Solving Your Health Mysteries Through Metabolic Testing: Is It For You or Your Child?
By Sally Nay, PhD

It is tough when you feel poorly and have little energy most of the time, yet no doctor you have seen thus far, and no test you have had thus far, has shown what is wrong. There is still help out there for those discouraged individuals. It is called metabolic testing, and it is designed to find nutritional deficiencies in the body that may predispose a person to lack of energy, brain dysfunction, inadequate digestive processes, food sensitivities, as well as problems caused by lack of proper detoxification. In addition, metabolic testing can show if a person is able to fight free radical production or whether they may need supplementation to assist them.

This type of testing is not designed to replace your doctor’s testing for overt disease. Just as doctors might use a serum chemistry to establish a diagnostic baseline, a single urine specimen provides important metabolic information. In addition, two blood spot tests give the person a Fatty Acid Profile and an IgG Food Antibody Profile. There is no blood draw necessary.

Case Study #1: 39-Year-Old Female
The following is an example of an adult female, we’ll call her “Jane,” who complained of extreme fatigue, problems with her weight, and constipation and bloating. She also reported experiencing PMS, cravings for sweets, stiffness in the fingers, and had weak chipping fingernails.

The results from her metabolic profile indicated a severe B-vitamin insufficiency, especially Folate, B6, and B12, low Omega-3 fatty acids, and food sensitivities to dairy and wheat.

Based on these findings, Jane made several changes in her diet. She eliminated wheat and dairy products, reduced her intake of simple sugars, and cut down on fried foods and red meat. She increased the amount of organic vegetables and fruits she was eating, especially dark colored berries and incorporated whole, non-wheat grains and fresh low-mercury fish into her diet. Supplementation included B-Complex, Omega-3s and nutritional preparations to repair the gut and help decrease sugar cravings. Jane also added a cardiovascular and weight training regimen to her schedule several days a week.

After one week, Jane reported that the food changes were overwhelming and she expressed concern that she would not be able to do the program. However, after only three days off the dairy and wheat, she had her first normal bowel movement in years and the bloating was 80% better. She also noticed improved sleep.

After three months, Jane’s follow-up metabolic profile revealed that she was doing great from a biological perspective, and she reported feeling much better physically. She experienced a decrease in PMS symptoms and her lipid levels, which were tested at the same time as the follow-up test, showed that her LDL was 20 points lower.

Case Study #2: Four-Year-Old Child
Another interesting case was that of Tim, a four-year-old child whose chief complaints were a rash on his abdomen, bed-wetting, and an inability to sleep through the night. His parents were also concerned about his anger, hyperactivity, and anti-social behavior. Tim had been diagnosed with ADHD and prescribed Ritalin, but his parents refused to use the medication. He had been treated for eczema with steroids in the past. For sinusitis, he had been treated with antibiotics.

The results of the metabolic profile indicated that Tim was deficient in several B vitamins. His cellular energy test showed a need for amino acid supplementation. His neuronal functioning showed a need for amino acids and 5 HTP, a serotonin precursor. Tim’s test showed high indications of overgrowth of unfavorable bacteria. He was low in Omega-3 fatty acids and had severe reactions to egg, milk, pinto beans, strawberries, walnuts, and wheat. He showed moderate reactions to almonds and corn.

Based on the information from his test, Tim received B-Complex and Omega-3 Fish Oil. Tim’s parents helped him eliminate all foods showing severe and moderate reactions on the test, and rotated all mild and non-reactive foods. Tim also began taking amino acids, and an anti-microbial supplement.

Upon retesting three months later, Tim showed improvement in most areas. His mother reported a dramatic improvement in behavior. “My son is sleeping through the night, has stopped wetting the bed, and has started telling jokes. He seems happier. He used to have terrible tantrums, and he no longer does!” Some adjustments were made to Tim’s supplementation regimen after testing. Probiotics and a multivitamin/mineral were added and he continues to do well.

While these case studies represent just two examples of individuals who benefited from metabolic profile testing, it is easy to see how this type of assessment along with customized nutrition can help many of us improve our health and well-being.

Dr. Sally Nay holds a PhD in Holistic Nutrition and provides wellness services at Integrative Therapies in Greensboro, NC. A Holistic Parenting Group Meeting is also held at the facility, the third Thursday evening of each month. Sally can be reached at 336.294.0910 or drsallynay@triad.rr.com.