Being a parent is never easy. Ensuring your child is healthy and happy is your top priority. It's not uncommon for parents to worry about their children's symptoms that don't seem to have a clear cause. It could be anything from mild fatigue to recurring stomach pain. Whatever the case, it's understandable to want to ensure that your child receives the best care possible.
One innovative approach that offers promising outcomes is organic acid testing. In this blog post, we're going to explore the ins and outs of organic acid testing and what kind of kids would benefit from it.
Organic acids are metabolic products that are generated during the process of energy production. Several different factors can ultimately result in an increase or decrease in organic acids. These factors could be environmental, dietary, physiological, or genetic. As a result, a buildup of certain organic acids could signal an ongoing problem in the body.
Organic acid testing is a type of metabolic testing that identifies the quantity of metabolites in the urine. This testing aids healthcare providers in detecting if organic acid levels are high or low to determine if there are underlying health problems.
Organic acid testing can benefit many kids, especially those with chronic health issues such as metabolic disorders. It can be used to identify the cause of a child's ongoing symptoms, such as fatigue or headaches. Additionally, organic acid testing can be of great advantage to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as many of them experience digestive and metabolic issues.
Organic acid testing can identify if there is an overgrowth of yeast, imbalanced gut flora, or even heavy metal toxicity in children with ASD. Knowing this information helps with developing tailored treatment plans that address the specific issue.
Nutritional supplements can improve a variety of different conditions that affect children. Those experiencing insomnia, headaches, and autistic spectrum disorders, and ADHD can see marked improvement when prescribed specific supplements. Organic acid testing helps healthcare providers figure out what kind of supplements would help your child, as opposed to something that has no benefit or could even be harmful. It helps doctors take a personalized, data-driven approach to treatment plans.
Organic acid testing is also a great option for parents who are proactive when it comes to their child's health. Even if the child is exhibiting no symptoms or complaints, organic acid testing can identify any silenced abnormalities that need addressing. This can be beneficial for parents who want to take a holistic approach to their child's health and ensure they are as healthy as possible.
At our clinic, we use Organic Acid Testing through Mosaic Diagnostics (Formerly Great Plains Laboratory).
Organic acid testing is a fantastic diagnostic tool that can help detect the cause of mysterious health issues. This testing can benefit children with metabolic disorders and autism spectrum disorder, but it’s still useful for children who are currently healthy. The data gathered from organic acid testing enables healthcare professionals to create tailored treatment plans for children, incorporating dietary changes and nutritional supplement interventions.
Ultimately, organic acid testing is helping parents take a holistic approach to their children's health. Therefore, it's essential to speak to your child's primary care provider to understand if organic acid testing would be helpful in your child's case.
Parents that request OAT testing often also opt for Food Sensitivity Testing