Lab Tests

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Micronutrient Testing

SpectraCell’s Micronutrient test provides the most comprehensive nutritional analysis available by measuring functional deficiencies at the cellular level. It is an assessment of how well the body utilizes 31 vitamins, minerals, amino/fatty acids, antioxidants, and metabolites, while conveying the body’s need for these micronutrients that enable the body to produce enzymes, hormones, and other substances essential for proper growth, development, and good health. Repletion recommendations are made based on need.

Why is nutrient status important?

Virtually all metabolic and developmental processes that take place in the body require micronutrients, and strong evidence suggests that subtle vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant deficiencies can contribute to degenerative processes such as arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Evaluating micronutrient status can therefore be the first step in identifying metabolic inadequacies while shedding light on the possible underlying causes of complex chronic conditions.

Unlike static serum measurements, which only assess the concentration of nutrients present outside of the cell (extracellular) and only provide a glimpse of your health, SpectraCell’s Micronutrient test is a long term assessment (4-6 months) that addresses the functional impact (performance) of micronutrients—what really matters.

Micronutrient test includes the following:

VITAMINS
Vitamin A
Vitamin B1
Vitamin B2
Vitamin B3
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B12
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Vitamin K
Biotin
Folate
Pantothenate

MINERALS
Calcium
Magnesium
Zinc
Copper
Manganese
Chromium

AMINO ACIDS
Asparagine
Glutamine
Serine

ANTIOXIDANTS
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Coenzyme Q10
Cysteine
Glutathione
Selenium
Vitamin E

CARBOHYDRATE MATABOLISM
Fructose Sensitivity
Glucose-Insulin Interaction

FATTY ACIDS
Oleic Acid

METABOLITES
Choline
Inositol
Carnitine

Telemere Testing

Telomeres are sections of genetic material that form a protective cap at the end of each chromosome in every cell of the body. When a cell divides, the telomere gets a tiny bit shorter, until there is no more telomere left to protect DNA from “unraveling,” and the cell dies. Cellular death causes the body to age, thus making telomeres a novel biomarker for biological age. The longer one’s telomeres, the younger one’s biological age. Moreover, the rate at which telomeres shorten is accelerated by inflammation, oxidative stress, nutritional deficiencies, genetic pre-disposition, and other lifestyle habits. Telomere shortening, when expedited, contributes to cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, and cancers.

MTHFR Testing

Methylation refers to the biochemical pathway in which methyl groups (one carbon and three hydrogen atoms) are added to molecules. Because it is involved in nearly all of the body’s functions, it contributes to countless biological processes including:

  • Detoxification
  • Energy production
  • Genetic expression/DNA repair
  • Inflammatory, immune, and stress response
  • Neurotransmitter balance
  • Production and recycling of glutathione

An inability to methylate properly can disrupt any of these processes, ultimately compromising one’s health as the body is not able to effectively respond due to the shortage of methyl groups. Impaired detoxification, cardiovascular disease, neurological problems, and weakened immune functioning in general, are some conditions linked to under methylation