Functional Health Testing: A Pathway to Optimal Health

Functional testing is focused on investigating and determining the underlying and contributing causes of health imbalances and health conditions. Functional tests are laboratory tests that address the functions of the various systems of the body. They are designed to determine what metabolic and biochemical imbalances exist that could determine the potential for health as well as for possible health conditions.

The testing can cover such areas of health as the liver detoxification pathways, heavy metals, and toxin overload, adrenal health, reproductive hormone health, digestive health, vitamin and mineral status, presence of pathogens, absorption of nutrients, thyroid health, immune health, and much more.

The tests are designed to test for functionality and not pathology. The tests are not used to determine what’s medically problematic but to determine what can be treated nutritionally and what imbalances are present upon which to develop customized nutrition and lifestyle programs.

Functional tests use saliva, urine, stool, and blood to provide information to improve health status.

WHY FUNCTIONAL TESTS?

To evaluate function vs. pathology
Test to see how the body is functioning from a more optimal perspective.
Tests for the underlying root of the health issue or underlying imbalances that keep a person experiencing symptoms that are not resolving.
Allows for developing a nutrition and lifestyle program that optimizes health potential.
Catch metabolic vicious cycles before they become a problem.
Allows the health practitioner to identify more objectively what is contributing to health imbalances.
The testing may provide a sense of relief for the person who has been told that there is nothing wrong with them, even if they are experiencing symptoms.

TESTING METHODS

Saliva is particularly effective for testing the status of adrenal and reproductive hormones. Saliva contains the free fraction state of adrenal and reproductive hormones, which reflect the tissue levels of these hormones. Testing these hormones in blood only reflects what is bound up in a protein carrier in the blood. In order for the cells to receive the action of the hormones, the protein carrier is released, and the hormones are then “freed” to act upon the hormone receptors in the cells. Saliva reflects what the tissues are actually receiving. Thus, they are called free fraction hormones. Free fractions in saliva associate more faithfully with clinical symptoms.

The primary stool test is for digestive health. The laboratory looks for the amount and types of healthy bacteria, absorption of nutrients, and the presence of pathogens.

Mycotoxin Urine Profile

31 types of mycotoxins released from mold in foods, environment, water-damaged buildings, houses, workplaces

Organic Acids Test (OATS)

Urine by-products of cellular metabolism which identify nutrient deficiencies, detox capacity, gut dysbiosis, energy production and more.

Blood testing, primarily serum testing, is a valuable tool for determining heart health, thyroid health, immune status, inflammation, blood sugar management, food allergies and sensitivities, iron status, blood health, and nutrient absorption. There are scientifically determined functional or optimum health ranges that guide us in choosing diets, lifestyles, and nutritional support. The serum readings may be outside of the optimum health ranges but still within the medical ranges. When they are outside of the optimum health ranges, then a functional imbalance is present. True prevention of further health issues can occur if changes can be made that impact healthy shifts of function to a more optimum reading.

At Universal Wellness Associates, we provide a comprehensive functional analysis of standard blood chemistry panels. Our goal is to assess for any nutritional imbalances so that we can personalize your nutrition program to move you toward optimal health.

These are specialized blood tests to identify delayed food reactions that are hard to determine from conventional allergy testing. When food sensitivities are present, there could be a multitude of symptoms that are not usually recognized as being caused by food reactions – depression, anxiety, ADD, skin eruptions and rashes, headaches, sinus issues, unresolved digestive issues, joint pain, fibromyalgia, and other inflammatory conditions.

Array 3: This array is an IgG/IgA antibody test for celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity, including the different epitopes of wheat and similar grains – gluteomorphin, glutenin, deamidated gliadin, et al.

Array 4: This array tests for those foods that are similar to gluten/gliadin and creates immune confusion in which the immune system mistakes these foods for the gluten/gliadin molecule.

Array 10: This array tests 180 different types of foods, both raw and cooked, as well as spices and gums.

Vibrant Wellness Wheat Zoomer

Gluten sensitivity and celiac markers, intestinal permeability, other gliadin/gluten proteins and more

Other Food Zoomers: Corn, Dairy, Eggs, Legumes and more

ADRENAL STRESS PROFILE

Adrenal Stress Profile (saliva)

This is a matrix of tests designed to evaluate adrenal hormone status. Because symptoms associated with adrenal dysfunction overlap with those found in other areas of health, and because adrenal function is directly correlated with so many other important body systems, it is important to address adrenal insufficiency.

This is a measure of levels of cortisol throughout the day and the levels of DHEA. Saliva samples are taken at specific times throughout the day that target the circadian rhythm patterns of adrenal hormone output. This test will evaluate if there is any indication of adrenal dysfunction and, if so, what is the level of adrenal dysfunction.

Because the symptoms associated with adrenal dysfunction overlap with those found in other diseases, and because adrenal function is directly correlated with so many other important body systems, it is important to address adrenal insufficiency as an underlying factor in many health conditions and maintain a healthy adrenal status. This allows us to more specifically target dietary recommendations and nutritional therapy.

Symptoms of adrenal imbalances may include the following:

Insomnia – either difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
Afternoon fatigue
Wake up feeling tired in the morning
Overwhelmed easily by stress
Salt cravings
Weight gain
Perspire easily
Dizziness when standing up quickly
Muscle weakness
Depression and/or anxiety
Memory loss
Blood sugar regulation imbalances
Low energy
Some of the conditions impacted by adrenal imbalances include:
Autoimmune conditions
Chronic fatigue
Diabetes
Arthritis
Heart Disease
Reproductive issues
Gastrointestinal and digestive issues
PMS
Menopause symptoms

AUTOIMMUNE

Autoimmune conditions are among the most prevalent chronic health issues in the U.S., and 75% of those are women. The reality is that the immune system can target any organ, tissue, or gland in the body.

The symptoms can appear up to twelve years or more prior to a diagnosis. The most common autoimmune condition is autoimmune thyroiditis. If you have already been diagnosed as hypothyroid (low thyroid function), there is up to a 90% chance that you have an autoimmune condition. You are prescribed medication but may still have symptoms.

In our Comprehensive Bio-Screen blood profile, we run at least nine thyroid markers, including the autoimmune antibodies. Undertaking a nutrition, diet, and lifestyle program provides the most hope for improving your condition. Since there are many hormonal, stress, immune, and dietary triggers that can lead to and exacerbate any autoimmune condition, we assess each aspect of your health along with identifying the triggers to be addressed as well. Triggers such as gluten grains, dairy, infection, digestive health, blood sugar imbalances, stressors, toxicity, other food reactions, and inflammation from other metabolic issues are all taken into consideration when designing your customized diet, nutrition, and lifestyle program.

Array 5 Multiple Autoimmune Reactivity Screen

This is a blood test that measures IgA+IgM antibodies to various tissues, organs, and enzymes in the body. It is predictive of possible autoimmune reactivity prior to the diagnosis of various autoimmune diseases.

Research shows that these antibodies may be present up to 12 years prior to a diagnosis. This allows the health professional to recommend dietary and lifestyle changes to lower the immune reactivity and alter the possible potential for autoimmune disease.

It can also help to identify those tissues and organs that are potential targets for autoimmune antibodies, such as the pancreatic islet cells in Type I Diabetes or the Myelin Basic Protein in multiple sclerosis, along with Ovarian antibodies in premature ovarian failure. This screen consists of twenty-five different target tissues.

FEMALE HORMONE PANEL

Female Hormone Panel (Cycling Women) (Saliva)

The Female Hormone Panel is a mapping of the free fraction levels of estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and the pituitary hormones LH and FSH throughout one monthly cycle.

Saliva samples are taken every three days, and a full evaluation of the hormone output throughout the cycle helps to evaluate hormone status as it relates to female hormone issues such as PMS, perimenopause, infertility, fibroids, endometriosis, migraines, and PCOS.

FEMALE HORMONE PANEL (POST MENOPAUSE) (SALIVA)

This test measures the levels of the female hormones estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and the pituitary hormones LH and FSH in menopausal and post-menopausal women.

This test is used to evaluate hormone status for those women with hormone-related issues such as menopause symptoms, including hot flashes, low energy, depression, low libido, memory issues, and food cravings, and for those women on bio-identical hormone therapy.

It is used for the prevention of hormone imbalances to restore a healthy balance of hormones and to nutritionally target support to mitigate some of the symptoms.

GASTROINTESTINAL HEALTH TESTING

Why use stool testing?
Gastrointestinal function is important for general health. This includes balancing beneficial microbial flora in the gut to enhance health. GI health is key in digestion, nutrient usage, and ridding the body of waste and pathogens. Poor digestion and malabsorption can lead to immune dysfunction, nutritional deficiencies, and various disease states. Poor GI function can also lead to food allergies and sensitivities, pathogen infestation, and toxicity.

Testing for healthy bacteria as well as harmful as well as testing for inflammation and digestive status can be extremely helpful in designing an effective nutrition program to address gastrointestinal imbalances, which may include constipation, diarrhea, gas, heartburn, belching, bloating, intestinal pain, food reactions as well as other areas of health including mood disorders, heart disease, autoimmune, or any systemic inflammatory condition.

GI Map:
This is an exhaustive test that evaluates lower GI status. It measure an extensive array of bacteria, parasites, fungi, and mold that can affect not only gastrointestinal health but may be underlying factors in many health conditions, including chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, autoimmune conditions, IBS, Crohn’s, IBD, adrenal fatigue, arthritis, and any other inflammatory condition.

Other factors measured are:

Inflammation and malabsorption markers – extensive testing on inflammation and on the ability to digest proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.

Commensal and Mircroflora Diversity – measures the levels of a vast array of commensal bacteria and microflora.

Gut immune function – tests for sIgA (Secretory IgA), which is the primary antibody in the mucosa of the gut and is the primary defense mechanism of our body.

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