High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein

Also written hs-CRP

InflammationMeasured in mg/L

What it measures

An acute-phase protein produced by the liver, measured with an assay sensitive enough to resolve the low concentrations relevant to cardiovascular risk.

Why it matters

It adds information to lipid-based risk assessment and identifies people whose risk is driven partly by inflammation.

Where the claimed ranges actually sit

Measured in mg/L. Each row is one claim about where your result should fall.

What a laboratory reportsWhat a seller markets as “optimal”

Laboratory reference range< 3 mg/L

Widely used cardiovascular risk stratification categories

Under 0.5 mg/LC< 0.5 mg/L

Longevity platforms and anti-inflammatory supplement marketing

›View as table

Claim	Range	Source
Laboratory reference range	< 3 mg/L	Widely used cardiovascular risk stratification categories
Under 0.5 mg/L	< 0.5 mg/L	Longevity platforms and anti-inflammatory supplement marketing

Where the sources disagree

Everyone agrees hs-CRP means something. Nobody agrees what a single value means. Because it responds to any recent infection or injury, the standard guidance is to average two measurements taken at least two weeks apart while healthy, advice that consumer panels drawing blood once a year structurally cannot follow. If your result is high, the first question is whether you were unwell, not what supplement to buy.

The marketed ranges, examined

Each claim gets its strongest possible case before it gets its criticism. Several of these are substantially correct.

Under 0.5 mg/L

Promoted by longevity platforms and anti-inflammatory supplement marketing

CConfounded

The strongest case for it

Residual inflammatory risk is real, and at least one major trial showed that reducing inflammation directly lowers cardiovascular events independently of lipids.

What it leaves out

hs-CRP is extraordinarily reactive to transient events. A cold, a dental cleaning, a hard training session, or a poor night's sleep can multiply it several-fold. A sub-0.5 target measured from a single draw is close to meaningless, and it sells a great many supplements.

Before you act on your result

Interpret only when free of acute illness or injury; repeat in two weeks to confirm.
Values above 10 mg/L usually indicate acute inflammation, not cardiovascular risk.
Elevated in obesity, and raised by estrogen-containing contraceptives.

Last reviewed July 28, 2026How we grade evidence and attribute claims →

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