Organic Acids
Urine
Performed by: Vibrant Wellness
Organic acids panels are used to test for the organic acids present in urine, which are byproducts of daily cellular metabolism. These organic acid markers offer valuable insights into identifying the underlying causes of chronic symptoms. By following known metabolic pathways and enzyme-cofactor requirements, healthcare providers can use these markers to detect imbalances, toxicity, and inflammation in chronically or acutely ill patients with complex illnesses. The comprehensive information provided by organic acids testing, in conjunction with other diagnostic tests, allows practitioners to form a complete clinical picture of the root causes of a patient's condition. This, in turn, guides the development of personalized and effective interventions.
Show more
Biomarkers included in this panel:
What is 2-Hydroxybutyric acid? 2-Hydroxybutyric acid (aka α-Hydroxybutyrate) is a by-product of glutathione production. Levels of 2-Hydroxybutyric acid in the urine may reflect levels of glutathione production. What is Glutathione? Glu
Learn more2-Hydroxyhippuric acid is a conjugate of hydroxybenzoic acid (salicylic acid) and glycine.
Learn more2-Hydroxyisocaproic acid (aka Leucic acid / α-hydroxyisocaproic acid / HICA) is a metabolite of the branched-chain amino acid leucine.
Learn more2-Hydroxyisovaleric acid (aka 2-Hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid) is a branched-chain amino acid metabolite. 2-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid is a valine derivative that is valine in which the amino group has been replaced by a ‘hydroxy’ gro
Learn moreThe metabolite of phenylalanine via phenyl pyruvate.
Learn more2-Oxo-4-methylthiobutanoic acid, also known as 4-(methylsulfanyl)-2-oxobutanoate or 2-keto-4-methylthiobutyrate, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as thia fatty acids. Thia substituted fatty acids are saturated
Learn more2-Oxoglutaric acid 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 more2-Oxoisocaproic acid (also known as Ketoleucine) is an abnormal metabolite that arises from the incomplete breakdown of branched-chain amino acids. 2-Oxoisocaproic acid is both a neurotoxin and a metabotoxin. A moderate increase of branche
Learn more- A precursor in the production of cholesterol in both humans and yeast. - Elevated levels may also indicate decreased CoQ10 synthesis. - Moderate increases are probably due to yeast overgrowth of the GI tract and might also implicate yeast ove
Learn more3-Hydroxyglutaric is a marker for glutaryl CoA dehydrogenase deficiency.
Learn more3-Methyl-2-oxovaleric acid is an abnormal metabolite that arises from the incomplete breakdown of branched-chain amino acids. Moderate increase may result from lactic acidosis, episodic ketosis, or thiamine/lipoic acid deficiency. Significan
Learn moreThe marker, 3-methylglutaconic acid in high values indicates a reduced ability to metabolize the amino acid, leucine. This abnormality is found in the genetic disease, methylglutaconic aciduria and in mitochondrial disorders.
Learn more3-methylglutaric acid is an organic acid classically associated with two distinct leucine pathway enzyme deficiencies.
Learn more3-Oxoglutaric acid is a simple carboxylic acid and a key intermediate in the Krebs cycle, which has also been identified as a microbial metabolite. Its presence is often linked to the overgrowth of harmful or dysbiotic gut flora, such as Candida albi
Learn more4-Cresol has been used as a specific marker for Clostridium difficile.
Learn moreA moderate urinary increase in 4-hydroxybutyric acid may be due to intake of dietary supplements containing 4-hydroxybutyric acid, also known as gamma-hydroxybutyric acid. Very high levels may indicate the genetic disorder 3-methylglutaconic aciduria
Learn more5-Hydroxymethyl-furoic Acid is a naturally occurring human urinary metabolite, a nematicide, a bacterial xenobiotic metabolite and a fungal metabolite. It is a metabolite produced by Aspergillus and possibly other fungal species in the GI tract. Cons
Learn moreAcetoacetic acid (=acetoacetate) is a ketone body and a weak Beta-keto acid produced from acetyl-CoA in the mitochondrial matrix of hepatocytes.
Learn moreElevated in mitochrondrial disorders. Aconitase metabolizes citric and aconitic acids, and is dependent on glutathione.
Learn moreAdipic Acid, together with Suberate and Ethylmalonate are all functional markers for deficiency of carnitine.
Learn moreBreakdown product of hyaluronic acid; also found in certain foods.
Learn moreAscorbic Acid is a natural water-soluble vitamin (Vitamin C). Ascorbic acid is a potent reducing and antioxidant agent that functions in fighting bacterial infections, in detoxifying reactions, and in the formation of collagen in fibro
Learn moreCarboxycitric acid, an analogue of the Krebs/citric acid cycle, serves as a marker for intestinal microbial overgrowth, particularly involving yeast and fungi. As a byproduct of the Krebs cycle, elevated levels may also point to energy metabolism dis
Learn moreCitric 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.
Learn more3,4-Dihydroxyphenylpropionic acid (DHPPA) is a marker for beneficial and commensal bacteria. It is produced when specific bacteria metabolize chlorogenic acid, a polyphenol found in various foods, including apples, pears, peas, coffee, sunflower seed
Learn moreEthylmalonate, together with Adipate and Suberate, gives information about your ability to process fatty acids.
Learn moreFumarate (together with Succinate and Malate) is used in the body’s metabolic pathway that generates cellular energy – the Citric Acid Cycle.
Learn moreFurancarbonylglycine is a metabolite produced by Aspergillus and possibly other fungal species in the GI tract.
Learn moreγ-amino butyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter of the brain. Its major precursor is L-glutamate, which is converted to GABA via the enzyme glutamate decarboxylase (GAD). GABA has also been detected in other peripheral t
Learn moreGlutaric Acid is formed from the essential amino acids lysine and tryptophan through the intermediaries of alpha ketoadipic acid and glutaryl-CoA. Glutaryl-CoA is further metabolized to glutaconyl- and crotonyl-CoA by an enzyme called glutaryl-CoA de
Learn moreGlyceric acid is an organic acid that stems from the catabolism of the amino acid serine. Severe elevations in glyceric acid are an indication of a rare inborn error of metabolism known as glyceric aciduria. One form of glyceric aciduria is the resul
Learn moreBenzoic acid and hippuric acid are formed from the bacterial metabolism of polyphenols. Urinary benzoic acid may also come from ingestion of food preservatives such as sodium benzoate. Hippuric acid is made when sodium benzoate is conjugated with gly
Learn moreHomovanillic acid (HVA) is a major catecholamine metabolite that is produced by a consecutive action of monoamine oxidase and catechol-Omethyltransferase on dopamine. HVA is associated with dopamine levels in the brain. Dopamine (3,4-dihydroxypheneth
Learn moreHPHPA is a clostridia metabolite and dysbiosis marker and stands for 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxypropionic acid. HPHPA is an indicator for dysbiosis due to overgrowth of Clostridia bacteria (e.g., C. sporogenes, C. caloritolerans,
Learn moreHVA and DOPAC are the major metabolites of dopamine. HVA stands for Homovanillic acid and DOPAC stands for Dihydroxyphenylacetic.
Learn moreLactic acid is a microbial metabolite, urinary lactic acid is produced by Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Enterobacter, Acinetobacter, Proteus mirabilis, Citrobacter frundii, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus group
Learn moreFumaric acid uses the fumarase enzyme to become malic acid. Malate dehydrogenase catalyzes the conversion of malic acid into oxaloacetate. Two forms of this enzyme exist in eukaryotes. One operates within the mitochondria to contribute to the Citric
Learn moreMethylcitric is an organic acids that reflects decreased activity of the biotin-dependent enzyme propionyl-CoA carboxylase.
Learn moreMethylmalonic acid (MMA) is a substance produced in very small amounts and is necessary for human metabolism and energy production.
Learn moreMethylsuccinic acid is a normal metabolite found in human fluids and is an intermediate metabolite in the breakdown of fatty acids.
Learn moreElevated N-acetylaspartic acid is due to the genetic disorder Carnavan’s disease, a potentially fatal disease causing spongy degeneration of the brain. What is Carnavan’s disease? Canavan disease is a rare inherited disorder t
Learn moreN-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is a powerful antioxidant that increases the glutathione reserves in the body. Together with glutathione, N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) directly binds to toxic metabolites. Although N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) may be benefici
Learn morePantothenic acid is an essential B vitamin (=Vitamin B5) that is converted to coenzyme A (unrelated to vitamin A). Coenzyme A is needed for the synthesis of fatty acids, cholesterol, and acetyl choline and is also needed for the Krebs cycle and fatty
Learn morePhenyllactic acid is a metabolite of phenylalanine.
Learn morePhosphoric 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 phosphat
Learn moreA major metabolite of vitamin B6. High pyridoxic acid indicates high recent intake of vitamin B6. Because some individuals may require very high doses of vitamin B6, high values do not necessarily indicate the need to reduce vitamin B6 intake. Low va
Learn morePyroglutamic acid (5-oxoproline) is produced and utilized in the gamma-glutamyl cycle. This cycle is needed to assist in the production and recycling of glutathione (GSH), a powerful antioxidant. Glutathione is a tripeptide, consisting of glutamat
Learn morePyruvic acid is an intermediate compound in the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Pyruvic acid is found to be associated with Fumarase deficiency, which is an inborn error of metabolism. It is also a metabolite of Corynebacterium. Elev
Learn moreA high ratio of quinolinic acid to the tryptophan metabolite, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, indicates excessive inflammation due to recurrent infections, excessive tryptophan intake, immune overstimulation, excessive adrenal production of cortisol, or
Learn moreIncreased urinary products of the omega fatty acid metabolism pathway may be due to carnitine deficiency, fasting, or increased intake of triglycerides from coconut oil, or some infant formulas.
Learn more- Suberic acid is present in the urine of people with fatty acid oxidation disorders. - A metabolic breakdown product derived from oleic acid. - Elevated levels of this unsaturated dicarboxylic acid are found in individuals with medium-chain ac
Learn moreSuccinyl CoA becomes succinic acid using succinyl CoA synthetase. This reaction produces NADH which directly provides electrons for the electron transport chain or respiratory chain. Succinic acid requires the enzyme succinate dehydrogenase to become
Learn moreA pyrimidine (DNA building block) that is elevated in the genetic disease dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency. In this genetic disease, the pyrimidine uracil is also elevated. - Thymine is one of the five bases used to build nucleic acids.
Learn moreThe pyrimidine metabolites are markers of folate metabolism. The two markers are uracil and thymine. Folate acts as a methyl donor in converting uracil to thymine. Elevated values of uracil suggest folic acid deficiency. Folate is needed to conver
Learn more