Schisandra, an East Asian berry, is a dietary supplement promoted to help the body cope with stress. Its most credible benefit, from two small studies, is modestly greater leg strength alongside regular walking; other claims rest on weaker evidence. It raises blood levels of many prescription drugs, especially anti-rejection medicines. For people tracking strength, symptoms, and medications, it is a low-cost option with a small but real evidence base. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| ALT | 10–26 U/L | Liver cell stress |
| AST | 10–26 U/L | Liver and muscle cell stress |
| Fasting glucose | 75–90 mg/dL | Glucose control |
| HbA1c | 4.8–5.4% | 3-month glucose average |
| LDL cholesterol | Below 100 mg/dL (many longevity clinicians target below 70) | Cardiovascular risk |
| Handgrip strength | Above 27 kg (men) or 16 kg (women); no established optimum, so track change from own baseline | Primary efficacy marker |
| Chair-rise time | Measurable strength gain by 12 weeks | Simple strength measure |
| Kupperman Index (menopause) | Symptom relief by 12 weeks | Menopausal symptom score |
| Tacrolimus trough (if prescribed) | No functional range; target set by transplant team | Interaction safety |
| INR (if on warfarin) | No functional range; target set by prescriber, usually 2.0–3.0 | Clotting control |
Cadence: Baseline, then 4 and 12 weeks after starting, then every 6–12 months while use continues; drug levels (e.g., tacrolimus) at 1 and 4 weeks after starting or stopping