHEA, IGF-1)
Inflammation (hs-CRP, homocysteine, fibrinogen)
Micronutrients (Vitamin D, B12/folate, omega-3s)
Insulin resistance (fasting insulin, HOMA-IR)
Lipid quality (particle counts, ApoB)
We also look at subjective symptoms, sleep and HRV data, body composition, and wearable insights to build a protocol that actually matches your biology.
When Should You Test?
A CMP is included in every Catalyst lab panel and should be tracked quarterly for most patients, or more frequently if you're:
Starting a new protocol
Making a dietary shift (e.g. keto, carnivore, vegan)
Increasing training intensity
Taking medications or peptides
Monitoring recovery or fatigue
Next Step: Get Your Labs Interpreted with Precision
We don’t just tell you what’s “in range.” We show you what’s optimal for you, what’s trending in the wrong direction, and what changes will move the needle.
