Organic Acid Analysis and Antiaging

Organic acid analysis is a valuable test that can detect genetic errors that affect your metabolism. The test can help pinpoint nutritional requirements as well. Organic acid is the marker test for you individual genetic variations, and can allow you to identify deficiencies and correct them.

The Organic Acid Test

Your body produces many different compounds as a result of your metabolic processes. These are called organic acids, and they are byproducts of chemical reactions that are part of your overall metabolism.

The test for organic acid was first used on newborns to test for genetic abnormalities that would prevent their body from making or fully utilizing critical enzymes, which could dramatically shorten their life span.

The information from organic acid analysis would be used to get a “heads up” so to speak on an infants particular problem and start treating that problem right away. It only makes sense that this test would also be valuable for adults as well.

You might have some genetic flaw that affects your metabolic processes but isn’t life threatening in the short term. By pinpointing this flaw, you could more precisely tailor your nutrition to make up for the deficiency.

This is the essence of life extension and functional medicine, using tests such as organic acid to identify and correct problems using personalized nutrition other therapies, which can dramatically improve your health and quality of life.

How is Organic Acid Analysis Done?

The test for organic acid involves collecting a urine sample in the morning and sending it to a laboratory to be analyzed by a method known as gas chromatography. A report is then produced which is read and interpreted by a qualified medical practitioner.

The results of the organic acid test are broken down into four categories:

• Mitochondrial energy production
• Systemic toxicity
• Bacteria and fungal growth in your intestinal tract
• Specific nutritional deficiencies

As you can see these are all extremely important areas that have a dramatic impact on your health on a day to day basis. By knowing the status of these four areas, your antiaging doctor can use nutritional and other holistic therapies to address problems before they become serious or even life threatening.

Getting Tested

Organic acid analysis can be done in two ways. With a prescription from a qualified medical practitioner, you can purchase test kits online which will allow you to collect the urine sample and send it off to a lab to have it analyzed.

The other way is for you have the test done at a clinic or doctor’s office, which will then send it to the lab for analysis. If you are unfamiliar with medical testing and don’t have the knowledge to interpret the test results, it would be best to have your doctor handle the entire process for you.

The laws in each state vary with regard to what kind of medical practitioner can order organic acid testing. You may be able to get them through a Chiropractor, Naturopath, Nurse Practitioner or other qualified health professional.

An antiaging doctor may be more inclined to use this test as it can pinpoint nutritional deficiencies that can be corrected with diet and supplementation. This is an approach that some MD’s may not favor, so an antiaging physician may be your best bet, as they tend to be more holistically oriented.

The Bottom Line

This test is a very powerful diagnostic tool that is being used more and more frequently to identify defects and abnormalities in your metabolism so they can be corrected before they result in severe health problems.

Organic acid testing is one of THE most important things you can do to protect yourself against chronic illness and make sure that your diet and nutritional supplement program is doing what it should and not causing additional problems.

You no longer have to guess about what might be “ailing you!” You owe it to yourself and those you love to get yourself tested and take whatever steps you need to keep yourself healthy and happy.

The links below will provide a reference for antiaging doctors and clinics where you can have organic acid analysis done.