The major tissue sites of aluminum toxicity are the nervous system, immune system, bone, liver, and red blood cells. Aluminum may also interfere with heme (porphyrin) synthesis.

SOURCES:

Found in virtually all food and food additives, water, air, and soil. Also found in antacids, antiperspirants, cosmetics, astringents, cans, pots, pans, siding, roofing, and foil.

The "Aluminum, Plasma/Serum" test measures the level of aluminum in your blood, specifically in the plasma or serum component. Aluminum is the third most abundant element in the Earth's crust and is commonly found in our environment, including water, food, and some consumer products. While it's generally considered non-toxic at low levels, exposure to high levels of aluminum can lead to health issues, especially in individuals with compromised kidney function or those exposed to the metal through occupational hazards, medical treatments, or excessive use of aluminum-containing products.

The major tissue sites of aluminum toxicity are the nervous system, immune system, bone, liver, and red blood cells. Aluminum may also interfere with heme (porphyrin) synthesis. Consequences of aluminum toxicity are encephalopathy and abnormal speech, myoclonic jerks, convulsions, and a predisposition to osteomalacic fractures.

Exposure to aluminum is ubiquitous via food, water, air and soil. Aluminum is used to produce beverage cans, cooking pots, siding, roofing, aluminum foil and airplanes. Further, it is found in antacids, buffered aspirin, food additives (especially in grains and cheeses), astringents, vaccinations, cat litter, antiperspirants, infant formula, and baking soda.

The Aluminum, Urine Test by Labcorp is designed to monitor patients for both prior and ongoing exposure to aluminum. This test is especially important for patients at risk of aluminum toxicity, including:

- Infants on parenteral fluids, particularly those receiving parenteral nutrition

- Burn patients receiving intravenous albumin, especially those with coexisting renal failure

- Adult and pediatric patients with chronic renal failure, as they can accumulate aluminum more readily from medications and dialysate

- Adult patients on parenteral nutrition, although the risk has decreased in recent years

- Individuals with occupational or industrial exposure to aluminum

The Aluminum, Urine 24-Hour Test is a diagnostic tool used to measure the amount of aluminum excreted in urine over a 24-hour period. This test is particularly valuable for assessing aluminum exposure and monitoring individuals at risk of aluminum toxicity. Aluminum, while naturally occurring in the environment, can become toxic when accumulated in the human body at elevated levels. Exposure to high levels of aluminum can occur through various sources, including environmental exposure, industrial settings, medical treatments, and certain medications.

The aluminum/creatinine (Al/Crt) ratio is a critical biomarker used to assess aluminum exposure and potential toxicity, especially in patients who are at risk of accumulating toxic levels of aluminum. This ratio is obtained by measuring the amount of aluminum excreted in the urine relative to creatinine, a waste product that reflects kidney function. By adjusting aluminum levels to creatinine, the test accounts for variations in urine concentration, making it a more accurate marker of aluminum exposure, especially in individuals with impaired renal function.

The presence of antibodies to Amaranth is an indication of food immune reactivity. The offending food and its known cross-reactive foods should be eliminated from the diet. Amaranth is considered a beneficial food, especially for patients with cardiovascular disease and hypertension, due to its ability to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol.

Amaranth is also an excellent anti-oxidant. Amaranth labeled by the scientific community as a non-allergenic food, however, allergy to Amaranth has been reported. If a recently diagnosed gluten-reactive patient exhibits high levels of antibodies to Amaranth, it may be
due to the late introduction of Amaranth into the diet.

The IBD Expanded Panel test offers three novel markers:

- antichitobioside IgA (ACCA),

- antilaminaribioside IgG (ALCA),

- antimannobioside IgG (AMCA),

together with anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae IgG (gASCA) and pANCA.

Ammonia is a waste product naturally produced in the body. It primarily comes from the digestion of protein by bacteria in the intestines.

Ammonia is a waste product naturally produced in the body. It primarily comes from the digestion of protein by bacteria in the intestines.

Ammonia is a normal by-product of the microbial fermentation of amino acids, particularly glutamine. This process is carried out by various commensal bacteria, including Clostridia, Enterobacteria, Bacillus spp., E. coli, Staphylococcus, and Fusobacterium. In Gram-negative gut bacteria, ammonia plays a crucial role in nitrogen anabolism, which is necessary for producing essential compounds such as amino acids, NAD, pyrimidines, purines, and amino sugars. The production of ammonia by these bacteria is associated with three key enzymes: glutamine synthetase (GS), glutamate synthase (GOGAT), and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH).

Ammonia measurements are mainly of use in the diagnosis of urea cycle deficiencies (any neonate with unexplained nausea, vomiting, or neurological deterioration appearing after first feeding), and they play an important part in the detection of Reye syndrome.

In Reye syndrome threefold increases in AST, ALT and plasma ammonia are required for diagnosis with/or the diagnostic liver biopsy findings. Ammonia levels increase characteristically early; plasma ammonia ≥100 μg/dL reflects severe hepatic changes.

The GI-MAP includes results for detection of H. pylori antibiotic resistance genes. If an antibiotic resistance gene is present, then that class of antibiotics is designated POSITIVE for antibiotic resistance. A positive result for the presence of resistance genes for a given antibiotic indicates that the antibiotic is not an ideal choice for an antibiotic protocol. Since microbes can rapidly share DNA under stress, the presence of antibiotic resistance is reason enough to avoid that drug class.