AMINO ACIDS
Amino acids in urine
Testing the protein metabolism in the body
Amino acids make up proteins found in every tissue of the body and play a major role in many chemical processes that affects physical and mental functions. They contribute to the formation of proteins, neurotransmitters, enzymes and antibodies. Imbalances can manifest themselves as a variety of metabolic disorders and clinical symptoms.
Under the influence of heritary and other factors the optimal amount of each amino acids differs for each person and may change during life. Some important influences are: other nutrients, flora of the gut, pharmaceuticals, stress, disease, growth, pregnancy and environmental substances. Although (essential) amino acids play a crucial role in human life, they can be toxic when present in high amounts.
Amino acid analysis provides information directly related to amino acids, but informs also about the functional activity of certain minerals and vitamins, food degradation, foreign flora in the intestinal tract, detoxification, free radical pathology and methylation.
World Health Laboratory (WHL) / Health Diagnostics and Research Institute (H.D.R.I.) offers a comprehensive package of amino acid determinations in urine. This package tests for all 8 essential amino acids (isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine), the semi-essential amino acids arginine, cysteine, histidine and taurine and 28 other amino acids / amino acid metabolites, including homocystine.
Click on the photo's to see a complete overview:
- The functional activity (as coenzyme) of the (trace) elements of iron, magnesium and manganese; in the test result, reduced coenzyme activity is manifested as an accumulation of the amino acid (metabolite) which, with the aid of the relevant coenzyme is converted and / or a reduced level of the amino acid (metabolite) formed in the reaction (see the table).
- The functional activity (as coenzyme) of the vitamins B3, B6, B12, C, Folic acid and biotin; in the test result, reduced coenzyme activity is manifested as an accumulation of the amino acid (metabolite) which, with the aid of the relevant coenzyme is converted and / or a reduced level of the amino acid (metabolite) formed in the reaction (see the table).
- Food digestion: incomplete protein digestion shows reduced levels of essential amino acids and increased levels of peptides (anserine and / or carnosine) and / or amino acids from peptides (hydroxyproline and / or hydroxylysine).
- The condition of the intestinal flora; with a disturbed intestinal flora high levels are seen of the beta-amino acids: beta-alanine and / or beta-aminobutyric acid.
- The body's ability to detoxify / defuse free radicals; the levels of alanine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glycine, methionine and taurine provide information about this.
- (Subclinical) ammonia toxicity; increased levels of glutamine, asparagine and alanine are indicative of this.
- The methylation. An abnormal level of 1/3-methylhistidine is an indication of a possible failure in the methylation processes.
When is it meaningful to perform an amino acid test?
Amino acids are the building blocks of the body's proteins and they are essential for, good detoxification and the formation of neurotransmitters, enzymes and immunoglobulins.
For the amino acids isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine (the essential amino acids), man is dependent on his diet. The remaining amino acids can be formed by humans themselves. Arginine, cysteine, histidine and taurine are insufficiently produced by some people and are therefore called semi-essential amino acids; for these amino acids, these individuals are partially dependent on their diet. For the formation (and conversion) of the non-essential amino acids, enzymes are needed that depend on certain vitamins and minerals for their functioning.
In case of abnormalities in the amino acid levels, certain body functions can no longer proceed optimally, causing complaints in the longer or shorter term. Such disturbances can be caused by insufficient intake of (semi) essential amino acids, but also by impaired digestion, too low levels of vitamins and minerals necessary for amino acid metabolism. Both too high and too low levels can be found.
The amino acid determination in urine can be used for:
- Determination of disturbances of amino acid metabolism; preventative or in case of illness.
- Determining the nutritional status.
- Obtaining information about food digestion and absorption.
- Obtaining information about the body's ability to detoxify or neutralize free radicals.
- Obtaining information about the condition of the intestinal flora.
- Checking the effect of diets / supplementation.
- Optimization of amino acid levels (eg for athletes).
An amino acid analysis is recommended also for the following conditions:
- Allergic complaints and hypersensitivity.
- Carcinomas.
- Degeneration diseases: Rheumatism.
- Heart and vascular disease.
- Complaints of poisoning / free radical pathology.
- Digestive problems.
- Psychological complaints, behavioral disorders and learning problems.
- Many vague complaints.
- Fatigue.
- Reduced / poor defenses.
- Pregnancy.
LITERATURE:
1. Melvyn R. Werbach. Nutritional influences on Illness. A sourcebook of clinical research. Third Line Press. USA, 1993.
2. Melvyn R. Werbach. Nutritional influences on mental Illness. A sourcebook of clinical research. Third Line Press. USA, 1999.
3. Eric R. Braverman Md, Carl C. Pfeiffer MD PhD. The healing nutrient within. Facts, findings and new research on amino acids. Keats Publ inc. New Canaan, Connecticut, 1986.