Urine Amino Acid Panel

Dr. Weyrich's Naturopathic Functional Medicine Notebook

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Test Overview

Measurement of amino acids and derivatives in the urine can help evaluate nutritional status, the presence of inborn errors of metabolism, urea cycle defects, digestive and GI status, detoxification status, and neurological indicators.

Test Indications

Supplementary test for evaluating Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), Asperger's Syndrome, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD, ADHD), learning disability, depression, anxiety, seizure disorders, sleep and mood disorders.
Supplementary test for evaluating environmental heavy metal toxicity.
Evaluation of urea-cycle defects (inborn errors of metabolism).
Evaluation of nutritional defects including maldigestion, malabsorbtion, imbalanced protein intake.
Evaluation of renal tubular defects leading to loss of amino acids.
Headaches.
Chronic fatigue and Fibromyalgia.
Chronic illness and cancer.

Sample Collection

Your doctor will provide you with the sample collection kit that includes sample container, gel-pack, and shipping materials.
Avoid amino acid supplements and unusually large protein meals for 24 hours before collecting urine.
Place gel-pack in the freezer the night before sample collection.
Collect at least 15 mL of FIRST MORNING URINE, before eating or drinking (or use special pediatric collection bag overnight if patient is not potty trained).
Refrigerate sample (do not freeze) until ready to send to lab.
The sample must be sent via overnight FedEx directly to the lab on a Monday through Thursday using the prepaid mailer provided.
Detailed instructions are in the sample collection kit.

Your doctor or lab may have different instructions that supersede the above.

CPT CODES

CPT-Code	Description	Comments
82139	Amino Acids, 6 or more
82140	Ammonia

Labs Performing Test

Name of Lab	Lab Code	Estimated Cost	Processing Time	Comments
Great Plains		$219	2-3 weeks	Cash discount and some insurance

Costs cited are subject to change and may be reduced by insurance or cash discounts and increased by sample collection fees.

Theory

Depressed levels of all or many amino acids in the urine suggests low protein intake, digestion (low HCl or proteases), or absorption, or dysbiosis.

Elevated levels of all or many amino acids in the urine suggests high protein intake, renal tubular defect (genetic defect or toxicity).

Alanine

Nonessential
Elevated level suggests urea cycle defect.

Alpha-Amino-N-butyric Acid

B vitamin marker

Alpha-Aminoadipic Acid

GI marker
B vitamin marker

Ammonia

GI marker
Neurological marker
Elevated level suggests urea cycle defect.

Anserine

GI marker

Arginine

Essential or conditionally indispensable
Elevated level suggests urea cycle defect.

Asparagine

Nonessential
Urea cycle metabolite

Aspartic Acid

Nonessential
Detoxification marker
Urea cycle metabolite

Beta-Alanine

GI marker
B vitamin marker
Neurological marker

Beta-Aminoisobutyric Acid

GI marker
B vitamin marker

Carnosine

GI marker

Citrulline

Magnesium marker
Elevated level suggests urea cycle defect.

Creatinine

Used to normalize calculations of concentration.

Cystathionine

B vitamin marker
Neurological marker

Cysteine

Essential or conditionally indispensable
B vitamin marker
Detoxification marker

Cystine

Nonessential

Ethanolamine

GI marker
Magnesium marker

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid

GI marker

Glutamic Acid

Nonessential
Excitatory neurotransmitter - associated with chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, seizures, attention deficit, and brain cancer.
Found in monosodium glutamate (MSG) and aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal).

Glutamine

Nonessential
Detoxification marker
Neurological marker
Elevated level suggests urea cycle defect.

Glycine

Nonessential
Detoxification marker

Histidine

Essential or conditionally indispensable

Homocysteine

B vitamin marker

Hydroxyproline

GI marker

Isoleucine

Essential or conditionally indispensable

Leucine

Essential or conditionally indispensable

Lysine

Essential or conditionally indispensable

Methionine

Essential or conditionally indispensable
Detoxification marker

Methionine Sulfoxide

Magnesium marker

1-Methylhistidine

B vitamin marker

3-Methylhistidine

B vitamin marker

Ornithine

Elevated level suggests urea cycle defect.

Phenylalanine

Essential or conditionally indispensable
Neurological marker

Phosphoethanolamine

Magnesium marker

Phosphoserine

Magnesium marker

Proline

Nonessential

Sarcosine

B vitamin marker

Serine

Nonessential
Magnesium marker
B vitamin marker

Taurine

Essential or conditionally indispensable
GI marker
Magnesium marker
Detoxification marker
Neurological marker

Threonine

Essential or conditionally indispensable
GI marker

Tryptophan

Essential or conditionally indispensable
GI marker
Neurological marker

Tyrosine

Neurological marker

Urea

Depressed level suggests urea cycle defect.

Valine

Essential or conditionally indispensable

References

Unless specifically noted above, references used in the construction of this web page include the following:

[FDM] Lecture notes from Functional Medicine University.

[SCNM] Lecture notes from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine.

[UT] Lecture notes from the University of Tennessee graduate programs in Chemistry and Biochemistry.

[GP] Great Plains Laboratory Physician Training lecture notes and documentation.

Copyright © 2007-2010 Dr. Weyrich. The information on this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease or illness. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. If you have a health concern or medical condition, consult a licensed healthcare provider. Dr. Weyrich is licensed by the State of Arizona to practice medicine (license number 07-1008).

This web page is http://www.DrWeyrich.com/labs/urine_amino_acids.html - Phone Dr. Weyrich at (480) 423-6952