Scientific research has demonstrated that conditions as varied as chemical sensitivities, cardiovascular disease, macular degeneration, bone disorders and insomnia are associated with amino acid imbalances. The raft of health conditions associated with amino acid metabolism is a result of the countless physiological processes that these molecules are involved in. Amino acids are necessary for production of neurotransmitters, hormones, nitric oxide, urea, antioxidants, connective tissue and ATP. Amino acid testing is therefore a powerful tool that practitioners can utilise to not only determine underlying causes of disease but to optimise the health of their patients.
Urine amino acid assessments aid in the detection of metabolic disorders due to genetic polymorphisms, micronutrient deficiencies or toxic abnormalities, all of which can be influenced by amino acid utilisation. Urine amino acid analysis reveals important clinical data on metabolic, nutritional, and neurological disorders. Urine testing can be influenced by recent dietary intake, therefore advisable to adhere to collection instructions.
Amino Acids – Functions, Imbalances and Testing
Amino acids play central roles both as building blocks of proteins and as intermediates in metabolism. They not only catalyse all (or most) of the reactions in living cells, the control virtually all cellular processes. Deficiencies and excesses of these vital molecules therefore lead to physiological impairment which is exhibited in a wide variety of clinical symptoms and conditions as varied as chemical sensitivities, cardiovascular disease, macular degeneration, bone disorders and insomnia are associated with amino acid imbalances.
Numerous health conditions are associated with amino acid metabolism as a result of the many physiological processes they are involved in. The production of neurotransmitters, hormones, nitric oxide, urea, antioxidants, connective tissue and ATP are just a few examples.
