Organic Acid Test OAT / Organic Acid Test
The Organic Acid Test (OAT) offers a comprehensive metabolic analysis of a patient's overall health with 76 markers. Provides an accurate assessment of intestinal yeast and bacteria.
Investment Q4500 / $585
OAT test + 6 follow-up appointments Q5500
Abnormally high levels of these microorganisms can cause or worsen behavioral disorders, hyperactivity, movement disorders, fatigue, and immune function.
Many people with chronic diseases and neurological disorders often excrete various abnormal organic acids in their urine. The cause of these high levels could include the use of oral antibiotics, high-sugar diets, immune deficiencies, acquired infections, and genetic factors.
The organic acid test also includes markers for vitamin and mineral levels, oxidative stress, neurotransmitter levels, and is the only organic acid test that includes markers for oxalates, which are highly correlated with many chronic diseases.
Organic acids are chemical compounds excreted in the urine of mammals that are products of metabolism.
Metabolism is the sum of the chemical reactions in living things by which the body builds new molecules and breaks them down to remove waste products and produce energy. Organic acids are organic compounds that are acids. Organic acids are substances in which carbon and hydrogen are always present, but which may also contain the elements oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus.
10 Reasons to Test for Organic Acids
Reason 1 - Fungal Toxins
- The Organic Acids test evaluates variousfungal toxins, including specific markers for candida, as well as other fungi such as mold and yeast.
- Many people rely on stool tests to diagnose candidiasis. However, a stool test is often negative for candida overgrowth, while the Organic Acids test often detects the presence of candida and yeast toxins.
- The AO test is generally more sensitive for testing for Candida because it detects chemical production within the digestive system that reflects metabolic activity of these organisms and tissue invasion along the mucosal lining of the intestine. Organic acid arabinose, often elevated in the Organic Acids test, is related to this process of mucosal invasion. Some of the candida toxins can create problems with brain function, including memory, attention, and concentration.
Reason 2 - Clostridial Bacteria
- The test evaluates specific toxins related to variousclostridial bacteria. Clostridia bacteria such as Clostridia difficile (C. diff.) can lead to digestive problems and poor health. For example, certain strains of C. diff. they produce virulence factors that cause inflammation, bleeding, and diarrhea within the digestive system. However, there are other clostridial toxins that act outside of the digestive system.
- The main toxins evaluated in the test linked to different strains of clostridia are HPHPA and 4-cresol. Both HPHPA and 4-cresol can inhibit a dopamine converting enzyme that leads to excess dopamine in the brain and nervous system.
- High dopamine can form toxic compounds that negatively affect brain cells. Prolonged elevation of these dopamine-related compounds such as DOPAC (and dopamine-o-quinone, a compound not measured in the test) is known to trigger free radical damage within the brain.
- Elevation of the neurotransmitter dopamine can also cause mood instability and other cognitive problems. In severe cases, the presence of these clostridial toxins can trigger aggressive and self-injurious behavior due to high amounts of dopamine. This is a common scenario in people with special needs, such as people with autism. Screening for clostridia organic acid toxins is essential for anyone struggling with a developmental disorder, mental health issues, and neurological disease.
Q.1500
Reason 3 - Prioritize treatment intervention decisions
- The information of test helpsprioritize treatment intervention decisions, along with symptoms and medical history, between candida (fungus) and clostridia (bacteria).
- Treating candida only when HPHPA and 4-cresol toxins from the clostridial bacteria are present can cause significant problems that aggravate the digestive system, but also lead to adverse changes in neurochemicals that affect behaviors, cognitive abilities, mood and mental stability.
Reason 4 - oxalate content
- The proofevaluates high oxalate content(also known as oxalic acid). Oxalate is a compound found in many foods such as nuts (for example, almonds), fruits (for example, berries), and certain vegetables (for example, spinach).
- Oxalate can also be produced by the overgrowth of candida, aspergillus mold, as well as certain metabolic imbalances related to deficiency of oxalate-metabolizing enzymes. High oxalate is often associated with joint and muscle pain, but can also lead to bladder and bowel discomfort.
- Severe cases of oxalate buildup can cause kidney stones. Oxalate can trap heavy metals like mercury, lead, and arsenic in the body and cause mineral imbalances.
Reason 5 - Mitochondrial Imbalances
- The test evaluates themitochondrial imbalances. Mitochondria are the energy factories of our cells that produce large amounts of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP acts as an energy currency for our body.
- Mitochondria are often stressed by toxins from candida, bacteria, oxalate, heavy metals, and environmental chemicals. Mitochondrial dysfunction is common in many chronic health conditions.
Reason 6 - Imbalances in dopamine and norepinephrine
- The test evaluates theimbalances in dopamine and norepinephrine. The relationship between these two important brain chemicals is critical to attention, concentration, mood, calm, and other nervous system functions.
Reason 7 - Deficiency or excess of serotonin
- The test evaluates la serotonin deficiency or excess, an important brain chemical for mood, fine and gross motor skills, calmness, and sleep. There are other markers evaluated on OAT that may indicate toxic stress in the brain and nervous system. One of these potentially toxic compounds is called quinolinic acid (QA).
- A high QA can be toxic in the brain and cause an increase in the activity of the receptor that allows increasing the entry of calcium into a brain cell. This mechanism can lead to a number of cellular problems that cause or contribute to the death and destruction of brain cells.
- For these reasons, it is beneficial to test before implementing high-dose L-tryptophan amino acid supplementation, which is often used to help with sleep or some mental health disorders.
Reason 8 - Folate metabolism.
- The test evaluates two specific chemicals related to thefolate metabolism.Folate is linked to the methylation cycle that supports the inner workings of cells related to DNA function and metabolism.
- Poor folate metabolism can cause cognitive problems.
Reason 9 - Nutritional markers
- The test evaluates severalnutritional markerssuch as vitamin B6, vitamin B5, vitamin C, CoQ10, as well as N-acetylcysteine (NAC). NAC is required as a precursor to the antioxidant glutathione
Reason 10 - Glutathione deficiency
- The test evaluates theglutathione deficiency. Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant in our cells and protects against toxicity.
- Lack of glutathione causes oxidative stress in the brain and nervous system, which causes problems with attention, concentration and general cognitive problems.
- Glutathione deficiency can also compromise the health of the immune system. Glutathione is a necessary compound involved in the detoxification of liver chemicals.
