ION Pediatric Profile - Blood & Urine

This combination of assays - the most comprehensive nutritional testing program available - measures over 100 components of your small patient's biochemistry. Many doctors use the ION profile to determine the underlying biochemical status of their most difficult patients.

Special collection devices are also available for your youngest patients.

The ION Report

Metametrix provides copies of all laboratory reports plus a bound report booklet for the patient. Graphs and explainations guide the patient and parents/gardians to understand problem areas, and individualized supplementation recommendations show them what to do to improve. Standard test reports are sent to the doctor with a booklet to guide interpretation of the results.

The Pediatric ION Profile* is Helpful in Cases of:

Obesity - Many obese persons have multiple nutritional deficiencies. Dietary improvement and nutritional supplementation based on ION test results help many achieve more active metabolism. In the process, they are able to eliminate excess fat and fluid.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - This enigmatic disorder frequently involves mitochondrial inefficiencies (deficits in cellular energy production) that can be revealed by comparing the organic acids, amino acids and minerals test results.

Cancer - Malnutrition/cachexia is usually an exacerbating factor. Overall nutritional testing helps determine the degree of supplementation needed.

Immune Disorders - Deficiencies in a wide variety of nutrients, from amino acids to fatty acids to zinc, are seen in immune dysfunction.

Developmental Delay, Autism, Down's Syndrome - Increasing numbers of children are experiencing dramatic improvements in development and achievement due to supplementation based on ION test results.

Mental/Emotional Disorders - The biochemical imbalances underlying these conditions can be elucidated by testing for organic acids, amino acids, minerals and fatty acids.

Learning and Behavioral Disorders - As might be expected, neurotransmitter precursors and their metabolites are often unbalanced in disorders such as ADHD. Organic and amino acids need to be assessed.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivities - In such conditions, functional nutrient levels are affected, including many of those involved in cellular respiration. ION can determine where imbalances occur.

The ION Profile includes:

• Functional Deficiency Markers for Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12 and Folic Acid
• Vitamins A, E, B-Carotene and Coenzyme Q10 - (serum)
• Essential Elements - (RBC/Whole Bld.)
• Amino Acids - (fasting plasma)
• Fatty Acids - (plasma)
• Organic Acids - (overnight urine)
• Lipid Peroxides (TBARS) - (serum)
• Homocysteine - (plasma)

Test name(s)

0090 - ION™ Pediatric Profile
0190 - ION™ Pediatric Profile NY
0068 - Chemistries*
0490 - ION Profile w/Amino Acids 40
0590 - ION Profile w/ Amino Acids 40 NY

Description

The Metametrix ION™(Individual•Optimal•Nutrition) Profile is a comprehensive combination of nutritional analyses that measures levels of fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, as well as organic acid markers of metabolic function, detoxification, and dysbiosis. Over time, nutritional inadequacies can result in a variety of chronic health conditions. The ION profile can help determine functional nutritional inadequacies due to poor dietary consumption or absorption. The blood chemistries have long been the standard in screening for pathological abnormalities. Chemistries in combination with the ION Profile can provide the most complete picture of a variety of health conditions.

Method

0090: LC/MS-MS, HPLC, UPLC, ICP/MS, GC/MS, Spectrophotometry, Chemiluminescence 0068: Spectrophotometry, Automated Chemistry

Turnaround time

12-18 days, 14 days average

Analytes

0090/0190 All analytes from the following profiles:
0011 Amino Acids 20 - Plasma
0022 Nutrient and Toxic Elements - RBC
0033 CoQ10 Plus Vitamins - Serum
0032 Vitamin D - Serum
0040 Fatty Acids - Plasma
0051 Lipid Peroxides - Serum
0091 Organic Acids - Urine
0093 Homocysteine - Plasma
0490/0590 All analytes from the above profiles less 0011 plus:
0010 Amino Acids 40 - Plasma

*Not available in New York

Specimen Collection Instructions

• ION-Pediatric-KI.pdf

Sample Reports Example of how test results will be reported, including reference ranges and graphs indicating high and low percentiles of each analyte.

• ION-Pediatric-SR.pdf

Interpretive Guides Information on individual analytes and possible patterns that may be indicated on your test results. Further supplement recommendations, diet modifications, and other treatment options may also be included to help guide your treatment.

• ION-IG.pdf

Patient Briefs

• ION-PB.pdf

If you do not have the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, download it here.

Articles

• What Are Organic Acids? - Organic acids are products of metabolism that can sensitively identify nutrient deficiencies that lead to metabolic roadblocks.
• Vitamin D: A Clinical Perspective - Although its primary role is to regulate calcium and phosphorus absorption/resorption to maintain bone health, the clinical significance of vitamin D is very broad. This article explains why vitamin D is so important to the body.
• Why Test for Coenzyme Q10? - This article illustrates that measuring both direct and indirect biomarkers of CoQ10 sufficiency in order to appropriately diagnose and treat patients, and to monitor CoQ10 administration, can markedly improve patient outcomes and prevent mitochondrial related disease.
• Assessment of Biochemical and Nutritional Individuality through Organic Acid Testing - Organic acid testing provides a broad view of many important bodily functions amenable to nutritional interventions. One urine sample can be used to evaluate dysbiosis, detoxification, and nervous system transmitter balance as well as multiple nutrient deficiencies.
• Significance of Low Plasma Homocysteine - Low plasma homocysteine is clinically relevant because multiple organ and system disturbances can result from limitation of sulfur compounds and methionine methyl donor functions.
• Significance of Urinary Tartaric Acid - Letter to the editor of Clinical Chemistry supporting the claim that urinary tartaric acid is not a valid measure of yeast overgrowth.
• Autistic Therapies Focused by Laboratory Data - This review focuses on laboratory evaluation of organic acidurias for revealing metabolic weaknesses in autism that may be responsive to aggressive nutritional, detoxification and gastrointestinal immune balancing interventions.
• Urinary Markers of Intestinal Yeast - Letter to the editor of Towsend Letter for Doctors and Patients gives the argument against the use of urinary arabinose for detection of invasive candidiasis and for the use of urinary D-arabinitol instead.
• Urinary Markers of Yeast Overgrowth - This paper presents a review of scientific reports of some urinary markers of yeast overgrowth.

Books

• Laboratory Evaluations for Integrative and Functional Medicine - Your evidence-based resource for the biochemical basis of chronic illness. A must-have desk reference for laboratory testing associated with nutritional and metabolic medicine.

Case Studies

• Fungal Overgrowth but not Invasive Candidiasis - This case is of a 46 year old female who was overweight and poor muscle tone. She presented herself originally for severe headaches of a chronic nature. They improved with pressure and with the use of prednisone. This issue began at age 25.
• Dysbiosis from Corticosteroid Use - The common assumption that prolonged courses of corticosteroid treatment can precipitate Candida yeast infections have never been so evident as in this case.
• Quinolinate Autism Disturbance - A four-year-old child regressed into autism after several infections and a reaction to the MMR vaccine. High levels of quinolinate were noticed in particular.
• D-Lactate Study Set - Seven cases illustrate a variety of other bacterial marker abnormalities when D-lactate is high. The patterns instruct about etiologies and intervention strategies.

Metabolic Pathways

• ION Profile Pattern Analysis - This pattern analysis is a useful interpretation guide for the popular ION (Individual Optimal Nutrition) profile. Includes five patterns: nutrient deficiencies, toxicants and detoxification, mitochondrial inefficiency, antioxidant insufficiency, and B-vitamin deficiency.

Podcasts

• Nutrition Intervention for Autism - Part III - Nutritional interventions have helped many children with ASD on their road to recovery and improved function. In this 3 part interview, Kara Fitzgerald, ND and Julie Matthews, CNC, discuss the common biochemical patterns seen in children with ASD.
• Nutrition Intervention for Autism - Part II - Nutritional interventions have helped many children with ASD on their road to recovery and improved function. In this 3 part interview, Kara Fitzgerald, ND and Julie Matthews, CNC, discuss the common biochemical patterns seen in children with ASD.
• Nutrition Intervention for Autism - Part I - Nutritional interventions have helped many children with ASD on their road to recovery and improved function. In this 3 part interview, Kara Fitzgerald, ND and Julie Matthews, CNC, discuss the common biochemical patterns seen in children with ASD.
• Autism and Laboratory Testing - April is the month where many organizations focus on raising awareness of autism, and Metametrix would like to contribute by generating awareness of the laboratory tests that can help to uncover metabolic factors that may be treated in each individual with this complex disease.

Presentations

• Why Test for Amino Acids? - The Amino Acid Plasma 20 test is reviewed by Dr. Redmond. Each category is explained and the reasons for highs and lows are discussed.
• IFM: The New Paradigm of Medicine - This PowerPoint presentation was developed by the Institute for Functional Medicine. It provides a concise explanation of the new paradigm of medicine that focuses on underlying causes of disease and treatment from that level rather treating symptoms alone, the approach often taken by modern medicine.
• Evaluating the Complex Patient with Organix Testing - Four cases are presented in this teleconference: an autistic child, a child with mitochondrial myopathy, an adult with depression and a professional athlete. Aspects of their organic acid tests are focused on.
• Patching the Leaky Gut: Evaluating Intestinal Microbial Burden using Organic Acids - Four cases using Organix testing: Lyme disease, regressive autism, chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia syndrome, Melnick-Needle
• Nourishing Hope: Nutrition Intervention for Autism Part I - Metabolic imbalances in autism and their many causes are discussed. The ION test is introduced as a tool for discovering these imbalances in autistic patients.
• Nourishing Hope: Nutrition Intervention for Autism Part II - Continuation of Julie Matthews first interview with Dr. Kara Fitzgerald. Metabolic imbalances in autism and their many causes are discussed.
• From Simple Headaches to Cancer: Assessing the Role of Toxic Burden in Disease - The detoxification markers of the Organix profile are discussed, along with five cases.
• Nourishing Hope: Nutrition Intervention for Autism Part III - Continuation of Julie Matthews second interview with Dr. Kara Fitzgerald. Metabolic imbalances in autism and their many causes are discussed.
• Evaluating Oxidative Stress in Chronic Degenerative Conditions: From Autism to Aging - Oxidative stress markers are discussed. Oxidative stress is explained and four cases are presented.
• Evaluating B Vitamin Status in Autism - The B vitamin markers of the Organix test are discussed and their relation to autism. Two autism cases are also discussed.
• Evaluating Neurotransmitter Status in Neuropsychological and Physiological Complaints - Neurotransmitter markers in the Organix test are discussed along with five cases.
• Evaluating Mitochondrial Function and Disease: Managing the Fatigued Patient - The mitochondrial function markers of the Organix test are discussed. Deficiency markers are explained, as well as the supplements used to correct the deficiencies.