Biochemical assessment

Question 1

nutrient assessment

Answer 1

determine rate of function by analyzing enzymes and/or metabolites

Question 2

organic acids

Answer 2

energy/mitochondrial fx
b-complex vitamin markers
methylation pathway markers
neurotransmitter metabolism markers
oxidative damage/antioxidant markers
detoxification markers
intestinal dysbiosis markers

Question 3

test for serotonin metabolism

Answer 3

5-hydroxyindoleacetate (5-HIA) in urine
= end product of serotonin metabolism
incr with tryptophan, SSRIs, 5-HTP supplementation
decr when metabolic precursors = deficient or low B6

Question 4

test for methylation

Answer 4

methylmalonic acid and/or SAMe

B12 dependent enzyme = methylmalonic CoA mutase

Question 5

test for central energy metabolism

Answer 5

lactate (function of PDH and availability of its cofactors)

beta-hydroxybuterate

Question 6

Thiamin (B1)

Answer 6

erythrocyte transketolase (ETK)
thiamin in serum or whole blood

Question 7

Riboflavin (B2)

Answer 7

glutathione reductase

Question 8

Niacin (B3)

Answer 8

N-methylnicotinamide in 24 hr urine

Question 9

Pantothenate (B5)

Answer 9

whole blood or urine pantothenate

Question 10

Pyridoxine (B6)

Answer 10

erythrocyte glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (EGPT)
amino acid profile (plasma or urine)
urine kynurenic and xanthurenic acid following tryptophan load

Question 11

Folic acid

Answer 11

serum folate
24 hr urine formiminoglutamic acid
homocysteine

Question 12

Vitamin B12

Answer 12

methylmalonic acid

serum B12

Question 13

Biotin (B7)

Answer 13

whole blood biotin

fatty acid abnormalities

Question 14

Vitamin C

Answer 14

whole blood/serum/WBC vitamin c

Question 15

Vitamin A

Answer 15

plasma retinol

retinol binding protein

Question 16

Vitamin E

Answer 16

alpha-/beta-/gamma tocopherol in serum or plasma

Question 17

Vitamin K

Answer 17

prothrombin time

clotting time

Question 18

Calcium

Answer 18

RBC calcium
whole blood calcium
(not an easy mineral to asses)

Question 19

Chromium

Answer 19

RBC chromium

HgA1C

Question 20

Copper

Answer 20

RBC copper

serum ceruloplasmin

Question 21

Iron

Answer 21

serum binding iron
serum ferritin
% transferrin saturation
total iron binding capacity (TIBC)

Question 22

Magnesium

Answer 22

RBC or WBC Mg

Mg load test

Question 23

Manganese

Answer 23

RBC/whole blood/hair Mn

Question 24

Molybdenum

Answer 24

hair Mo

urine sulfite

Question 25

Potassium

Answer 25

serum/RBC/whole blood

Question 26

Selenium

Answer 26

whole blood
RBC glutathione peroxidase
hair Se

Question 27

Sodium

Answer 27

serum Na

Question 28

Sulfur

Answer 28

urine sulfate
sulfide
sulfate:creatinine ratio
amino acids incl: methionine, cysteine, taurine (plasma or urine)

Question 29

Zinc

Answer 29

WBC
oral zinc
urine amino acids