The authors examined 12 routine blood markers. These included glucose and total cholesterol for metabolic status, creatinine for kidney function, liver enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase), albumin for nutritional status, and iron plus total iron-binding capacity for anemia and iron handling. Uric acid was also measured, sometimes used as a marker associated with inflammation. This panel will feel familiar to anyone who has seen standard lab tests.
In the first version of the paper, the summary suggested that higher total cholesterol increased the odds of reaching 100. The authors later clarified: “Low cholesterol was associated with a reduced likelihood of reaching the age of 100,” while noting that “having high cholesterol neither increases nor decreases the probability of living to 100 years of age.”
The corrected guidance is more balanced, and it matches the figure that used the middle quintile as the reference. Their final message is specific. Belonging to the lowest quintiles of total cholesterol or iron was linked with lower odds of becoming a centenarian. Belonging to the highest quintiles of glucose, uric acid, GGT, ALP, LD, and TIBC was also linked with lower odds. For creatinine, the top two quintiles showed lower odds. For aspartate aminotransferase, both the highest and lowest quintiles showed lower odds. That U-shaped pattern can appear when both deficiency and excess carry risks. This nuance matters in clinic conversations.
