Accurate, science based functional diagnostic tests are available and can help take “guessing” out of the plan. Identifying factors and physiological imbalances that may be contributing to various symptoms and compromising quality of life can allow creating targeted nutritional programme.
Sophisticated and reliable tests assessing nutrients status and deficiencies, oxidative stress and antioxidants needs, essential fatty acids levels, amino acids needs, toxicity and heavy metals burden or dysbiosis markers with high precision are also available and provide valuable insight into the body’s function and its needs.
Below you can find brief descriptions of some of the laboratory tests I often use however there is much greater range of tests which may be recommended depending on a clinical picture, symptoms or personal goals.
I work only with specialty clinical laboratories providing reliable results. Links to some of the labs are provided at the bottom of the page where you can find more details and description of a wide range of tests.
Adrenal Stress Profile
Stress is integral part of our lives, whether of environmental, mental, emotional or physiological origin, in excess or prolonged can highly negatively influence our health.
Adrenal glands are small endocrine glands placed on the top of the kidneys and their proper function is crucial for our wellbeing. They produce important hormones such as cortisol (stress hormone), DHEA (sex hormones precursor) and adrenaline (‘fight or flight response’ hormone).
Cortisol and DHEA allow the body to adapt to stressors, they exhibit many opposing actions however their balance is crucial for optimal health.
Abnormal levels of these hormones can lead to development of various chronic symptoms some of which include:
· Sleep problems
· Chronic fatigue
· Restlessness
· Depression
· Irritability
· Infertility and menstrual dysregulation
· Male impotence
· Brain fog and poor concentration
· Muscular tension
· Low immunity
· Digestive problems
· Weight gain
· Blood sugar imbalance
· Slow exercise and injury recovery/frequent injuries
The test is a precise non-invasive salivary test measuring cortisol and DHEA levels in 4 samples over 24hours period.
GI Effects Comprehensive Stool Profile
Comprehensive stool analysis is one of the most valuable diagnostic tests giving in-depth information about digestive system function and often revealing underlying causes of various symptoms.
We now know that human gastrointestinal tract is a home to over 1000 species of microbes which outnumber our human cells 10:1. Maintaining a ‘healthy’ microbiome is crucial to our health, proper digestion, nutrient assimilation and synthesis, ridding the body of waste and pathogens.
The test is the most comprehensive stool analysis available which gives insight into the gut flora identifying:
· 24 commensal bacteria
· Parasites (gold standard diagnostic methodology)
· Biomarkers indicating digestive and absorptive function, as well as potential issues with gut inflammation and immunology.
Proper digestive function and microbial balance is crucial to good health while when imbalanced may be associated with variety of conditions, some of which are: Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, autoimmune disorders, diabetes, faecal incontinence, constipation, diarrhoea, weight loss or gain, sleep disorders, heart burn, brain fog and poor concentration and more.
The test also provides botanical and pharmaceutical sensitivities which widen and improves effectiveness of potential therapeutic options.
Comprehensive Thyroid Panel
Thyroid dysfunction can be an underlying cause of variety of symptoms. Particularly hypoactive thyroid is increasingly common, more often in women, while frequently is under-diagnosed.
Thyroid hormones play crucial role in cells’ metabolic activity and well-functioning thyroid gland is essential for many biochemical processes in the body.
Thyroid function can be affected by many factors; some of them include interactions with other hormones/hormonal axis, particularly by stress hormone cortisol and oestrogens, but also by nutritional deficiencies.
The test includes a full thyroid panel assessing:
· Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level,
· Thyroid hormones such as free T3 and free T4
· Thyroid antibodies anti-TPO
In some cases it may be beneficial to combine the test with Adrenal Stress Profile test to assess whether stress response may be affecting the thyroid gland function.
The ONE test (Optimal Nutritional Evaluation)
The One test is a simple, first morning urine sample that gives insight into individual dietary and supplementation requirements. It focusses on assessing 45 key organic acids, biomarkers providing information in areas of malabsorption, dysbiosis (imbalance of gut flora), cellular energy, nutrients deficiencies, toxin exposure and detoxification needs.
The test also includes 41 amino acids assessment providing information on B vitamins requirements and a need for support of protein digestion and absorption.
Biomarkers of oxidative stress highlight oxidative stress level/oxidative injury and anti-oxidant reserves (measurement of glutathione and coenzyme Q10).
This is one of the most valuable tests to assess general health, body nutritional needs and digestive state.
More information on other functional tests can be found on individual websites of the diagnostic laboratories I work with. Please find the links below.
Advanced and highly accurate tests (Arrays) with Cyrex laboratories are also available, you can read more at Cyrex Laboratories website or contact me for more details or to arrange the tests.
Genova Diagnostics https://www.gdx.net/tests/alphabetical
Regenerus Labs http://regeneruslabs.com/
Nordic Labs http://www.nordiclabs.com/
Cyrex Laboratories https://www.cyrexlabs.com/
DNAlife http://www.dnalife.eu/
