A natural fatty acid from bitter melon and tung seed oils, studied as a way to clear worn-out "zombie" cells thought to drive aging. In lab and mouse studies it selectively killed these cells and improved some health measures. No human testing exists, so safe dose, benefit, and side effects remain unknown. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ferritin | 30–150 ng/mL (avoid high end) | Iron fuels ferroptosis; high stores raise off-target risk |
| Transferrin saturation | 20–35% | Reflects available circulating iron for ferroptosis |
| Fasting glucose | 70–90 mg/dL | Source material lowers glucose; detects hypoglycemia risk |
| HbA1c | 4.8–5.4% | Longer-term glucose context if using glucose-lowering seed oils |
| eGFR / creatinine | eGFR >90 mL/min/1.73m² | Ferroptosis is implicated in kidney injury; monitors off-target organ effect |
| ALT / AST | ALT <25 (men), <20 (women) U/L | Liver is iron-rich and ferroptosis-susceptible; screens for hepatic stress |
| Selenium | 110–150 μg/L | Required cofactor for GPX4, the main ferroptosis defense |
| hs-CRP | <1.0 mg/L | Tracks systemic inflammation that senescent cells drive |
Cadence: Baseline, ~1–2 weeks after an initial course, then every 3–6 months if repeated cycles are pursued (inferred, not evidence-based)