03/16/2026
One of the biggest conversations I have in clinic every single week is about normal vs. optimal lab ranges.
Many patients come in after being told that everything looks “normal.”
And yet they still feel exhausted, foggy, inflamed, or like their body just isn’t functioning the way it used to.
Here’s the important thing to understand.
Reference ranges are based on population averages.
They are created using data from the general population in a specific region, which means they reflect what is common, not necessarily what is optimal for health.
And those ranges can change depending on the province, state, or lab.
For example, I often see vitamin D flagged as “normal” in Alberta at levels that are technically within range, but far from what we know supports immune health, mood, and metabolic function.
Another example I’ve noticed in practice is fatty liver. I started seeing more and more patients with fatty liver on imaging, even though their liver enzymes were still considered “normal.”
When I looked deeper, I realized the reference ranges had actually shifted upward over time.
This is how people fall through the cracks.
Their labs aren’t technically abnormal, but they’re also not in a range where the body functions optimally.
This is why interpretation matters.
Looking at patterns, trends, symptoms, and where values sit within a range can tell us much more than a simple normal or abnormal flag.
Because the goal isn’t just to be “within range.”
The goal is to feel well, have energy, and support your body to function at its best.
