The science
Most blood test results tell you whether you're sick. We tell you whether you're optimised. There's a significant gap between the two — and most people live in it.
UKAS-accredited labs · GMC doctor review · From £89
Accreditation
All blood analysis is performed in UKAS-accredited UK laboratories — the same accreditation standard as NHS pathology services. Samples are processed using established clinical methodology with full chain of custody from collection to result.
LABORATORY STANDARDS
UKAS Accredited
ISO 15189
NHS Standard
Clinical methodology
Capillary Testing
No venous draw
UK Laboratories
Domestic processing
GP Doctor Review
Every set of results is reviewed by a GMC-registered doctor before being released to you. Abnormal values are flagged for follow-up.
Clinical vs optimal
Clinical reference ranges are designed to identify disease in a population. They're set at the 2.5th–97.5th percentile of all adults — including sedentary, unhealthy individuals. A testosterone level of 12 nmol/L is “normal” by NHS standards. For a 42-year-old male athlete, it may represent significant suboptimal function.
nmol/L
Clinical “normal”
8–30 nmol/L
Performance optimal
18–25 nmol/L
nmol/L
Clinical “normal”
50–200 nmol/L
Performance optimal
100–150 nmol/L
The gap between not sick and performing at your ceiling is where most people live. We quantify it precisely.
AI protocol
Raw biomarker data is processed by an AI system built on Claude (Anthropic's frontier AI model). The system cross-references every marker against its interactions with other markers — identifying root causes rather than isolated values.
“Suboptimal Vitamin D doesn't just affect bone density. It suppresses testosterone synthesis, impairs immune function, and slows tissue repair. Correcting a single deficiency can cascade improvements across multiple systems.”
— Example AI insight
This is not a rules engine matching markers to supplements. It is a reasoning system that understands physiology — built to produce the kind of analysis a sports physician and performance nutritionist would give, delivered instantly and personalised to your exact results.
Vitamin D → Testosterone
HighDeficient 25-OH Vitamin D (38 nmol/L) is actively suppressing CYP17A1 enzyme activity, reducing testosterone synthesis. Priority correction.
Ferritin → VO₂ & Recovery
MediumFerritin at 22 µg/L limits erythropoiesis efficiency. Training at current load will continue to deplete stores. Recommend iron + B12 protocol.
Cortisol → Sleep Architecture
OKAM cortisol within range. No acute HPA suppression detected. Continue current stress management approach.
Cross-marker correlation
Identifies how markers interact — not just individual values in isolation.
Root cause analysis
Distinguishes upstream cause from downstream symptom.
Personalised dosing
Supplement quantities calibrated to severity of each deficiency.
Plain English output
No medical jargon. Precise, actionable, and immediately understandable.
Marker science
Every marker on the panel earns its place. Here's the science behind six of the most performance-critical.
Primary male performance hormone
Affects energy, muscle synthesis, libido, cognitive function, and mood. Free testosterone — the biologically active fraction — is often suboptimal even when total is within clinical range. Both must be assessed together.
Pilz et al. (2011) Hormone and Metabolic Research, 43(3), 223–225
Steroid hormone precursor
Deficient in 80%+ of UK adults, especially athletes who train indoors. Directly regulates testosterone synthesis, immune function, bone density, and sleep quality. One of the highest-yield corrections in the panel.
Cashman et al. (2016) American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 103(4), 1033–1044
Ultra-sensitive inflammation marker
Chronic low-grade inflammation suppresses testosterone, impairs recovery, and contributes to cognitive fatigue. Identifies the root driver behind ‘mystery fatigue’ that standard bloods miss entirely.
Ridker et al. (2002) New England Journal of Medicine, 347(20), 1557–1565
Stress hormone — recovery & testosterone axis
Elevated cortisol suppresses testosterone synthesis and disrupts sleep architecture. Essential for understanding the training load vs. recovery balance — particularly relevant for athletes in high-volume blocks.
Cadegiani & Kater (2017) BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 9, 14
Iron storage marker
Often low in athletes despite normal haemoglobin. Ferritin below 50 µg/L causes significant fatigue, poor VO₂ max, and impaired recovery — even when you’re not technically anaemic. Standard bloods don’t test this.
Burden et al. (2015) British Journal of Sports Medicine, 49(21), 1389–1397
Growth hormone proxy
Reflects growth hormone output. Directly affects muscle recovery, body composition, and tissue repair. Declines significantly after 35, and is one of the clearest markers of recovery capacity in older athletes.
Kraemer & Ratamess (2005) Sports Medicine, 35(4), 339–361
Full panel: 50+ markers including thyroid function, metabolic, cardiovascular, and haematological markers.
Protocol science
The supplement protocol is generated entirely from your results. If your Vitamin D is optimal, you won't receive a Vitamin D supplement. If your Omega-3 index is low, you'll receive a dose calibrated to your specific reading. We only recommend what your blood says you need — if levels are optimal, we'll tell you to save your money.
Third-party tested ingredients. No proprietary blends, no unnecessary fillers. Every component independently verified for purity and potency.
Magnesium glycinate — not oxide. Methylfolate — not folic acid. Forms your body can actually absorb, not the cheapest available version.
Protocol updates every 90 days as your markers change. You’re not taking last year’s stack forever. The protocol evolves as your biology does.
If your Vitamin D is at 120 nmol/L, you won’t receive a supplement. Every recommendation requires a biomarker justification.
Doses derived from peer-reviewed clinical trials — Endocrine Society, NICE, and sports medicine literature.
Your report shows exactly which markers triggered each recommendation and the research basis for the dose.
UK-manufactured supplements
All supplements are produced in the UK by a GMP-certified, third-party tested manufacturer. Delivered direct to your door monthly, no minimum commitment.
Helvy does not sell supplements to people who do not need them. Our business model depends on accurate results and honest recommendations.
Research
Our optimal ranges, supplement protocols, and biomarker interpretations are grounded in peer-reviewed research from leading clinical journals.
Pilz S, Frisch S, Koertke H, et al. (2011). Effect of vitamin D supplementation on testosterone levels in men. Hormone and Metabolic Research, 43(3), 223–225.
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1269854
RCT demonstrating significant testosterone increase with vitamin D supplementation in deficient men.
Abbasi B, Kimiagar M, Sadeghniiat K, et al. (2012). The effect of magnesium supplementation on primary insomnia in elderly. Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 17(12), 1161–1169.
DOI: PMID: 23853635
Double-blind RCT showing magnesium supplementation significantly improved sleep quality.
Burden RJ, Morton K, Richards T, et al. (2015). Is iron treatment beneficial in iron-deficient but non-anaemic (IDNA) endurance athletes? British Journal of Sports Medicine, 49(21), 1389–1397.
DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2014-093624
Meta-analysis confirming iron supplementation improves exercise capacity even in non-anaemic athletes with low ferritin.
Moore E, Mander A, Ames D, et al. (2012). Cognitive impairment and vitamin B12: a review. International Psychogeriatrics, 24(4), 541–556.
DOI: 10.1017/S1041610211002511
Systematic review of B12 deficiency and cognitive decline, establishing the importance of early detection.
Calder PC. (2017). Omega-3 fatty acids and inflammatory processes: from molecules to man. Biochemical Society Transactions, 45(5), 1105–1115.
DOI: 10.1042/BST20160474
Comprehensive review of omega-3 mechanisms in resolving inflammation.
Cashman KD, Dowling KG, Skrabakova Z, et al. (2016). Vitamin D deficiency in Europe: pandemic? American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 103(4), 1033–1044.
DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.115.120873
Large-scale analysis finding 40% of Europeans deficient and 13% severely deficient.
Ridker PM, Rifai N, Rose L, et al. (2002). Comparison of C-reactive protein and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the prediction of first cardiovascular events. New England Journal of Medicine, 347(20), 1557–1565.
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa021993
Landmark study establishing hs-CRP as a stronger predictor of cardiovascular events than LDL cholesterol alone.
Holick MF, Binkley NC, Bischoff-Ferrari HA, et al. (2011). Evaluation, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 96(7), 1911–1930.
DOI: 10.1210/jc.2011-0385
The Endocrine Society guideline defining optimal vitamin D thresholds (75+ nmol/L) — the basis for our performance-optimal ranges.
Helvy does not provide medical diagnosis. Our blood tests are processed by UKAS-accredited NHS laboratories. All results are reviewed by a GMC-registered doctor. Helvy supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Biomarker interpretations and supplement recommendations are for informational and wellness purposes only. Always consult your GP about any medical concerns. If you receive a result flagged as clinically abnormal, seek medical advice promptly.
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