Phosphatidylethanolamine is a fundamental fat cells use to build membranes and run the recycling system tied to healthy aging, and a brain-rich form acts as a built-in antioxidant that declines with age. Yet its value as a health and longevity strategy is unproven: human evidence is thin, and the honest reading is genuine uncertainty rather than settled benefit. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Blood ethanolamine plasmalogen (PlsEtn) | Age-appropriate mid-to-upper reference; higher within range preferred | Direct readout of the target lipid pool |
| Omega-3 Index (RBC EPA+DHA) | ≥ 8% | Reflects supply of fats used to build plasmalogens and brain phospholipids |
| hs-CRP | < 1.0 mg/L | Tracks oxidative/inflammatory load that depletes plasmalogens |
| Homocysteine | < 8 µmol/L | Reflects the choline/methylation economy tied to the PE-to-phosphatidylcholine pathway |
| ALT | < 25 U/L (men), < 20 U/L (women) | Screens liver health given PE's role in fat export and fatty-liver genetics |
| Fasting TMAO | Lower is better; no consensus cutoff | Monitors the theoretical cardiovascular signal from head-group metabolism |
Cadence: Baseline, again at ~3 months, then every 6–12 months for those continuing long-term