← Blood tests
Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR)
Advanced wellnessalso —
What it isA simple ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes that captures the balance between innate inflammatory activation and adaptive immune competence.
DoesIndexes systemic inflammation and immune exhaustion in a single number.
GoodA low NLR signals balanced immunity and predicts the lowest cardiovascular and cancer mortality.
BadElevated NLR predicts mortality across cardiovascular disease, cancer, sepsis, and aging. It rises with stress, infection, and chronic inflammation.
- Standard
- 1–3.
- Optimal
- 1.0–1.8 (lower is good)
- Modifiers
- Rises with stress, infection, smoking, glucocorticoids.
How to optimize
- Lifestyle
- Sleep, stress management, resistance training, quit smoking; address chronic inflammation drivers.
- Diet
- Mediterranean pattern; cut ultra-processed food.
- Supplements
- Omega-3 EPA+DHA (2–4g/day), curcumin (500mg 2×/day), vitamin D3, zinc.
- Peptides
- Thymosin alpha-1, thymalin.
- Drugs
- Treat underlying cause.
Thymosin Alpha-1Omega-3 (EPA/DHA)Vitamin D3Curcumin (Turmeric)ThymalinZinc
Reference ranges are general adult lab norms; optimal ranges are editorial picks from the longevity literature — not medical advice. Always interpret results with your physician.
within Blood Cells