Blood Vessel Function

What ADMA and SDMA measure

Your blood vessels do more than carry blood. Their inner lining, the endothelium, actively regulates vessel tone, blood pressure, and inflammation. The molecule that makes this possible is nitric oxide, which keeps vessels relaxed, flexible, and responsive.

ADMA (asymmetric dimethylarginine) and SDMA (symmetric dimethylarginine) are molecules that interfere with nitric oxide production in your blood vessels. When ADMA levels rise, nitric oxide drops, and your blood vessels start to stiffen and narrow. This process happens gradually and silently. By the time it shows up on imaging or causes symptoms like high blood pressure, years of damage have already occurred. ADMA is one of the earliest detectable signals that your vascular system is under stress.

SDMA works differently. It does not block nitric oxide directly, but accumulates when kidney function starts to decline, making it a secondary signal for both vascular and kidney health. Elevated SDMA can appear before standard kidney markers like creatinine begin to shift.

Together, ADMA and SDMA give you two distinct windows: one into blood vessel health and one into early kidney function. Both are invisible to a standard cholesterol test.

What standard heart tests don't measure

A cholesterol panel tells you about the cargo in your bloodstream: the levels of LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. ADMA and SDMA tell you something different, which is how well the blood vessel walls themselves are functioning.

Endothelial damage can progress silently for years while cholesterol numbers remain in a normal range. ADMA and SDMA are among the earliest measurable signs of this underlying process. They measure the plumbing, not just what flows through it. For anyone tracking cardiovascular health at a deeper level, these markers add meaningful information that lipid panels do not provide.

Signs this panel is worth considering

This panel is relevant if you:

• You have a family history of high blood pressure, stroke, or kidney disease
• You are showing early signs of metabolic dysfunction like elevated blood sugar or insulin resistance
• You want to catch vascular aging at its earliest, most addressable stage
• You have been told your LDL, ApoB, or triglycerides are elevated
• You have high blood pressure or are managing hypertension
• You currently smoke, or have a history of smoking
• You are focused on longevity and want markers that go beyond standard lipids
• You carry high training loads and want vascular markers that go beyond standard lipids

Understanding your results

What these markers reveal is whether your blood vessels are showing early signs of stress, often years before that stress shows up on a standard exam.

Elevated ADMA is a signal worth discussing with your provider. Research has linked elevated ADMA to patterns associated with endothelial dysfunction, reduced nitric oxide production, and cardiovascular risk. Elevated SDMA suggests reduced kidney clearance and adds to vascular stress through a separate pathway. Catching either pattern early gives you and your provider an opportunity to investigate the underlying causes and track them over time.

A result above the reference range is not a diagnosis. It is a value worth discussing with your provider in the context of your full cardiovascular picture: your lipid panel, blood pressure history, lifestyle, and family history together determine what, if anything, to investigate further.

Reference ranges vary by lab and individual. Your Superpower care team and your provider will interpret your specific result in context.

How it works

1. Order your panel — Select Blood Vessel Function when setting up your Superpower order. No doctor's visit or referral required.
2. Schedule your draw — Book at a local clinic, or opt for an at-home visit from a trained phlebotomist (+$119).
3. Complete your blood draw — A single blood draw covers both ADMA and SDMA. No urine sample required.
4. Receive your results — Results are typically available within 10 days. Review them in your dashboard, with your full panel report and access to your Superpower care team.

Preparation guide

• Continue all prescribed medications unless your provider advises otherwise.
• No special supplement restrictions for this panel, unless your provider has advised otherwise.
• Do not test during acute illness — Inflammation from illness can affect vascular markers. Wait until you have recovered.
• Stay well hydrated before your appointment.