The typical Western diet contains too many carbohydrates and saturated fats, and is often imbalanced with respect to essential and nonessential fatty acid intake. Essential fatty acids regulate cell membrane integrity, blood pressure and coagulation, lipid levels, immune response, tumor growth and inhibition, and the inflammatory response to injury and infection. Erythrocyte Fatty Acid nutritional testing aids in developing the most efficacious dietary and supplemental treatment program to restore appropriate ratios among fatty acids.

This test is useful for

• ADD/ADHD
• Alzheimer's Disease
• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Blood Pressure
• Cardiovascular Health
• Coagulation
• Lipid/Lipoprotein Levels
• Immune Response
• Inflammatory Response to Injury and Infection
• Seizure Disorders
• Tumor Growth and Inhibition

For More Details:

• Nutritional Status Brochure
• View Sample Report

Please contact us at (714) 864-3730 or pe@anti-fragilityhealth.com to order your test.

Nutritional Status

Proper nutritional intake is essential to overall health and provides the raw materials the body needs to function in the form of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. Nutritional testing from Doctor's Data can give you a clear view into nutritional status. Carbohydrates are broken down into sugars and used as energy. Protein is broken down into individual amino acids and used to build and repair muscles, the immune and nervous systems, hormones and organs. The body requires fats which function within the membranes that surround all the body’s cells and are needed to signal hormones. Vitamins and minerals typically function as co-enzymes and have protective anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

The typical Western diet contains too many carbohydrates and saturated fats, and is often low in nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. Poor dietary choices can cause nutritional deficiencies and imbalances which may require dietary changes or nutritional supplementation.

Doctor's Data offers a wide range of nutritional testing profiles used to assess nutritional status and to monitor patient response to nutritional interventions.

Detailed Information

Fatty acids (FAs) are primarily derived from triglycerides in the food and oils that we consume. Non-essential FAs are also biosynthesized in the body, especially during times when carbohydrate intake exceeds the body's needs for glucose and glycogen repletion. Non-essential FAs are most commonly recognized as an important source of energy, and when caloric intake exceeds expenditure, these FAs are stored in adipose tissue as triglycerides. However, FA metabolism is much more complex and it is well established that appropriate balance among essential and non-essential FAs, as well as avoidance of harmful trans-FAs, is required for optimal health and wellness.

FAs are monocarboxylic acids that may be either saturated (no C=C double bonds) or unsaturated one or more C=C double bonds). Humans make saturated fatty acids and a monounsaturated fatty acid with a double bond at the omega-9 position but do not have the enzymes necessary to introduce a double bond at the omega-3 (ω-3) or omega-6 (ω-6) positions. The essential fatty acids (EFAs) linoleic acid (18:2) and α-linoleic acid (18:3) are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that are precursors of the ω-6 and ω-3 fatty acid series, respectively. The ω-6 and ω-3 FAs compete for desaturase and elongation enzymes that produce longer-chain, more highly unsaturated FAs. The typical Western diet contains an undesirable preponderance of ω-6 fatty acids that impedes elongation and desaturation of ω-3 FAs. FAs derived from EFAs or taken in via diet or supplements are essential components of cell membrane phospholipids, and appropriate membrane fatty acid content is pivotal for optimal membrane fluidity, receptor activity and cellular metabolism. The same FAs eventually give rise to hormone-like substances (eicosanoids) that are involved in the regulation of blood pressure and coagulation, lipid levels, immune response, tumor growth and inhibition, and the inflammatory response to injury and infection, and may play a role in seizure disorders and dementias such as Alzheimer's disease.

Nutritional testing to determine the appropriate balance of membrane phospholipid EFAs is important because the biological effects of the ω-3 and ω-6 FAs metabolites are mediated by their mutual interactions.

This test measures the primary ω-6 and ω-3 PUFAs, and monounsaturated, saturated and trans FAs that are present as constituents of phospholipids in the membranes of erythrocytes. Each FA is reported as a percentage of the total FAs measured and important FA ratios are presented. Commentary is provided for results exceeding reference intervals.

For nutritional testing to address your patients' symptoms, reach out to Doctor's data.

Before You Start:

Please read all of the directions, and familiarize yourself with the collection procedures.

The test requires no special diet or fasting prior to collection. Please refrain from taking supplemental oils (e.g. Fish oil) on the day of collection. Never discontinue prescription medications without first consulting your physician.

More Instructions:

• Collection Instructions