Organic Acid Testing (OAT) is one way a functional medicine practitioner can evaluate your overall health. It’s a urine-based test that provides insight into the functioning of various bodily systems and helps identify possible nutrient deficiencies, gut dysbiosis, and more!
As a Holistic Health Coach, the organic acid test is a great tool to help me look at your health from a wider perspective. When all the other tests come back as “normal” but you continue to suffer from dis-ease and frustrating symptoms the organic acid test is called in.
It’s often used to look at various markers of health from which we can then determine what more specific tests should be done. While it shouldn’t be a replacement for the SIBO breath test or other stool tests, the OAT can indicate certain health conditions.
In this article, I’ll share all the details about organic acid testing. You’ll learn how it’s used, why it’s used, a few of the downsides, and who would benefit from an organic acid test.
An organic acids test is useful in that it helps identify possible conditions that may be the root cause of your symptoms.
What is an Organic Acid?
We should start by defining an organic acid. In humans, organic acids are by-products of chemical reactions that occur in the body. The quantity and type of organic acid produced varies from person to person and can be influenced by a variety of factors.
Those factors include:
- Diet
- Toxins
- Gut microbes
- Genetics
- Kidney and liver function
- Medications
- Nutrient status
- Oxidative stress
Your body needs proper amounts of vitamins and minerals to act as cofactors for enzymatic reactions. When you don’t have enough nutritional cofactors your body’s chemical pathways are no longer able to proceed at their normal pace.
Subsequently, organic acids build up and are excreted in the urine.
What Does the Organic Acid Test Measure?
This all sounds very scientific but it’s actually more straightforward than you might think. Think of an organic acid test as a car emissions test.
The exhaust fumes that come out of a car are a byproduct of combustion, and the composition tells you how well your engine burns fuel.
Similarly, in an organic acid test, the organic acids in your urine are byproducts of metabolism, and the composition gives you information about how well your body is running.
An OAT measures the levels of organic compounds in urine that are produced in the body as a part of many vital biochemical pathways. Organic acids aren’t easily reabsorbed by your body, so they’re found in the urine in high amounts. If you have a metabolic imbalance, such as an inflammation-related condition in your gut, this may show up as abnormal organic acids on your test.
Is an Organic Acids Test Useful?
When your body isn’t functioning properly organic acid levels in urine become elevated or depleted depending on the condition. An organic acid test is useful in that it helps identify possible conditions that may be the root cause of your symptoms.
A few of the metabolic imbalances that an organic acids test can identify include the following:
- Inborn errors of metabolism (generally in newborns)
- B-vitamin deficiencies
- Gut dysbiosis
- Insulin resistance
- Impaired fatty acid metabolism
- Ketosis or poor carbohydrate metabolism
- Neurotransmitter metabolism
- Mitochondrial dysfunction
- Oxidative stress
- Poor detoxification
- Chronic inflammation
An Organic Acid Testing measures the levels of organic compounds in urine that are produced in the body as a part of many vital biochemical pathways. Organic acids aren’t easily reabsorbed by your body, so they’re found in the urine in high amounts. If you have a metabolic imbalance, such as an inflammation-related condition in your gut, this may show up as abnormal organic acids on your test.
How is an Organic Acid Test Performed?
Performing an organic acid test is quite easy. Your practitioner can order one for you, although it may not be covered by insurance.
To collect your sample all you do is urinate in a collection cup first thing in the morning before you eat or drink. Depending on what markers are being evaluated you may be instructed to avoid certain foods or supplements for a few days leading up to your sample collection.
The sample is then frozen and shipped to the laboratory, where organic acids are measured from the urine sample using liquid or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
It typically takes about two weeks to get your results from the lab. Your practitioner will receive a report of the levels of individual organic acids as either being high, low or within the normal range. When interpreting your results it’s more important to look at the overall pattern of abnormalities versus each individual marker.
RELATED: THE SCOOP ON GENETIC NUTRITION TESTING
What are the Downsides of an Organic Acid Test?
While an organic acid test is useful, there are a few downsides. For example, treating single markers is not very effective. There may be a marker that indicates a vitamin B deficiency. The common thought is that supplementing with vitamin B will solve the issue. However, we know that many deficiencies (like anemia) occur secondary to gut dysfunction. That’s why it’s important to look at the pattern of abnormalities and treat the underlying condition.
Another downside of an organic acid test is that you need a skilled interpreter to explain your results. Certain metabolites have been linked to specific conditions, such as metabolic disorders and gut dysbiosis. To make useful recommendations, your practitioner should combine an understanding of current research with their deep knowledge of you.
Who Should Get an Organic Acid Test?
With all that being said, anyone who suffers from a chronic health condition or who simply wants to gain insight into their overall metabolic health is likely to benefit from OAT. It’s a quick and painless test that only requires the collection of a urine sample. Organic acid testing is also useful for people whose symptoms haven’t been explained through other blood work, stool tests, or urinary hormone tests.
Simply put, it helps provide a bigger picture of mitochondrial function, nutrient deficiencies, neurotransmitter metabolism, antioxidant status, detoxification abilities, and gut health.
Where to Get an Organic Acid Test?
There are two labs that offer a variety of organic acid tests.
- Great Plains Laboratory offers an organic acid test that measures 70 different organic acids.
- Genova Diagnostics offers a test called the Organix basic profile which measures 30 different organic acids. They also offer the Organix comprehensive profile which evaluates over 40 organic acids. In addition, they also offer the Organix Dysbiosis, which is a separate test for just microbial organic acids.
Work with a Holistic Health Coach
Interpreting Organic Acid Test results is a complicated process so it’s best to work with a skilled practitioner. As a Certified Holistic Health Coach and Functional Medicine Practitioner, I’m well-versed in interpreting Organic Acid Tests. I’ll get to know your health story and look for patterns so we can treat the root cause of your dis-ease. Get started here!
Mandy Patterson
