Organic Acids Test (OAT)

The Organic Acids test also evaluates intestinal bacteria, distinguishing between beneficial and harmful bacteria. Elevations in these markers are generally seen with gut dysbiosis and bacterial overgrowth.

Oxalic acid is one of the most acidic organic acids in bodily fluids. This organic acid is derived primarily from fungus (Aspergillus and Penicillium), Candida, or your metabolism. Excessive consumption of high oxalate foods and deficiencies in vitamin B6 can contribute to elevations in oxalic acid. Many of the foods very high in oxalates are healthy foods.

Oxalate crystals have a sharp physical structure that can cause oxidative damage, increase inflammation, cause pain, and damage tissues. Oxalate crystals may form in joints, blood vessels, muscles, kidneys, lungs, heart, thyroid, eyes, and even the brain. High oxalic acid can hinder the proper function of vital bodily functions, poison the mitochondria, and contribute to kidney stones.

High oxalates in the GI tract may significantly reduce absorption of essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, and more. Oxalates may form in the bones, crowding out bone marrow cells. This can lead to anemia and immunosuppression. Identifying elevated oxalate metabolites is significant for people with chronic pain, joint issues, kidney stones, and other health issues.

The Krebs cycle (or citric acid cycle) is a series of chemical reactions in the mitochondria, the energy factories of our cells producing large amounts of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP acts as energy currency for our body. When the Krebs cycle metabolites are elevated, this can indicate mitochondrial energy pathway dysfunction from environmental toxins such as heavy metals, chemicals, or mold, yeast/fungal or bacterial overgrowth, high oxalate levels, or high oxidative stress and deficiencies in important vitamins (B2, CoQ10, unabsorbed glutamine supplement, B vitamin or alpha lipoic acid). Mitochondrial dysfunction is common in many chronic health disorders.

Metabolites of dopamine, norepinephrine, adrenaline, and serotonin are measured.

The relationship between dopamine and norepinephrine, two important brain chemicals is critical for attention, focusing, mood, calmness, and other functions of the nervous system. Deficiency or excess of serotonin, a brain chemical is important for mood, fine and gross motor skills, calmness, and sleep.

The specific ketones and fatty acid metabolites measured in OAT show how well the body metabolizes fat. It is normal for these markers to be elevated for a person on the ketogenic or low-carbohydrate diet. However, if a person is not on a ketogenic or low-carb diet, elevations show difficulty absorbing fats.

When a person has difficulty absorbing fats, their mitochondria (the powerhouses of your cells) are not able to burn fat for energy. This is often caused by gut inflammation inhibiting lipid absorption. Candida, bacterial toxins, and high oxalates can contribute to fat malabsorption.

OAT evaluates for various nutritional markers from B vitamins to CoQ10, and N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), a glutathione precursor and chelating agent. NAC is necessary as a precursor for the antioxidant glutathione. Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant in our cells and protects against toxicity. Infections, oxidative stress, and environmental toxins can contribute to the depletion of glutathione.

OAT also tests homocysteine related metabolites. They are elevated when there is increased production of sulfur amino acids derived from homocysteine. The reasons for an increase can be due to a glutathione deficiency, methylation imbalances due to MTHFR/MTRR gene variants, nutritional deficiencies, alcoholism or diabetes, or a CBS mutation.

Elevations in ammonia metabolite, an important detoxification marker, is associated with ammonia toxicity. Excess ammonia affects brain tissue, causing symptoms such as headaches, inability to concentrate, and anxiety. High ammonia can result from kidney problems, drug toxicity of the liver, viral infections, gastrointestinal disorders, or gut dysbiosis.

Phosphoric acid is a marker of vitamin D and calcium. This marker indicates whether vitamin D receptors are activated. If phosphoric acid is low, then the person is likely vitamin D and/or calcium deficient. Low levels can be due to low phosphate consumption, low digestive juice production, or deficiencies in vitamin D, vitamin K2, or magnesium.

High levels of phosphoric acid may indicate that the person is supplementing with too much vitamin D. High levels can be also related to poor diet (high phosphate consumption from processed foods) and/or lead toxicity. This increases bone turnover and poor bone formation.