HOMA-IR

HOMA-IR is a clinical biomarker on the Pancreas panel, reported in unitless. Standard reference range: 0–2 unitless. Functional (optimal) range used by integrative practitioners: 0–1 unitless.

What is HOMA-IR?

HOMA-IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance) is a calculated index — not a directly measured analyte — derived from the formula fasting insulin (µIU/mL) × fasting glucose (mg/dL) ÷ 405 in conventional units, or fasting insulin (µIU/mL) × fasting glucose (mmol/L) ÷ 22.5 if glucose is reported in SI units. It quantifies hepatic and whole-body insulin resistance from a single fasting blood draw and is one of the most widely validated surrogate markers of insulin resistance in clinical research and practice.

Why HOMA-IR matters

Insulin resistance is the central metabolic dysfunction underlying type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, PCOS, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and a growing list of cancers and neurological conditions. HOMA-IR provides a precise, quantified measure of that dysfunction with critical advantages over conventional diabetes screening:

• Detects resistance before glucose rises: Blood glucose and HbA1c only become abnormal after beta-cell function has already declined. HOMA-IR captures insulin resistance while the pancreas is still compensating, often 10 to 20 years before a diabetes diagnosis.
• More sensitive than fasting glucose alone: A fasting glucose of 95 mg/dL with a fasting insulin of 18 µIU/mL yields a HOMA-IR of 4.2 — clear insulin resistance — yet both individual values fall within “normal” ranges on a standard lab report.
• Quantifies severity: Unlike a simple fasting glucose, HOMA-IR provides a continuous score that allows tracking of improvement or worsening over time in response to interventions.
• Cardiovascular risk: Elevated HOMA-IR is independently associated with hypertension, dyslipidemia, endothelial dysfunction, and increased cardiovascular event risk beyond its association with diabetes.
• PCOS and hormonal health: Insulin resistance drives androgen excess in PCOS. HOMA-IR is a critical component of PCOS evaluation and treatment monitoring.
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): HOMA-IR is directly correlated with hepatic fat accumulation and NAFLD severity.
• Cancer biology: Chronic hyperinsulinemia, reflected by elevated HOMA-IR, is a recognized driver of increased cancer risk across multiple tumor types via IGF-1 pathway activation.

Reference ranges

How SomaVue interprets HOMA-IR

SomaVue maps every result for HOMA-IR against four clinical lenses — nutrient cofactors, toxin exposure, infection drivers, and circadian/hormonal context — and connects each interpretation to specific peer-reviewed citations. Pre-mapped clinical reasoning and cross-marker pattern detection are available inside the practitioner workspace.

Educational reference only. Reference ranges vary by laboratory, assay method, age, sex, and clinical context. Functional ranges represent integrative-medicine consensus and are not regulatory thresholds. SomaVue does not diagnose, treat, mitigate, or prevent disease. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider.