Metabolomics is defined as the comprehensive analysis of metabolites in a biological specimen. Metabolomics looks into the network of biochemical pathways of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other components that comprise a biological system.
Metabolomics is recognized as a powerful top-down system biological approach to understand genetic-environment-health paradigms paving new avenues to identify clinically relevant biomarkers. It is nowadays commonly used in clinical applications shedding new light on physiological regulatory processes of complex mammalian systems with regard to disease aetiology, diagnostic stratification and, potentially, mechanism of action of therapeutic solutions. A key feature of metabolomics lies in its ability to underpin the complex metabolic interactions of the host with its commensal microbial partners providing a new way to define individual and population phenotypes.
Metabolites are the product of gene expression, and tell us what is happening inside the cell and its environment. They include amino acids, vitamins, polyols, alcohols, organic acids, and nucleotides. Metabolites may also be the building blocks of a larger structure or its degraded product.
Years Experience
Happy Client
Evaluating nutritional status by laboratory methods is a more objective and precise approach than clinical evaluation. However, the interpretation of laboratory data is often difficult and does not always correlate with either clinical or dietary findings. In this case, the deficiency is categorized as marginal, sub-clinical or subtle. Laboratory evaluations for metabolomics are helpful in permitting early initiation of appropriate remedial steps.
An individual who appears clinically normal may already be in various stages of depletion, and if prolonged, may eventually become ill. Moreover, a deficiency in one nutrient is an almost certain indicator of other nutritional deficiencies.
“Just because you’re not sick does not mean you’re healthy. You’re just not sick.”
Provides insight into key metabolic irregularities that relate to potential nutritional cofactor needs, digestive irregularities, cellular energy production, neurotransmitter metabolism, and detoxification.
Markers indicate problems in two key areas: antioxidant capacity and oxidative damage. Oxidative stress is relevant to an entire host of clinical conditions. It reflects a need to support with antioxidant intervention along with the reduction of free radical exposure.
Are the body's building blocks and are important in many different clinical conditions. Testing looks at essential and nonessential amino acids as well as markers that may indicate poor digestion, absorption, or metabolism of the amino acids.
Reflect intake and metabolism of essential fatty acids which are relevant to many processes include inflammatory balance, cell membrane fluidity, cell signaling, among others. This assessment helps to determine appropriate nutritional interventions to correct fatty acid imbalances.
Provide a window into short-term exposure to various toxins such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic. Also included are direct evaluations of key minerals such as magnesium, potassium, zinc, copper, and selenium to further determine nutritional adequacy.
Stool testing provides immediate actionable clinical information for gastrointestinal health management. Utilizing both advanced technologies and premier biomarkers, the GI stool profile offers valuable insight into digestive function, intestinal inflammation, as well as the gastrointestinal microbiota.
Organic acids are a broad class of compounds formed during fundamental metabolic processes in the body. Metabolic reactions produce carboxylic acid compounds derived from the digestion of dietary protein, fat, and carbohydrates. The resulting organic acids are used by the body to generate cellular energy and provide many of the building blocks necessary for cell function. Organic acids are also produced from gut microbiome metabolism, neurotransmitter metabolism, and during detoxification, and provide insight into possible need for support in those areas.
The Organic Acids report categorizes results into major metabolic areas:
• Malabsorption and Dysbiosis Markers
• Cellular Energy and Mitochondrial Markers
• Vitamin Markers
• Neurotransmitter Metabolites
• Toxin and Detoxification Markers
• Oxalate Markers
Digestion breaks down large compounds in food and liquids into smaller molecules that can be absorbed into the bloodstream.
Normal metabolic processes such as cellular
respiration, immune system activation, and
detoxification result in the production of
pro-oxidative substances including reactive
oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen
species. Additionally, external environmental
factors such as toxic metal and chemical
exposures, smoking, poor diet and certain
medications can promote free radical production.
Oxidative stress occurs when the production
of pro-oxidative substances outweighs the
body’s ability to remove them, thus shifting this
equilibrium in the direction of oxidation. The
instability of free radicals causes them to extract
electrons from neighboring molecules in a chain
reaction, resulting in cellular damage. Reducing
agents, including dietary antioxidants, nutritional
supplements, and antioxidant enzymes provide
protection against free radical damage. Oxidative
stress has an integral relationship with the
inflammatory cascade, which produces ROS, and
is considered a driving force in the aging process.
The Amino Acids Analysis measures essential and
nonessential amino acids, intermediary metabolites involved in protein metabolism, and dietary peptide related markers. Amino acids are important building blocks for every cell and system in the body and require specific nutrients for metabolism and utilization. The report includes personalized amino acid recommendations based on amino acid levels, and functional vitamin and mineral cofactor recommendations based on amino acid metabolism.
The Amino Acids Analysis Includes:
• Essential Amino Acids must be derived from dietary
sources
• Nonessential Amino Acids are dietary or synthesized by the body
• Intermediary Metabolites are byproducts of amino acid metabolism
• B-Vitamin Markers are involved in biochemical reactions that specifically require B-vitamins
• Urea Cycle Markers are byproducts associated with
nitrogen detoxification
• Glycine/Serine Metabolites are involved in the serine-tocholine pathway as well as methylation pathways
• Dietary Peptide Related Markers can indicate incomplete protein breakdown
Dietary fat is emerging as one of the most important nutritional modifiers for overall health. There are many health implications which make measuring fatty acids vitally important. Fatty Acids reflect intake and metabolism of essential fatty acids which are relevant to many processes include inflammatory balance, cell membrane fluidity, cell signaling, among others. This assessment helps to determine appropriate nutritional interventions to correct fatty acid imbalances.
Minerals help build bones and lend a helping hand in balancing hormones and many other key body processes. They serve as cofactors for enzyme reactions, help muscles to contract and relax, facilitate the transfer of nutrients across cell membranes, regulate tissue growth, and provide structural support. Identify which mineral rich foods and supplements can assist in the process of repletion. Trace elements that are most often associated with environmental toxicity are the heavy metals cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, mercury, nickel, silver, tin, and zinc, as well as the lighter elements aluminum, arsenic, and selenium. Some cases of elemental pollution are natural in origin.
Advances in research, combined with clinical insight,
confirm the essential role of the gut in determining
overall health and wellness. Stool testing provides immediate actionable clinical information for gastrointestinal health management. Utilizing both advanced technologies and premier biomarkers,
stool testing offers valuable insight into digestive
function, intestinal inflammation, as well as the
gastrointestinal microbiota. It assists by providing targeted therapeutics that improve symptoms and overall gut health. In addition to providing a comprehensive set of GI functional biomarkers, this testing incorporates the most sophisticated tools in
evaluating the microbial community of the GI tract,
known as the microbiota, using multiple methodologies to provide the most clinically accurate
assessment of bacteria, yeast, and parasites currently available on the market. These include quantitative assessment of commensal bacteria to determine healthy bacterial balance based on research and analysis of hundreds of thousands of patient results.