Metabolomix+: A Non-Invasive Personalized Nutritional Assessment

The Metabolomix+ is a unique combination of nutritional tests that provides an analysis of key nutritional biomarkers. A first morning void (FMV) urine collection, with optional add-on bloodspot finger stick and buccal swab, the Metabolomix+ nutritional test is a non-invasive, patient-friendly way to assess the functional need for antioxidants, B-vitamins, minerals, digestive support, fatty acids, and amino acids. Insights gained from the Metabolomix+ nutritional test allows clinicians to target nutritional therapies to meet the precise needs of their patients.

Which patients might benefit from functional nutritional testing?

Common clinical indications for testing include:

• Mood disorders^1,2
• Mitochondrial dysfunction³
• Fatigue⁴
• Chronic stress⁵
• Inflammation⁶

Several diseases are associated with abnormal organic acid, amino acid, and fatty acid levels such as depression, anxiety, cardiovascular disease, neurocognitive decline, diabetes, cancer, anorexia, and many others.^7,8,9,10

About the Metabolomix+ Profile

The Metabolomix+ Profile report categorizes results into several metabolic areas (see sample report for individual analytes):

• Personalized Results Overview and Nutrient Need Overview
  • Functional Imbalance Scores in areas of methylation, toxic exposure, mitochondrial dysfunction, fatty acid imbalances, and oxidative stress
  • Nutrient Need Overview with recommendations for antioxidants, B-vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, GI support, and amino acids
  • Interpretation-At-A-Glance pages provide nutritional educational support for you and your patient highlighting the function of each nutrient, cause of deficiency, complications of deficiency and food sources of the nutrient
• Organic Acids (urine)
  • Malabsorption and Bacterial/ Yeast Dysbiosis Markers are metabolites produced by the gastrointestinal microbiome
  • Cellular Energy & Mitochondrial Metabolites are biomarkers of carbohydrate and fatty acid metabolism, and the citric acid (Kreb’s) cycle
  • Neurotransmitter Metabolites are downstream byproducts of epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine
  • Vitamin Markers are specific analytes used to assess functional levels of vitamin cofactors
  • Toxin & Detoxification Markers relate to certain toxic metabolites and the body’s detoxification capacity
  • Oxalate Markers relate to kidney stone formation, oxidative stress and metabolic dysfunction
• Amino Acids (urine)
  • Essential Amino Acids must be derived from dietary sources
  • Nonessential Amino Acids are synthesized by the body
  • Intermediary Metabolites are byproducts of amino acid metabolism
    • B Vitamin Markers are involved in biochemical reactions that specifically require B vitamins
    • Urea Cycle Markers are byproducts associated with nitrogen (ammonia) detoxification
    • Glycine/Serine Metabolites are involved in the serine-to-choline pathway and the methylation pathways
  • Dietary Peptide Related Markers can indicate incomplete protein breakdown and meat intake
• Oxidative Stress Markers (urine) include the oxidative damage markers lipid peroxides and 8-OHdG

+ COMPONENTS

• Add-on Essential and Metabolic Fatty Acids Markers (Bloodspot- whole blood)
  • Omega 3 Fatty Acids are essential for brain function and cardiovascular health and are anti-inflammatory
  • Omega 6 Fatty Acids are involved in the balance of inflammation
  • Omega 9 Fatty Acids are important for brain growth, nerve cell myelin, and reducing inflammation
  • Saturated Fatty Acids are involved in liproprotein metabolism and adipose tissue inflammation
  • Monounsaturated Fats include omega 7 fats and unhealthy trans fats
  • Delta-6 Desaturase Activity assesses efficiency of this enzyme to metabolize omega 6’s and omega 3’s
  • Cardiovascular Risk includes specific ratios and the Omega 3 Index
• Add-on Nutrient and Toxic Elements (urine)  assesses 20 toxic and 15 mineral elements
• Add-on SNPs (buccal swab) include MTHFR, COMT, TNF-a, and APOE

What is a functional nutritional assessment?

Genova’s unique approach to nutritional testing begins by assessing our body’s biochemical pathways. Marked accumulation of organic acids in urine can signal 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. 

Enzymes that are responsible for metabolizing organic acids are vitamin and mineral dependent. With this, elevations in organic acids can reflect a functional need for these nutrients on a cellular and biochemical level, even despite normal serum levels.^{11,12,13,14,15} Recommendations for nutrient supplementation based on elevated organic acid results are generated using a literature-based proprietary algorithm.

Traditionally, urinary organic acid assessment has been used in neonatal/pediatric medicine to identify genetic inborn errors of metabolism, with severity depending on the degree and type of error.* In many cases of genetic inborn errors, the enzymatic defect may be compensated for by high doses of specific vitamin and mineral cofactors and/or dietary interventions. Intervention with higher-dose nutrient cofactors may also be effective in cases of decreased enzyme activity due to causes other than frank inborn errors. 

* Genova’s organic acid testing is not intended for the diagnosis of neonatal inborn errors of metabolism.