What is an Organic Acids Test (OAT)?

The body naturally produces organic acids as it breaks down food, metabolizes drugs and toxins, and carries out essential processes like energy production and neurotransmitter synthesis. These acidic compounds are then excreted through the urine, eliminating them as waste.

The organic acids test (OAT) examines the levels of organic acids in your urine. By analyzing these levels, the OAT can give you a detailed snapshot of how effectively your body is metabolizing nutrients, producing energy, and eliminating toxins. This valuable information can help identify any underlying health concerns and guide personalized treatment plans to enhance your overall well-being.

Think of your body as a school classroom, with different metabolic processes as individual subjects like math, science, and language arts. Just as each school subject has its own performance markers, each metabolic process produces a unique set of organic acids. And just as a low math grade may signal the need for more study or extra help, abnormal organic acid levels in your urine can indicate areas of your metabolism that require attention.

The organic acids test is a helpful tool for identifying a variety of issues, from metabolism problems and toxicity to the body-wide effects of gut imbalances and nutrient deficiencies. It can also help monitor disease progress and evaluate the effectiveness of treatment.

The organic acids test measures the levels of metabolic waste products in your urine. These waste products are created after your body completes various metabolic processes.

This test can be a helpful tool in diagnosing and evaluating a range of conditions, including:

• Metabolic disorders
• Issues with neurotransmitter function
• Liver and detoxification problems
• Methylation dysfunction
• Mitochondrial disorders and energy production problems
• Infections and imbalances in gut bacteria
• Inflammatory diseases and the effects of systemic inflammation
• Nutrient and cofactor deficiencies that impact metabolism

The organic acids test offers a comprehensive assessment of numerous metabolic processes in the body. The test can identify changes in certain organic acid levels, which may suggest an issue with a specific metabolic pathway. However, further investigation may be needed to pinpoint the exact problem and develop a targeted treatment plan.

The organic acids test is a convenient at-home urine test. You’ll collect the sample first thing in the morning, before eating or drinking anything. Once collected, you’ll freeze the sample and send it to the lab via courier.

For 48 hours before the test, you’ll need to avoid certain foods to ensure accurate results. Some supplements may also need to be stopped prior to the urine collection.

Once the sample reaches the lab, you can expect the results in about 4 weeks. Your functional medicine practitioner will then review the findings with you.

It’s important to have a thorough evaluation by a trained functional medicine provider before taking the organic acids test, as certain medications can interfere with the results.

The lab conducting your test will measure many different markers to give your healthcare provider detailed information about your health.

The test examines organic acid markers for a variety of beneficial, imbalanced, and disease-causing bacteria, yeasts, and fungi, including Candida albicans and certain Clostridia strains. Clostridia species are typically found in the gut, but an overgrowth can lead to the production of harmful toxins, potentially causing neurological symptoms.

Food, mold, yeasts (like candida), and toxins can elevate oxalate levels. This causes oxalates to build up in your tissues, leading to inflammation and damage – especially in your brain, nerves, kidneys, and blood vessels.

High oxalate levels are linked to all sorts of health problems, such as joint pain, muscle aches and stiffness, fatigue, weakness, digestive issues, and of course, kidney stones.

Evaluates how your body uses glycogen and glucose to produce energy anaerobically, which can provide helpful insights for those dealing with fatigue-related issues.

Analyzing metabolites can reveal insights into how the body utilizes carbohydrates, fatty acids, and amino acids in the Krebs cycle to produce energy. Mitochondrial markers can provide valuable information about the health and function of these energy-producing organelles within cells. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been linked to a range of health conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and neurological disorders.

The organic acids test (OAT) measures markers for the metabolism of several key neurotransmitters, including serotonin, dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline. Examining these neurotransmitter metabolites can provide valuable insights into the function of the nervous system and aid in diagnosing various neurological and psychiatric conditions.

For example, imbalances in metabolites like homovanillic acid (HVA) and vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) can indicate problems with dopamine and norepinephrine function, respectively. Abnormal levels of these metabolites have been associated with conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, and anxiety.

The OAT also measures other important neurotransmitter metabolites, such as 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and quinolinic acid (QUIN). Elevated 5-HIAA levels can signal serotonin imbalances, which may help diagnose conditions like depression. Additionally, high QUIN levels have been linked to neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease.

The pyrimidine metabolites measured in an Organic Acids Test (OAT) are essential for key bodily functions. Folate, an important nutrient, is involved in the metabolism of these pyrimidine compounds, which play a crucial role in blood cell production, cell replication and growth, and nervous system development.

Abnormal levels of these pyrimidine metabolites can be a telltale sign of certain genetic or acquired disorders that affect pyrimidine metabolism. High levels of orotic acid could signal a rare genetic disorder called Orotic Aciduria. This condition affects how the body makes pyrimidines, which can cause megaloblastic anemia and growth problems. Similarly, high levels of uracil and thymine in the urine can point to a group of “pyrimidine degradation disorders” where the body struggles to break down pyrimidine nucleotides, causing toxic metabolite buildup and neurological symptoms.

By analyzing the pyrimidine metabolites measured in an OAT, healthcare providers can diagnose these types of genetic or acquired disorders. This crucial information can then guide targeted treatment plans and management strategies to help patients maintain optimal health.

The Organic Acids Test (OAT) measures a number of key nutritional markers that provide important insights into your metabolic health. This includes markers for B-group vitamins, such as thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), and pyridoxine (B6). Abnormal levels of these B vitamins can indicate deficiencies that may impact your energy production, metabolism, and neurological function.

The OAT also analyzes markers for antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and coenzyme Q10. Low levels of these crucial antioxidants can point to deficiencies that may compromise your cellular health and increase your risk of oxidative stress and chronic diseases.

Additionally, the OAT measures markers for amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. Imbalances in these amino acid markers can reveal issues with your protein metabolism, such as deficiencies or excesses of certain amino acids.

The OAT’s comprehensive nutritional assessment can help identify any deficiencies, insufficiencies, or excesses of key vitamins, antioxidants, and amino acids. This information allows the OAT to provide personalized recommendations to optimize your nutritional health. This information can then guide targeted interventions to support your optimal health and well-being.

The test analyzes a variety of markers that play key roles in the body’s methylation and detoxification processes. This includes markers for glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that is crucial for detoxification. Low levels of glutathione and its byproducts can indicate deficiencies in this important compound, which can impair the body’s ability to detoxify and eliminate toxins.

When detoxification pathways are suboptimal or overburdened, it can contribute to a range of health issues, from digestive and neurological problems to autoimmune conditions and chronic fatigue. Functional testing these markers can provide valuable insights to support overall health and wellbeing.

The organic acids test is a valuable tool that can help identify underlying issues like bacterial and fungal overgrowth. This test examines metabolites produced by these microorganisms, which can interfere with normal cellular function.

For example, the test may show elevated levels of arabinose, a marker for yeast overgrowth commonly found in the gut. Since candida produces oxalates, if arabinose is elevated alongside markers for oxalates, it strongly suggests an opportunistic candida overgrowth. Enzymes from candida can disrupt the Krebs cycle and impair cellular energy production, leading to fatigue and systemic inflammation.

The organic acids test (OAT) is a valuable tool that can help diagnose a variety of health conditions. If you’re thinking about getting this test, be sure to discuss it with your healthcare provider to determine if it’s the right choice for you.

At BionwoRx, our team is here to help you make sense of your OAT results and develop a personalized treatment plan. We take a comprehensive, functional medicine approach, working closely with you to address your unique health needs. Contact us today to learn how we can support you on your journey to optimal wellness.