WHY MicroNutrient Test?
MicroNutrient Testing allows you to determine nutrient deficiencies regardless of how they manifest clinically. This is important because in many cases the clinical symptoms are subtle (fatigue, pain, immune dysfunction) but often become more pronounced over time.
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MicroNutrient Testing is the only scientific and objective assessment of functional intracellular micronutrient status, supporting an effective, patient-centered approach to medical treatment and prevention of chronic illness. With over 20 years of experience and over a million patient tests, their patented technology positioned them as a leader in functional micronutrient testing.
FUNCTIONAL
MicroNutrient Testing's proprietary technology measures the functional capability of lymphocytes to respond to growth stimulations using only intracellular micronutrient reserves. This assay is a more direct measure of immunocompetent than a total lymphocyte count.
SPECIFIC
Our lymphocyte-based technology provides information on:
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Functional micronutrient status
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Long-term intracellular micronutrient levels
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Whole-cell metabolic capability
COMPREHENSIVE
The functional levels of 31 vitamins , minerals, fatty acids, antioxidants, and metabolites are assesed.
PROPRIETARY
Only MicroNutrient Testing offers the patented Spectrox® (reflects antioxidant capacity) and immunidex (an overall measure of immune system function.)
Testing Methology
The Gold Standard in Functional Intracellular Testing
Micronutrient testing is significant because it considers individual variations when assessing nutrient levels within the body. It uses active cells to measure DNA synthesis, employing a patented culture media free from serum and protein, which could impact test accuracy. This unique approach helps identify functional deficiencies within cells that affect immune function and growth. By manipulating individual micronutrients in the media, the testing evaluates the functional status of nutrients crucial for cell metabolism. This method, which encompasses cellular absorption, transport, metabolism, and utilization, provides a comprehensive evaluation of cell function, correlating with overall health at both tissue and systemic levels.
In addition to 31 micronutrients, SpectraCell’s functional micronutrient test includes four components that are not otherwise available commercially
SPECTROX®
Spectracell’s micronutrient test can determine specific antioxidant deficiencies, but it goes one step further. Spectrox measures the cell’s overall ability to resist oxidative stress and free radical damage. Nutrients (especially antioxidants) work synergistically, so measuring total antioxidant function is the most accurate way to assess a person’s capacity to resist oxidative damage, given how these individual biochemicals repair, recharge, and interact with each other
FRUCTOSE SENSITIVITY
This component assesses another aspect of carbohydrate metabolism: how well a person metabolizes fructose. The fructose sensitivity test detects those persons who are unable to metabolize excess fructose by comparing a person’s lymphocyte growth rate (in a patented chemically-defined growth medium) while exposed to minimal or excess amounts of fructose. A major change in growth response indicates a metabolic impact of excess fructose. Since humans have limited ability to metabolize fructose, amounts ingested beyond metabolic capacity can raise triglycerides (blood fats), deplete certain micronutrients such as copper or vitamin C, and be susceptible to the adverse metabolic effects of excess fructose, and SpectraCell’s Micronutrient test will help determine this.
IMMUNIDEX
As assessment of cell-mediated immune function is provided via the Immunidex, an immune response score provided exclusively by Spectracell. The proprietary test measures T-cell lymphocyte proliferation, or how well a person’s white blood cells respond when exposed to a mitogen (a chemical that stimulates cell division). A higher Immunidex score is generally favorable and suggests a more efficient cellular immune response to exogenous threats (such as pathogens or allergens) and endogenous ones (like tumors).
GLUCOSE-INSULIN INTERACTION
This patented test assesses carbohydrate metabolism and how well insulin functions within cells. Specifically, it measures how efficiently cells metabolize glucose. Defective glucose-insulin metabolism may result from specific micronutrient deficiencies is necessary for optimal carbohydrate metabolism. Some clinical conditions associated with defective glucose-insulin interaction are hypoglycemia, diabetes, obesity, extreme stress (trauma, infections, burns, shock, etc.), and corticosteroid therapy.
