In today’s evolving healthcare landscape, one word continues to rise in importance: biomarkers. These powerful biological indicators provide measurable insight into the body’s internal processes—whether detecting disease early, tailoring treatment, or monitoring health progress over time. As a core tool of personalized medicine, biomarkers empower clinicians to go beyond symptom-based care and offer data-driven, individualized health strategies.
In this article, we’ll explore what biomarkers are, the different types, how they’re used in modern medicine—including functional and holistic healthcare—and how Aligned Modern Health leverages biomarker testing to help patients uncover root causes of symptoms and conditions, in order to optimize their health.
What Are Biomarkers?
Biomarkers, short for “biological markers,” are measurable indicators of normal or abnormal biological processes. According to the FDA-NIH Biomarker Working Group, a biomarker is defined as:
“A characteristic that is objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biological processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacologic responses to a therapeutic intervention.”
This definition places biomarkers at the center of modern medical research and clinical care. From blood pressure and cholesterol to hormone levels and genetic mutations, biomarkers offer clinicians a reliable, quantifiable way to track what’s happening inside the body—often before symptoms arise.
In clinical research, biomarkers may serve as surrogate endpoints—proxies for actual clinical outcomes—when the true effects of a disease or treatment may take years to fully emerge. In practice, they help clinicians detect risk factors, monitor chronic conditions, and guide individualized treatment plans grounded in data rather than general assumptions.
What Are the Types of Biomarkers?
Biomarkers are classified based on their role in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment planning. Below is an overview of the key types of biomarkers used in healthcare today:
| Type of Biomarker | Description | Examples |
| Diagnostic | TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) | Used to identify hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism |
| Prognostic | eGFR (Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate) | Indicates progression risk in kidney disease |
| Predictive | HLA-DQ2/DQ8 Genes | Predicts risk of Celiac disease |
| Pharmacodynamic/Response | Measures biological response to a therapy | Blood glucose after insulin dose |
| Susceptibility/Risk | Indicates potential risk of developing a disease | BRCA1/BRCA2 for breast cancer |
| Monitoring | Tracks the course of a condition or response to treatment over time | Inflammatory markers like CRP |
| Safety | Flags toxicity or adverse response to a drug | Liver enzyme levels |
As Herranz (2022) and Strimbu & Tavel (2010) highlight, biomarkers can also be classified as imaging biomarkers (e.g., MRI, CT scans) or molecular biomarkers (e.g., proteins, DNA, metabolites). In functional medicine, molecular biomarkers are often prioritized due to their accessibility via blood, saliva, or urine testing and their direct ties to metabolic and cellular health.
What Are the Key Applications of Biomarkers in Healthcare?
Biomarkers have transformed the way we approach health—offering earlier interventions, more targeted therapies, and a deeper understanding of individual health profiles. Their key applications include:
1. Early Disease Detection
Biomarkers can identify subtle biological shifts before symptoms appear. For instance, elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels may indicate low-grade inflammation, helping prevent chronic disease before it takes hold.
2. Monitoring Treatment Responses
Tracking how biomarkers change in response to interventions helps clinicians determine what’s working—and what isn’t. For example, a drop in fasting glucose after dietary changes or medication adjustments signals metabolic improvement.
3. Clinical Trials and Drug Development
Biomarkers provide efficient surrogate outcomes, shortening trial durations and accelerating drug approvals. This speeds innovation and ensures promising treatments reach patients faster.
4. Predictive and Prognostic Insights
These markers help forecast how diseases will unfold and how individuals might respond to therapies. This enables earlier risk mitigation and more confident care decisions.
5. Personalized Medicine
Biomarkers allow providers to assess health status at a molecular level, creating care plans uniquely tailored to each patient’s physiology, genetics, and environment.
How Are Biomarkers Used in Functional Medicine?
In functional medicine, biomarkers are foundational. They allow practitioners to shift from a “disease-first” to a “patient-first” model—targeting imbalances, not just symptoms.
Aligned Modern Health uses biomarker testing to uncover the root causes of fatigue, weight changes, hormonal symptoms, digestive distress, and more. The results guide customized, holistic care plans.
| Biomarker Category | What It Measures | Why It Matters in Functional Medicine |
|---|---|---|
| Metabolic Health | Hemoglobin A1c, fasting glucose, fasting insulin | Flags insulin resistance, blood sugar dysfunction, metabolic syndrome |
| Nutritional Status | Vitamin D, B12, folate, amino acids | Identifies nutrient gaps affecting immunity, energy, cognitive function |
| Inflammatory Markers | CRP, homocysteine, cytokines | Reveals hidden inflammation underlying joint pain, fatigue, or autoimmune issues |
| Hormonal Balance | Cortisol, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone | Tracks adrenal and reproductive health, identifies hormone imbalances |
| Detoxification | Liver enzymes, urinary toxins, heavy metals | Measures how effectively the body processes and eliminates harmful substances |
| Biomarker Category | What It Measures | Why It Matters in Functional Medicine |
| Metabolic Health | Hemoglobin A1c, fasting glucose, fasting insulin | Flags insulin resistance, blood sugar dysfunction, metabolic syndrome |
| Nutritional Status | Vitamin D, B12, folate, amino acids | Identifies nutrient gaps affecting immunity, energy, cognitive function |
| Inflammatory Markers | CRP, homocysteine, cytokines | Reveals hidden inflammation underlying joint pain, fatigue, or autoimmune issues |
| Hormonal Balance | Cortisol, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone | Tracks adrenal and reproductive health, identifies hormone imbalances |
| Detoxification | Liver enzymes, urinary toxins, heavy metals | Measures how effectively the body processes and eliminates harmful substances |
These insights don’t just help manage disease—they can help prevent it. Functional medicine sees biomarkers not as diagnostic labels, but as windows into the root causes of imbalance and dysfunction.
“When I see biomarker patterns in lab results, I’m not just seeing numbers—I’m seeing a story. They tell me where your body is under stress, where it’s compensating, and where it’s asking for support. It’s how we practice true precision care.”
— Dr. Delilah Renegar, Director of Functional Medicine, Aligned Modern Health
How Aligned Modern Health Incorporates Biomarkers into Patient Care
At Aligned Modern Health, we believe your health deserves to be understood—not guessed. Biomarkers are a central part of that understanding.
Our Patient Journey:
- Comprehensive Testing: We begin with a full clinical history and a set of lab panels that go deeper than conventional screenings.
- Whole Body Wellness: Our practitioners connect your biomarker data with your lifestyle, diet, stress levels, and health goals.
- Integrative Care Plans: Your care plan may include targeted nutrition, supplements, stress management techniques, or hormone support based on your results.
- Progress Tracking: Follow-up testing ensures that your plan is delivering measurable improvements—and we adjust as needed.
“My biomarker results explained why I felt off even when my regular labs looked fine. For the first time, I had answers—and a clear plan to heal.”
— Patient at Aligned Modern Health, Functional Medicine Program
Our providers are trained in both conventional and functional medicine and include MDs, DCs, NPss, and clinical nutritionists—uniquely qualified to interpret advanced labs and apply them with compassion and clinical rigor.
Why Context Matters in Biomarker Testing
Biomarkers offer powerful insight—but their true value lies in how they’re interpreted. At Aligned Modern Health, we believe lab values are most meaningful when paired with the full context of your health story.
While biomarkers help uncover imbalances and guide targeted care, they are not used in isolation. Two people may have the same lab result but require entirely different interventions depending on their symptoms, lifestyle, and goals. That’s why our practitioners combine biomarker data with physical exam findings, patient-reported symptoms, and clinical expertise.
For example, a borderline thyroid result may not trigger concern in conventional medicine, but when considered alongside fatigue, cold sensitivity, and sluggish digestion, it might reveal an underlying imbalance worth addressing.
Our integrated approach reduces guesswork, flags actionable patterns, and avoids over-reliance on any single number. It’s how we ensure that every test result leads to more personalized, effective care—not generic treatment plans.
Optimize Your Health with Aligned Modern Health
Biomarkers aren’t just numbers on a chart—they’re powerful guides toward better health. At Aligned Modern Health, we use biomarker testing to unlock:
- Earlier detection of health risks
- More effective and targeted treatment plans
- Measurable progress that validates your hard work
- Greater control over your health, quality of life and longevity
With every lab result, we get a clearer picture of your unique biology—and a clearer path toward sustainable wellness.
