Organic Acids Profile (US BioTek)
Urine
Performed by: US BioTek
The Organic Acids Profile (OAP) offered by US BioTek Laboratories provides an excellent overview of mitochondrial and primary biochemical functions. The analytes on the OAP can detect problems with the body’s processing of dietary macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats, and proteins) or problems with the Citric Acid Cycle (CAC), one of the primary pathways in the mitochondria.
The OAP also provides an overview of bacterial metabolism in the gastrointestinal microbiome, which can have profound effects on the health, and on biochemical and detoxification functions of the human host.
Recent scientific advances illuminate the importance of inheritance (genetic and epigenetic), environment and nutrition for human health and wellness. Pollution, malnutrition, or other physical or psychological stress can dysregulate or inhibit primary biochemical pathways, mitochondria, the gut microbiome, and detoxification functions. If an individual has inherited low-activity enzyme variants, such stressors may be enough to shift them from health to disease. Chronic inflammatory diseases such as type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, fatty liver, immune system dysregulation, premature ageing, etc. have been associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and/or the dysregulation of primary biochemical pathways. The OAP is a reliable tool for screening and monitoring individuals with inherited or acquired biochemical or mitochondrial dysregulations.
US BioTek’s Organic Acids Profile is designed to screen the general population for metabolic problems associated with aging, chronic inflammation, environment-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, and low-activity enzyme variants requiring additional nutritional support. The test is not designed to diagnose inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs); the majority of IEMs result in significant functional and intellectual challenges and are diagnosed in infancy. Please note that, as with all urine tests, adequate kidney function is required for accurate results.
References:
- Cani PD. Interactions between gut microbes and host cells control gut barrier and metabolism. Int J Obes Suppl. 2016;6(Suppl 1):S28-S31.
- Dela Cruz CS, Kang MJ. Mitochondrial dysfunction and damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) in chronic inflammatory diseases. Mitochondrion. 2018;41:37-44.
- Hollman AL, Tchounwou PB, Huang HC. The Association between Gene-Environment Interactions and Diseases Involving the Human GST Superfamily with SNP Variants. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2016;13(4):379.
- Jain A, Li XH, Chen WN. An untargeted fecal and urine metabolomics analysis of the interplay between the gut microbiome, diet and human metabolism in Indian and Chinese adults. Sci Rep. 2019;9:9191. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-45640-y
- Johannsen DL, Ravussin E. The role of mitochondria in health and disease. Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2009;9(6):780-786.
- Picard M, McEwen BS. Psychological Stress and Mitochondria: A Systematic Review. Psychosom Med. 2018;80(2):141-153.
- Tsoukalas D, Alegakis A, Fragkiadaki P, et al. Application of metabolomics: Focus on the quantification of organic acids in healthy adults. Int J Mol Med. 2017;40(1):112-120.
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Biomarkers included in this panel:
2-Hydroxyphenylacetate
2-Hydroxyphenylacetate is a key intermediary in the metabolism of phenylalanine, an essential amino acid, and tyrosine, a conditionally essential amino acid. Elevated levels of 2-Hydroxyphenylacetate can signal underlying metabolic disturbances or ge
Learn more2-Methylhippurate
2-Methylhippurate is a byproduct of detoxification of the common solvent xylene. Urinary excretion of 2-methylhippurate is a sensitive and specific marker for xylene exposure which increases oxidative stress.
Learn more3,4-Dimethylhippurate
Sources of Exposure: - Mainly by inhalation of vapors. - Production occurs during petroleum refining. - Primary use is as a motor fuel additive. - Automotive emissions, poor emission-control devices on older vehicles, poor maintenance pra
Learn more3-Indoleacetate
Indoleacetic acid (IAA), or indole-3-acetate, is produced by the bacterial fermentation of the amino acid tryptophan. IAA can be formed from several common gut microbes such as Clostridia species, Escherichia coli, and Saccharomyces species.
Learn more3-Methylhippurate
3-Methylhippurate is a Xylene Metabolite. Xylene is found in many solvents (paints, perfumes, etc.). Used in insecticide\pesticide application. Metabolized to Methylhippurate, which is measured in urine.
Learn more5-Hydroxyindoleacetate
5-Hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA) is a breakdown product of serotonin that is excreted in the urine. Serotonin is a hormone found at high levels in many body tissues. Serotonin and 5HIAA are produced in excess amounts by carcinoid tumors, and levels
Learn moreAdipate
Adipate, together with Suberate and Ethylmalonate are all functional markers for deficiency of carnitine. Carnitine is needed to move fatty acids into the mitochondria where they are converted to energy using vitamin B2. If carnitine is suffici
Learn moreAlpha-Hydroxybutyrate
What is α-Hydroxybutyrate? α-Hydroxybutyrate is a by-product of glutathione production. Levels of alpha-hydroxybutyrate in the urine may reflect levels of glutathione production. What is Glutathione? Glutathione is an important a
Learn moreAlpha-Hydroxyisobutyrate
α-Hydroxyisobutyric Acid is a major urinary metabolite of the industrial solvent methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). MTBE was a gasoline additive discontinued in the early 2000’s used to reduce automobile emissions. Due to significant grou
Learn moreAlpha-Keto-Beta-Methylvalerate is a B-Complex Vitamin Marker. Vitamins are compounds that your body needs to be healthy. Vitamins are “essential” for proper function, which means that they are not made inside your body and
Learn moreAlpha-Ketoglutarate
Alpha-Ketoglutarate is an organic acid that is important for the proper metabolism of all essential amino acids. It is formed in the Krebs cycle, the energy-producing process that occurs in most body cells.
Learn moreAlpha-Ketoisocaproate
Alpha-Ketoisocaproate is a B-Complex Vitamin Marker (Leucine catabolism). Vitamins are compounds that your body needs to be healthy. Vitamins are “essential” for proper function, which means that they are not made inside your body and
Learn moreAlpha-Ketoisovalerate
Alpha-Ketoisovalerate (together with Alpha-Ketoisocaproate and Alpha-Keto-Beta-methylvalerate) requires Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5 and lipoic acid to be metabolized.
Learn moreBenzoate
Benzoate, was one of the compounds first found to be elevated in urine from patients with intestinal bacterial overgrowth of various origins.
Learn moreBeta-Hydroxybutyrate
ß-Hydroxybutyrate is a metabolic marker of blood sugar utilization and insulin function. Beta-hydroxybutyrate is 1 of 3 sources of ketone bodies. Its relative proportion in the blood (78%) is greater than the other 2 ketone bodies,
Learn moreBeta-Hydroxyisovalerate
Beta-Hydroxyisovalerate is a sensitive indicator of biotin deficiency and is a metabolite of the amino acid isoleucine. Until recently, biotin deficiency was very difficult to determine in humans because this vitamin deficiency affects h
Learn moreCis-Aconitate
Citric acid, cis-aconitic acid, and isocitric acid are the first three metabolites in the Krebs Citric Acid energy production cycle, which operates in the mitochondria of your cells. Citrate, cis-Aconitate (and Isocitrate) are involved in bo
Learn moreCitrate
Citrate holds significant importance in metabolic assessments and clinical evaluations. This molecule plays a central role in energy metabolism as it is an essential component of the Citric Acid Cycle (CAC), also known as the Krebs cycle, which is a
Learn moreEthylmalonate
Ethylmalonate, together with Adipate and Suberate, gives information about your ability to process fatty acids. Ethylmalonate, which comes from the breakdown of butyrate, has a carnitine-dependent pathway and can accumulate with an
Learn moreFumarate
Fumarate (together with Succinate and Malate) is used in the body’s metabolic pathway that generates cellular energy – the Citric Acid Cycle. This cycle critically supports organ maintenance and neurological function. Fumarate is als
Learn moreHippurate
Microbes resident in the large intestine of the human body help to break down complex aromatic compounds in dietary plant matter (polyphenols), freeing up benzoic acid, which enters the bloodstream. The liver can add the amino acid glycine to benzoic
Learn moreHomovanillate
Homovanillate (aka Homovanillic Acid) is a dopamine metabolite. Homovanillate and Vanilmandelate are breakdown products from neurotransmitters involved in hormone and nerve impulse transmission, called catecholamines.
Learn moreHydroxymethylglutarate
Hydroxymethylglutarate (HMG) is the precursor to Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) production, and when it is elevated it may indicate that the body is trying to increase its production of CoQ10.
Learn moreIsocitrate
Citric acid, cis-aconitic acid, and isocitric acid are the first three metabolites in the Krebs Citric Acid energy production cycle, which operates in the mitochondria of your cells. Citrate, cis-Aconitate (and Isocitrate) are involved in bo
Learn moreKynurenate
Kynurenate is product of the metabolism of L-Tryptophan and appears in urine in Vitamin B6 deficiencies. Your body needs vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) to utilize amino acids derived from dietary protein.
Learn moreLactate
Lactate serves as a valuable metabolic marker that provides insights into various physiological processes within the body. Elevated levels of lactate can signify multiple underlying factors, including impaired mitochondrial function, nutrient deficie
Learn moreMalate
Malate is involved in the citric acid cycle (aka. Krebs cycle). The citric acid cycle is a series of reactions that occur in the mitochondrion to generate chemical energy that fuels the metabolism.
Learn moreMandelate
Mandelate is a Styrene metabolite. Sources of exposure: - Raw materials (benzene and ethylene) for the manufacture of styrene are supplied primarily from the petroleum industry. - Used in the manufacture of synthetic rubbers, synthetic
Learn moreMandelate + Phenylglyoxylate are Styrene metabolites. Sources of exposure: - Raw materials (benzene and ethylene) for the manufacture of styrene are supplied primarily from the petroleum industry. - Used in the manufacture of synthetic rubbe
Learn moreMethylmalonate
Methylmalonic acid (MMA) is a substance produced in very small amounts and is necessary for human metabolism and energy production. In one step of metabolism, vitamin B12 promotes the conversion of methylmalonyl CoA (a form of MMA) to succinyl Coenzy
Learn moreMethylsuccinate
Methylsuccinate is a metabolite in the body's biochemical pathways and is primarily associated with the catabolism of certain amino acids, including methionine and threonine. Elevated levels of methylsuccinate can be indicative of metabolic distu
Learn moreMonoethyl Phthalate
MEOHP is a metabolite of mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), which belongs to the most common environmental toxin phthalates. Phthalates, often known as plasticizers, are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more flexible and harder to brea
Learn moreOrotate
Orotate is a sensitive marker of your liver’s capacity to convert toxic ammonia to non-toxic urea that you can excrete. That capacity can be increased by additional arginine. Ammonia toxicity can also be reduced by supp
Learn morePara-Hydroxybenzoate
The presence of organic compounds such as p-Hydroxybenzoate in the urine may point towards significant dysbiosis (=impaired microbiota). p-Hydroxybenzoat may reflect intestsinal overgrowth, usually accomanied by microbal hyperpermeability.
Learn morePara-hydroxyphenylacetate, often referred to as P-Hydroxyphenylacetate or PARA, is a metabolite that plays a crucial role in the US BioTek Organic Acids panel, a diagnostic tool used in functional medicine and clinical assessments. PARA is a key inte
Learn morep-hydroxyphenyllactate is a marker of cell turnover. It is also a metabolite in tyrosine degradation and may be useful for studying disorders of tyrosine metabolism.
Learn morePhenylglyoxylate
Phenylglyoxylate is a Styrene metabolite. Sources of exposure: - Raw materials (benzene and ethylene) for the manufacture of styrene are supplied primarily from the petroleum industry. - Used in the manufacture of synthetic rubbers, syn
Learn morePhthalate
Phthalates, often known as plasticizers, are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more flexible and harder to break. They are widely used in cosmetics, adhesives, detergents, lubricating oils, automotive plastics, and plastic clothes. People ar
Learn morePyroglutamate
Pyroglutamate (or Pyroglutamic acid) is an intermediate in the glutathione metabolism and a marker of glutathione deficiency. Pyroglutamate is a step in the production/recycling of glutathione. Glutathione is one of the most potent
Learn morePyruvate
Pyruvate is a key player in energy metabolism, serving as a critical intermediate in the glycolytic pathway, where glucose is converted into pyruvate, and subsequently, pyruvate plays a central role in the Citric Acid Cycle (CAC), also known as the K
Learn moreQuinolinate
Quinolinic acid is a neurotoxic substance produced by our own bodies and a metabolite of tryptophan. Tryptophan and its different pathways: The management of tryptophan converting to serotonin within the brain has some complex moving
Learn moreSuberate
Suberate, Adipate, and Ethylmalonate elevations can indicate that you may need additional carnitine and/or vitamin B2 to assist your cells in converting fats into energy efficiently.
Learn moreSuccinate
Succinate (or succinic acid) is an important metabolite that is involved in several chemical processes in the body. Succinic acid is a key intermediate of both the Kreb’s cycle and the electron transport chain that generates adenosine
Learn moret,t-Muconic Acid
t,t-Muconic Acid (Trans, trans-muconic acid) is a Benzene Metabolite. Sources of Exposure: Natural component of crude and refined petroleum. Automotive emissions, poor emission-control devices on older vehicles, poor maintenance prac
Learn moreTricarballylate
Tricarballylate (tricarb) is derived from dietary carbohydrates. It binds magnesium very tightly and prevents absorption, leading to magnesium deficiency. Tricarballylate (tricarb) is produced by a strain of aerobic bacteria that quickly repopulat
Learn moreVanilmandelate
Vanilmandelate is a noradrenalin metabolite. Nutrient association: Essential amino acids Vanilmandelate (VMA) and Homovanillate (HVA) are breakdown products from neurotransmitters involved in hormone and nerve impulse transmissio
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