6 Reasons Why I Always Recommend Doing an Organic Acids Test (at least once!)
I know what most of you are thinking - what the heck is an OAT?!
The Organic Acids Test (OAT) is a urine test that I always recommend to the families I work with in clinic.
This is a metabolic panel that provides a wide range of
data about a child from one fairly simple collection:
Gut & intestinal dysbiosis
Yeast overgrowth
Energy production
Neurotransmitter metabolism
Nutritional deficiencies
Fatty acid metabolism
Methylation status and more
Below you will learn 6 different reasons why an Organic Acidc Test is usually the first test I recommend
when we start a child’s healing journey:
A great detective for candida, mould, and yeast overgrowth
The Organic Acid Test (OAT) evaluates several fungal toxins, including specific markers for candida and other fungal species such as mould and yeast. Candida toxins can affect your child’s brain function including attention, memory, focus and sometimes even speech!
Checks for Clostridia toxins
Clostridia bacterial overgrowth can wreak havoc on your child’s gut health and cause inflammation. Some Clostridia toxins can lead to excess dopamine, which can result in cognitive problems and mood issues. Some Clostridia species can even cause aggression and self-injury behaviour. For kids with autism, checking for these toxins is a must!
3. Evaluate oxalate levels
The OAT checks for high oxalate levels, which is often a hidden symptom trigger for kids with autism. Oxalate can also be produced by an overgrowth and Aspergillus mould. This provides great intel for us to use when tailoring a personalised treatment plan. Oxalates may also trap heavy metals such as mercury, lead, and arsenic in the body and lead to chronic mineral imbalances.
4. Mitochondrial health
The OAT has several markers for mitochondrial function, an important aspect to check when dealing with autism. Mitochondria are often stressed because of toxins from candida, bacteria, oxalate, heavy metals and environmental chemicals. If I see many elevated markers here, I know this needs to be prioritized when putting together a treatment plan for a child.
5. Folate metabolism
Folate is linked to the methylation cycle that supports DNA function, metabolism and detoxification. Poor folate metabolism can lead to cognitive problems and is strongly linked to the development of autism. These markers indicate whether or not we may try individualized folate supplementation to support your child’s brain development.
6. Checks serotonin & glutathione
The OAT evaluates for deficiency in serotonin, an important brain chemical for mood, calmness, sleep and fine and gross motor skills. Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant involved in liver detoxification that protects against toxicity. Low levels of glutathione lead to oxidative stress in the brain which causes poor attention, lack of focus and cognitive issues.
By evaluating these markers a customised treatment strategy can be tailor-made for each individual with the chance of better outcomes for your child.
Together with an HTMA (Hair mineral analysis), GI Map testing and blood work, you truly have a great range of information to work with to treat your child’s imbalances that are contributing to autism symptoms.
Have you done an OAT test or would you like to know more?
Book in for a FREE 15 -mins discovery call today to see which testing will suit your child best!