Get tested with Superpower

If you’ve been postponing blood testing for years or feel frustrated by doctor appointments and limited lab panels, you are not alone. Standard healthcare is often reactive, focusing on testing only after symptoms appear or leaving patients in the dark.

Superpower flips that approach. We give you full insight into your body with over 100 biomarkers, personalized action plans, long-term tracking, and answers to your questions, so you can stay ahead of any health issues.

With physician-reviewed results, CLIA-certified labs, and the option for at-home blood draws, Superpower is designed for people who want clarity, convenience, and real accountability - all in one place.

Key benefits of Neutrophil-to-HDL Cholesterol Ratio (NHR) testing

• Flags hidden inflammation paired with poor cholesterol health before symptoms appear.
• Spots cardiovascular risk that standard cholesterol panels alone may miss.
• Explains fatigue or brain fog linked to chronic low-grade inflammation.
• Guides lifestyle changes targeting both immune balance and heart protection.
• Tracks how diet, exercise, or treatment shifts your inflammation-cholesterol balance.
• Clarifies metabolic syndrome risk when waist size and blood sugar creep up.
• Best interpreted with complete lipid panel, CRP, and your symptom timeline.

What is Neutrophil-to-HDL Cholesterol Ratio (NHR)?

A calculated marker linking immune activity and cholesterol health

Neutrophil-to-HDL Cholesterol Ratio (NHR) is a calculated biomarker that divides your neutrophil count by your HDL cholesterol level. Neutrophils are white blood cells that form the front line of your immune defense, rising quickly during infection or inflammation. HDL cholesterol is the protective form of cholesterol that helps remove excess fats from artery walls and dampens inflammatory signals.

Why pairing immune cells with cholesterol matters

NHR reflects the balance between inflammatory immune activity and anti-inflammatory cholesterol protection. A higher ratio suggests that inflammation may be outpacing your body's natural defenses against vascular damage. This imbalance has been studied in cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, and chronic inflammatory conditions.

A window into inflammation and metabolic risk

By combining two widely available measurements, NHR offers a simple snapshot of how immune activation and lipid metabolism interact. It highlights the crosstalk between your immune system and cholesterol pathways, both of which play central roles in long-term cardiovascular and metabolic health.

Why is Neutrophil-to-HDL Cholesterol Ratio (NHR) important?

The Neutrophil-to-HDL Cholesterol Ratio is an emerging marker that bridges immune activation and metabolic health. It reflects the balance between inflammation - driven by neutrophils, your body's first-line infection fighters - and the protective, anti-inflammatory effects of HDL cholesterol. A lower ratio generally signals better cardiovascular and metabolic resilience, while higher values suggest chronic inflammation may be outpacing your body's repair systems.

When the ratio stays low

Values below 2 typically indicate well-regulated inflammation and robust HDL function. This balance supports healthy blood vessel linings, efficient cholesterol transport, and lower risk for atherosclerosis. People in this range often experience fewer inflammatory symptoms and better long-term cardiovascular outcomes.

When the ratio climbs high

Ratios above 3 to 4 suggest neutrophils are elevated or HDL is depleted, often both. This imbalance appears in metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and active cardiovascular disease. High NHR correlates with increased plaque formation, higher heart attack and stroke risk, and poorer outcomes after cardiac events. Women may see shifts during menopause when HDL drops and inflammation rises.

The bigger metabolic picture

NHR connects your immune system's frontline response to your lipid metabolism's protective capacity. It integrates signals from bone marrow, liver, blood vessels, and fat tissue. Tracking this ratio over time helps identify when inflammation begins to dominate, offering a window into systemic stress before overt disease emerges.

What do my Neutrophil-to-HDL Cholesterol Ratio (NHR) results mean?

Low NHR values

Low values usually reflect a favorable balance between immune activation and vascular protection. A lower ratio suggests either well-controlled neutrophil activity, robust HDL cholesterol levels, or both. This pattern typically indicates reduced systemic inflammation and better cardiovascular-metabolic health. In younger individuals and women before menopause, lower NHR values are common due to higher baseline HDL and less chronic immune activation.

Optimal NHR values

Being in range suggests balanced interplay between innate immunity and lipid-mediated anti-inflammatory pathways. The NHR is an emerging composite marker, so consensus reference ranges are still evolving. Generally, lower values within the population distribution are associated with better cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes, reflecting stable immune tone without excessive inflammatory drive.

High NHR values

High values usually reflect either elevated neutrophil counts, reduced HDL cholesterol, or both. This pattern signals heightened systemic inflammation paired with diminished vascular protection. It commonly appears in metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, chronic stress states, and active inflammatory or infectious conditions. Older adults and those with cardiometabolic risk factors tend to show higher ratios.

Factors that influence NHR interpretation

Acute illness, infection, and physical stress rapidly elevate neutrophils and can transiently raise NHR. Medications affecting lipid metabolism or immune function may alter the ratio independent of underlying physiology. Because NHR combines two distinct biomarkers, interpretation requires reviewing absolute neutrophil and HDL values separately to understand which component is driving the result.