# GlycA (NMR composite inflammation marker)

GlycA is a blood marker of long-term, low-grade inflammation. It is read by NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy. The signal comes from sugar groups (N-acetyl methyl groups) on a few inflammation-related proteins. Those proteins are α1-acid glycoprotein, α1-antitrypsin, haptoglobin, α1-antichymotrypsin, and transferrin. Because it sums up several of them at once, GlycA is steadier day-to-day than the usual marker, hs-CRP. So it may better capture slow, simmering inflammation than sharp spikes. In large studies, the higher your GlycA, the more heart disease, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver, cancer, and early death show up. It can even add information beyond hs-CRP. For now it is a research-grade marker. Most labs do not offer it, and it usually rides along on an NMR lipoprotein panel.

## Sources

- Otvos JD, Shalaurova I, Wolak-Dinsmore J, Connelly MA, Mackey RH, Stein JH, et al.. (2015). GlycA: A Composite Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Biomarker of Systemic Inflammation. Clinical Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1373/clinchem.2014.232918
- Duprez DA, Otvos J, Sanchez OA, Mackey RH, Tracy R, Jacobs DR Jr. (2016). Comparison of the Predictive Value of GlycA and Other Biomarkers of Inflammation for Total Death, Incident Cardiovascular Events, Noncardiovascular and Noncancer Inflammatory-Related Events, and Total Cancer Events. Clinical Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1373/clinchem.2016.255828

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_Canonical: https://longevity-switzerland.com/en/glossary/glyca · Part of Longevity Cities · Updated 2026-06-22_