Amino Acids Profile (urine)- what do you get?

• Essential Amino Acids must be derived from dietary sources
• Nonessential Amino Acids are 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 (ammonia) detoxification
• Glycine/Serine Metabolites are involved in the serine-to-choline pathway and the methylation pathways
• Dietary Peptide Related Markers can indicate incomplete protein breakdown and meat intake

Importance of Amino Acids:

Amino acids play many important roles in the body including energy generation, neurotransmitter and hormone synthesis, tissue growth and repair, immune function, blood cell formation, maintenance of muscle mass, and detoxification.

Testing Amino Acids is important in a variety of scenarios including:

• Mood disorders
• Weight issues/Dietary guidance
• Malnutrition (often observed in the elderly or those with poor protein intake)
• Gut maldigestion/malabsorption
• Fatigue
• Athletic optimization
• Increased nutrient demand in physical trauma/healing
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Obesity/Insulin resistance/Type 2 Diabetes
• Autism

Diet and lifestyle factors, as well as certain clinical conditions, may predispose a person to having amino acid imbalances. There are multiple dynamic factors that influence amino acid levels including dietary intake, liver and kidney function, protein metabolism, hormones, stress, exercise, and gastrointestinal health.