Organix Comprehensive Profile - Urine

Since 1992, Metametrix has offered the Organix Profile, a complete quantitative organic acids test. The Organix provides a view into the body's cellular metabolic processes and the efficiency of metabolic function. Identifying metabolic blocks or problems with detoxification, gut dysbiosis, or oxidative stress that can be treated nutritionally allows for individual tailoring of interventions. Targeted treatment can help maximize patient responses and lead to improved patient outcomes.

Advantages of the Organix Comprehensive Profile

• Extensive Analyte List - The Organix Comprehensive contains one of the most extensive analyte lists in the industry. Including markers such as Quinolinate, D-Arabinitol, and 8-Hydroxy-2'deoxyguanosine, the Organix offers great value.
• Innovative Method - The LC/MS-MS method, which is also used to screen newborns for metabolic disorders, requires very little sample preparation and processing. This technology provides more stability, accuracy, and sensitivity in measuring organic acids at low levels for optimum test results.
• Single Urine Specimen - A single overnight urine collection is easy for patients, leading to increased patient compliance.

Why use an organic acid test?

Organic acids are metabolic intermediates produced in pathways of central energy production, detoxification, neurotransmitter breakdown, and intestinal microbial activity. Accumulation of specific organic acids in urine often signals a metabolic inhibition or block. This abnormality may be due to a nutrient deficiency, an inherited enzyme deficit, toxic build-up, or drug effect. Testing for organic acids helps reveal activity and changes at the metabolic level, helping practitioners discover hidden issues and pinpoint where therapeutic focus is needed.

The Organix Profile provides important information in the areas of:

• Vitamin and mineral insufficiencies
• Amino acid insufficiencies like carnitine and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC)
• Oxidative damage and antioxidant sufficiency markers
• Indicators to assess detoxification sufficiency
• The best functional markers of B-complex deficiency
• Neurotransmitter metabolites to assess central nervous system (CNS)  function
• Mitochondrial energy production assessment via citric acid cycle components
• Methylation sufficiency status
• Lipoic acid and CoQ10 sufficiency markers
• Specific dysbiosis markers for bacterial and yeast overgrowth

The Organix Profiles can provide important information for treating certain conditions, including:

Test name(s)

0091 - Organix Comprehensive Profile
0391 Organix Comprehensive Profile NY

Description

The Organix Comprehensive Profile provides a view into the body's cellular metabolic processes and the efficiency of metabolic function. Identifying metabolic blocks that can be treated nutritionally allows individual tailoring of interventions that maximize patient responses and lead to improved patient outcomes. Organic acids are metabolic intermediates that are produced in pathways of central energy production, detoxification, neurotransmitter breakdown, or intestinal microbial activity. Marked accumulation of specific organic acids detected in urine often signals a metabolic inhibition or block. The metabolic block may be due to a nutrient deficiency, an inherited enzyme deficit, toxic build-up or drug effect. Several of the analytes are markers of intestinal bacterial or yeast overgrowth.

Method

LC/MS-MS Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Turnaround time

8-14 days, 12 days average

Analytes

FATTY ACID METABOLISM
Adipate
Suberate
Ethylmalonate

CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM
Pyruvate
L-Lactate*
Beta-Hydroxybutyrate

ENERGY PRODUCTION (CITRIC ACID CYCLE)
Citrate
cis-Aconitate
Isocitrate
Alpha-Ketoglutarate
Succinate
Fumarate
Malate
Hydroxymethylglutarate

B-COMPLEX VITAMIN MARKERS
Alpha-Ketoisovalerate
Alpha-Ketoisocaproate
Alpha-Keto-Beta-Methylvalerate
Xanthurenate
Beta-Hydroxyisovalerate

METHYLATION COFACTOR MARKERS
Methylmalonate
Formiminoglutamate

NEUROTRANSMITTER METABOLISM MARKERS
Vanilmandelate
Homvanillate
5-hydroxyindoleacetate
Kynurenate
Quinolinate
Picolinate*

OXIDATIVE DAMAGE AND ANTIOXIDANT MARKERS

p-Hydroxyphenyllactate
8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine*

DETOXIFICATON INDICATORS
2-Methylhippurate
Orotate
Glucarate
Alpha-Hydroxybutyrate
Pyroglutamate
Sulfate

BACTERIAL-GENERAL
Benzoate
Hippurate
Phenylacetate
Phenylpropionate
p-Hydroxybenzoate
p-Hydroxyphenylacetate
Indican
Tricarballylate

L.ACIDOPHILUS/GENERAL BACTERIA
D-Lactate*

CLOSTRIDIAL SPECIES
3,4 Dihydroxyphenylpropionate

YEAST/FUNGAL
D-Arabinitol*

Creatinine

*Not available in New York

Specimen Collection Instructions

• Organix-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.

• Organix-Comprehensive-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.

• Organix-Comprehensive-IG.pdf

Patient Briefs

• Organix-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.
• Important Markers of Neurological Inflammation: Kynurenate & Quinolinate - The kynurenine (KYN) pathway is a major route of L-tryptophan catabolism and operates as a mechanism of defense against intracellular pathogens and as a mediator of stress response signals to the brain.
• Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Disease - This article examines the structure and function of mitochondria, details the mechanisms by which acquired mitochondrial dysfunction can create a wide range of symptoms and provides a rational approach to treatment.
• 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 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

• High 2-methylhippurate and Low Sulfate - Xylene exposure found in elevated levels of 2-methylhippurate and low levels of sulfate.
• The TRIAD Profile in Depression and Migraine Headache: A Case Study - Standard medical treatments for major depressive disorder and migraine headache are only partially effective. Clinical improvement requires correction of underlying metabolic difficulties. This case illustrates the power of multiple markers to focus on key metabolic issues.
• 8-Year Multiple Sensitivity, Oxidative Stress - Multiple abnormalities in a woman with multiple sensitivities.
• Follow up with Autistic Child - Following an autistic child though testing over two and a half years.
• Probiotic Sensitivity - Profound elevation of 5-HIA suggest a bowel-specific serotonin syndrome that is producing a hypersensitivity to changes in the bacterial colonies of the gut.
• 8-Year Pizza-Yeast Connection - Case of severe yeast overgrowth due to overconsumption of high carbohydrate food.
• 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.
• Congenital Hypotonia - Evidence of profound mitochondrial oxidation lesions are seen in this infant with breathing difficulties.
• 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.
• Biotin & Detoxification Needs in Cognitively Delayed Adult - Biotin deficiency may be linked to hyperlipidemia and up-regulated fatty acid desaturation in this mildly psychotic man.
• Ice-in-veins 5HTP Aberrations - Specific points of metabolic aberrations appear in a man using high doses of 5-hydroxytryptophan for sleep.
• Extreme Arabinitol - Extreme elevation of D-arabinitol presents an potential explanation of otherwise unexplained and unusual chronic symptoms.
• Yeast - Nitric Oxide Pattern - A possible case of autism and several metabolic markers that can be improved.
• Prader-Willi-2 - Mitochondrial distress with oxidative stress and extreme glutathione up-regulation is exacerbated by glycine conjugation insufficiency and intestinal bacterial overgrowth.
• Prader-Willi 1 - A series of Organix reports shows the nature of this genetic abnormality as numerous, severe, and persistent metabolic disturbances.
• Philadelphia Chromosome - When follow up testing looks much worse while a young leukemia patient is improving, multiple factors are at play. Underlying dysbiosis and glutathione issues are involved in this case.
• 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.
• High Amino Developmental Delay - A combination of environmental, nutritional, and genetic metabolic weaknesses were found as potential causative factors in the failure of neurological development for this 2 year-old girl. Vitamin B6 insufficiency, arsenic exposure, and intestinal dysbiosis are key features in the initial laboratory workup.
• Antibiotic-induced D-lactic Aciduria - Supplementation with L. acidophillus in a child with carbohydrate absorption difficulties can produce an encephalopathic syndrome associated with D-lactic acidemia. Testing shown in this case spans over the interval of time where urinary D-lactate was added to the Organix report.
• Huntington's Disease - Curious fatty acid desaturation patterns are found as a major feature of mild abnormalities found in this progressive neurodegenerative disease.
• Adrenal Stress – Biotin Pattern - Interesting combination of test markers link cortisol level to biotin deficiency and small bowel bacterial overgrowth.

Metabolic Pathways

• Citric Acid Cycle - Markers of Coenzyme Q10 Synthesis and Function Elevation of organic acids in urine can reveal inhibition of the coenzyme Q10 biosynthetic pathway (A) or interruptions of the electron transport system (B) from inability to sustain adequate CoQ10 levels in the inner mitochondrial membrane.

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.
• Gut-Brain Connection: An Inside Look at Depression - During a recent Metametrix sponsored breakfast at the IFM Symposium in Hollywood, Florida, Dr. Todd LePine gave a compelling presentation entitled the Gut-Brain Connection: An Inside Look at Depression.
• Naturopathic Approaches to Pain Patients - In this edition of Clinician’s Corner, Dr. Kara Fitzgerald, ND shares her clinical tools and treatments that have resulted in remarkable improvement for patients who had otherwise given up all hope of getting better.
• How do toxins affect mitochondria? - Part 3 - In this third installment of my conversation with Dr. Walter Crinnion, we consider the function of the mitochondria, those “cellular power plants” that provide most of our cell’s supply of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
• Immunotoxicity - First to the party - Part 4 - We take a deeper look into how toxins affect the immune system this week. Dr. Crinnion says immunotoxicity is usually the first problem that shows up in a person’s history, typically manifesting itself as allergies or asthma...
• Hey Fathead, your brain is an easy target for toxins - Part 5 - The brain is one of the largest fatty organs in our body. Dr. Crinnion says that many environmental toxins are fat-soluble and easily pass the blood/brain barrier.
• Who’s your mama? Is your generation at risk? - Part 6 - The endocrine system is another major target of environmental compounds. Did you know this system directly affects fertility and reproduction? Dr. Crinnion shares a story about the result of persistent, man-made chemicals being transfered from across generations...
• Which test is best? - Part 7 - With so many tests available to clinicians, it can be overwhelming for them to determine which one is the best for their patients. In this podcast, Dr. Crinnion gives his suggestions on testing for toxic exposure.
• 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.
• Finding Pieces of the Puzzle - An interview with Dr. Todd LePine, board certified in Internal Medicine with advanced training and experience in Integrative Functional Medicine.

Presentations

• Evaluating Environmental Effects on the Body's Biochemistry and Cancer - This presentation explores the impact of environmental toxins on the body's metabolism. There are over 80,000 chemicals on the market that we are exposed to, with the added insult of combined exposures being more toxic to the body. Metametrix testing is explored and various analytes are explained as markers for toxicity.
• Building the Organix Profile Into Clinical Practice - An educational module for users of the Metametrix Urinary Organic Acid (Organix) Profile. Covers the 7 steps of an Organix evaluation.
• 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.
• Laboratory Markers of Toxins and Detoxification - PowerPoint presentation on the detection of toxic burden in the body.
• Functional Nutritional Assessment Using Organic Acid Analysis - Dr. Bralley briefly discusses what organic acids are and the importance of organic acid analysis. Additionally, Dr. Bralley discusses how they can play a key role in improving patient's health in a clinical practice.
• Combining Organix (Dysbiosis) and GI Effects Profiles - Richard Lord and Kara Fitzgerald discuss five cases demonstrating how two different testing areas, gastrointestinal and organic acid profiles, can be used together to diagnose a patient.
• 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 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.
• Wellness Hour - Dr. Bralley Interview - Dr. J. Alexander Bralley participates in an interview with Randy Alvarez of The Wellness Hour, the leader in health news and information. This interview takes place at the 2005 IFM International Symposium in California. View this video from Dr. Bralley as he discusses who Metametrix is and the testing services provided.

References

• Organix References