Ten Reasons Nutritional Testing is Important to Your Health
Nutritional Testing is an important part of a complete health care program. Medical research published in numerous peer-reviewed journals has scientifically documented the vital role that essential nutrients play in achieving and maintaining good health, and in preventing or treating many serious diseases. Some diseases that have been scientifically linked to nutrient imbalances include arthritis, Parkinson's, alcoholism/ substance abuse, behavioral disorders, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic fatigue, macular degeneration, diabetes, immune disorders, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and osteoporosis.
Nutrient deficiencies are common, in fact 90% of people are deficient and 50% of those are already taking supplements.
Vitamins deficiencies contribute to common degenerative diseases like heart disease, stroke, cancer and Alzheimer’s.
Many prescription medications can cause nutrient depletions.
Having a strong antioxidant defense system protects you against heart disease, cancer and other chronic conditions
There can be too much of a “good thing” – too many antioxidants can be harmful. The only way to know what you need is to be tested.
Simply taking a multivitamin may not be enough to meet your nutritional needs.
You might be over supplementing with unnecessary vitamins, minerals or antioxidants. Too much can be harmful.
Aging can be caused by a lack of nutrients.
Having healthy cells promotes strong immune function and optimal health for a lifetime.
Your doctor thinks it is medically necessary for a comprehensive health care program.
Uses active peripheral lymphocytes instead of serum
Measures the end point of DNA synthesis
Reflects nutrient status over the last 4-8 months
Measures how micronutrients and antioxidants are actually functioning in the white blood cells
Reflects total metabolic function rather than isolated biochemical pathways
Demonstrates the intracellular function of micronutrients simultaneously
Gives physicians ability to tailor treatment plans to each patient’s specific requirements rather than to “norms”
Testing Lymphocytes
Provides a more accurate measurement of long term functional nutritional levels
Are host to cell-mediated immune system
Possesses metabolic pathways common to other cells
Contains nucleus which permits rapid DNA synthesis and cell growth
Measures DNA synthesis and cell growth
Are easily available in large numbers from a standard blood draw
Indicates if nutrients are being absorbed and functioning properly
Clinical Applications
Noting nutritional risk factors and treating their causes can contribute to the arrest or prevention of many degenerative conditions
Patients derive significant benefits
Measuring and correcting vitamin deficiencies are essential for patients concerned with wellness, anti-aging
FIAä provides important baseline tests to identify deficiencies
Measuring Functional Levels
Allows physicians to get more sensitive nutritional reading
Provides long term status, not just an immediate snapshot
Determines if the nutrient is being absorbed and functioning properly on the cellular level
Tests for B6, B12, Folate & Homocysteine
Gives the physicians an overall informative cardiovascular program, not just a lab number
Combines FIAä and HPLC methodology for Homocysteine
Examines the cellular function of each individual to find out what is needed to fix the homocysteine problem and reduce risk, cardiovascular disease and stroke
SpectroxTM - Antioxidant Testing
Percentage gives a total antioxidant measurement, not just one or two specific values
Measures ability of cells to withstand attack from free radicals and other oxidative stress (antioxidant reserve)
Allows for early intervention to correct deficiencies and promote health
Plays role in prevention and clinical treatment of a large variety of disease modalities
History of FIATM Test Development & Rational for Lymphocytes
In the 1980’s Dr. William Shive, a biochemist and researcher in the field of nutrition at the University of Texas, Austin, realized that serum tests for many vitamins and minerals did not adequately reflect the biological efficacy or functionality of these nutrients within the body. Serum levels of nutrients were felt to inadequately reflect the true state of a person’s nutrition for the following reasons:
Serum measurements are transient – they represent a snapshot rather than a history of nutrient intake.
Serum measurements are heavily influenced by a patient’s recent nutrition – thus, a temporary change in diet prior to the test can present a skewed view of the patient’s normal nutrient intake.
Serum levels may not reflect intracellular nutrient status. Patients may have biochemical differences with respect to transport of different nutrients from their blood into their cells. For example, two patients may show similar serum measurements for folic acid, but may differ with respect to the capacity of their cells to take up folic acid. Thus, one patient would have a functional deficiency of folic acid that would not be revealed by serum measurements.
In an effort to overcome the above deficiencies inherent in serum determinations, Dr. Shive invented a test that could reveal the function of a specific accumulated nutrient within human cells. Moreover, the test could be applied to a wide variety of nutritional supplements. The first step in the development of this test was identification of appropriate cells to use for the functional assays. Dr. Shive chose lymphocytes for the following reasons:
Lymphocytes are readily available. Sufficient numbers can be obtained by venipuncture, are easily isolated from other components of the blood, and can be maintained in culture from a matter of days to weeks.
Dr. Shive was able to develop a fully defined chemical medium that would support the growth of human lymphocytes in culture without need for addition of undefined sera or even of growth hormones, components needed in almost all other types of cell culture.
The availability of a fully defend growth medium is essential to analysis of uptake and function of micronutrients in a given cell population because results obtained can be attributed solely to the nutrient being analyzed without concern about undefined medium components influencing the results.
The majority of lymphocytes obtained by venipuncture are in a resting state in terms of cell division. Since lymphocytes have a life span of months to years, the levels of individual nutrients accumulated in these lymphocytes represents a history of the patient’s nutrient status over the life span of the lymphocytes. This situation is analogous to the use of HbA1c measurements for approximation of a diabetic patient’s glucose levels over the months preceding the test. Thus, lymphocytes provide a history rather than just a snapshot of nutrient intake.
Resting lymphocytes can be stimulated by a lymphocyte-specific mitogen to undergo cell division and grow in culture. The degree of growth the lymphocytes can maintain is directly related to the nutrients they have available. Thus, the SpectraCell FIATM test provides a functional analysis of nutrient levels accumulated in human lymphocytes over their resting life span.
The above combination of properties are unique to lymphocytes. The FIATM test could not be similarly carried out with any other type of human cell.
