The Test Your Doctor Isn’t Ordering, But Should Be.

ORGANIC ACID TESTING (OAT)

This at-home urine analysis is one of the most clinically valuable laboratory diagnostics available today.  This little known test tells you everything you need to know about your cellular metabolism and is what I consider “the most bang for your buck”.  You can think of this test like an emissions test you run on your car.  The exhaust is examined to see how efficiently the engine is burning fuel.  Similarly, these “organic acids” in your urine reveal how efficiently several of your body systems are running.  Organic acids are byproducts resulting from the metabolic pathways, or chemical reactions, your body uses to transform food into energy, during growth, maintenance, and repair of body tissue.  This test looks at 46 organic acids to give a comprehensive snapshot of a patient’s overall health and how effectively metabolism is functioning.  Our state of metabolism determines our state of health and is the result of an interplay of our genetics, diet, lifestyle, toxic exposure, stress response, thoughts/emotions, and other environmental factors.  With this one sample we can gain insight into several different processes happening in the body and discover where any breakdowns may be occurring. 

Cellular and Mitochondrial Energy Production

OAT provides the most sensitive and specific test for mitochondrial dysfunction. Some of you may remember learning about the Citric Acid or Krebs Cycle in biology, a complex process of converting food and air into energy within the mitochondria.  This cycle fuels the body with its primary energy needs, converting 90% of food energy into cellular energy. This test takes a look at metabolites that serve as important players in the citric acid (Krebs) cycle.  Every step of this process requires specific nutrients and enzymes.  This test will show us if these nutrients are missing and where any breakdowns in the cycle may be occurring.  In addition, this panel also has markers for both fatty acid and carbohydrate metabolism.  Basically put, it reveals how efficiently your body is breaking down fat, producing cholesterol, and metabolizing glucose.  Imbalances of mitochondrial function and cellular energy production are linked with chronic fatigue, muscle pain, accelerated cell breakdown, and premature aging.

Neurotransmitter Metabolism

The organic acids looked at with OAT give us insight into neurotransmitter metabolism, the balance of epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine.  Imbalances in these neurotransmitters are frequently associated with neuroendocrine disorders such as insomnia, depression, adrenal fatigue, eating disorders, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and unbalanced emotional-well being.  Neurotransmitter imbalances can also reveal nutrient deficiencies, impaired methylation, and even inflammation that may be impacting the brain.  Neuro-inflammation can result in accelerated brain cell death and plays a role in various neurological conditions, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and MS.

Gastrointestinal Function

This is a very interesting section of OAT.  The organic acids looked at for gastrointestinal function are not only metabolites from the breakdown and absorption of food, but also some that are produced not by you, but the bacteria and yeast in your gut.  There are several markers tested for malabsorption, bacterial, and yeast overgrowth.  Chronic malabsorption can contribute to gut dysfunction, nutrient deficiencies, and a dysbiotic intestinal microbiome.  Respectively, dysbiosis can cause increased intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”), inflammatory bowel conditions, adverse immune response and reactions, increased risk of colorectal cancer, and elevated release of toxins into the bloodstream.  According to GPL Labs, “The Organic Acids Test (OAT) provides an accurate evaluation of intestinal yeast and bacteria. Abnormally high levels of these microorganisms can cause or worsen behavior disorders, hyperactivity, movement disorders, fatigue and immune function. Many people with chronic illnesses and neurological disorders often excrete several abnormal organic acids.”  Having a deeper look into the health of your gut is one of the most valuable tools for healing and thriving.

Detoxification Capacity & Oxidative Damage

OAT gives us a wealth of information about the strength of the body’s detoxification system, it’s ability to rid itself of toxins, and it’s overall toxic burden.  We live in a toxic world, from the food we eat, to the air we breathe, the water we drink, to the homes we live in.  Even very small concentrations of these toxins compounded on each other overtime can interrupt the body’s normal metabolism and damage the body’s tissues.  This test looks at several metabolites that analyses both environmental and endogenous (made within the body) toxins, shows us how strong or weak your detoxification capacity is, and even gauges how much oxidative damage you currently have.  Just a few of the symptoms of chronic toxicity includes fatigue, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal distress, allergies, headaches, cognitive dysfunction, and anxiety.   

Methylation Sufficiency

This test measures the status of three key nutrients: folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12 which gives insight into the status of your methylation capacity.  Methylation is a biochemical process occurring billions of times a second that is essential for almost all of your body systems.  This process  impacts genetic expression and repairs DNA, helps tame inflammation and regulate immune response, replenishes compounds needed for the detoxification pathways, and even helps to maintain a stable mood and stress response.  I’m sure many of you have heard the term MTHFR when referring to genetics.  It has become very favored to get looked at with genetic testing these days.  While the genetic testing can tell you if you have certain variations in the MTHFR genes and hypothesize genetic susceptibilities and methylation capacity, it fails to tell you if the genes are actually expressed.  The Organic Acid analysis can give you clinically relevant information about how well your methylation processes are actually working right now.

Functional vitamin, mineral, and essential nutrient status

Using this test to evaluate a patient’s nutritional status and need for specific nutrients is priceless.  OAT gives a functional assessment of a broad range of vitamins, coenzymes, elements, enzyme activators, and other nutrients.  The essential nutrients that can be found deficient by OAT include the minerals chromium, magnesium, vanadium, manganese, copper, and iron; the amino acids arginine, aspartic acid, glutamine, glycine, taurine, tyrosine, and tryptophan; and vitamin C and the entire B vitamin family.  Insufficiencies of these nutrients may impair a wide range of functions including immunologic, neuro-endocrine, musculoskeletal, and basically every metabolic system.  Identifying the specific nutrients that each individual needs allows for a personally tailored treatment protocol.

I could go on and on with an exhaustive list of all the different conditions and symptoms that could benefit from this one test.  The fundamental information provided about an individuals metabolic processes can benefit literally everyone. Whether you are dealing with a chronic disease, been told by your doctor that nothing is wrong but you still don’t feel good, or feel great but want to function at optimal efficiency, you can benefit from a urinary organic acid analysis. The unparalleled range of clinically relevant information it provides makes it the single most valuable test in healthcare today by revealing patient’s metabolic strengths and weaknesses.  The best part about this test is that it allows for individual tailoring of nutritional and supplemental treatment interventions that lead to improved patient outcomes.

Interested in getting an Organic Acid Analysis?

Whole Roots Health offers OAT and other functional medicine testing and interpretation.  The OAT kit can be mailed directly to you and done in the comfort of your home with just one urine sample.  It comes with a pre-paid envelope to be mailed back to Genova Diagnostics.  Results are received 2-3 weeks after lab receives sample.

For more information contact Brianna Brownfield, LAc at 530-563-5252 or brianna@wholerootshealth.com