Laboratory Assessments
In some cases it may be necessary to go beyond symptom
analysis and the sort of tests we can carry out during the consultation.
Edinburgh Nutrition uses a comprehensive range of laboratory tests to analyse samples
(such as saliva, urine or blood). Versions of some of the basic tests are
available out during through the NHS, and in these cases we will always suggest
that you can try your GP first.
Most sampling can be carried out at home
using simple test kits provided.
You do not have to be a
current patient to have a test. Allergy profiles and the Cardiovascular Risk
Assessment for example, are popular among non-patients. You can contact us by
telephone or e-mail to discuss your requirements and we will send you the
necessary referral documents. (There is a small fee if you wish to have a
practitioner report in addition to the laboratory report, and/or a letter to
your doctor based on the test results.)
Click on a test group for details of our most popular
profiles:
Immunology (allergies, intolerances,
antibodies)
Endocrinology (male, female, thyroid &
stress hormones)
Nutritional (essential and toxic elements, antioxidants)
Metabolic (osteoporosis, insulin resistance, Organix, homocysteine)
Gastrointestinal (digestion,
bacteria, parasites, lactose intolerance)
Special (cardiovascular, chronic fatigue, detoxification capacity)
Cost (details about costs & health insurance)
ALLERGY PROFILES
FAC Test £245
Food intolerances can be an important factor in
many acute and chronic conditions, but are difficult to pinpoint because they involve
delayed ‘Type B’ reactions that may take up to 72 hours to appear. Over two
hundred foods, additives, seasonings and drinks are tested in this direct
cellular assay that can detect reactions caused by a number of different
processes.
IgE Food / Inhalant Panels £120
These tests are useful for those with the ‘Type A’
allergic reactions associated with hayfever, asthma, urticaria (Hives), eczema,
skin rashes, colic, rhinitis, itchy eyes or anaphylaxis. Since the test is performed
on a sample, patients are not subjected to any of the discomfort or risk
associated with skin prick or challenge tests.
Comprehensive Food Allergy
Profile £300
As a combination of the FACTest and IgE Food Panels,
this profile investigates all of the most common food allergies and
sensitivities. It also measures a specific marker for detecting untreated
Coeliac Disease.
Individual Allergens £30
A range of IgE
allergens are available to be added on to panels, or can be ordered
individually.
ANTIBODY PROFILES
Gluten test £70
Many people are sensitive to gluten, (a
protein found in wheat), or even have Coeliac disease without realising it.
Diagnosis can be difficult because symptoms vary widely between individuals. In
fact, the average time from disease to diagnosis is eleven years. It is
important to know whether gluten is a problem for you because long-term health
consequences can be very serious. This test looks for raised levels of
gluten-specific antibodies and other markers to give an accurate and reliable
result.
Candida Antibody Profile £70
When kept in check by
our ‘friendly bacteria’, yeast naturally present in the gut does no harm. Under
certain conditions however, this benign ‘budding’ yeast can transform into a
pathogenic (disease-causing) fungus. It
releases powerful toxins as it grows, burrowing into tissue and organs with
microscopic roots. Symptoms of yeast overgrowth include fatigue, weight gain,
bloating, acne, cravings, thrush, coated tongue, diarrhoea, constipation,
depression and mood swings. Our non-invasive test is much more reliable and
informative than tests that rely on yeast cultures. Using a saliva sample, the
test measures specific immune cells, which enable us to determine whether the
pathogenic form is involved and even distinguish between current and previous
infections.
The ASI is a
non-invasive salivary test that evaluates two hormones governing how much
energy you have, how stressed you feel and how well you resist disease.
Imbalances cause not only conditions known to be ‘stress-related’, like
insomnia, depression, low energy / chronic fatigue, anxiety attacks and
migraines, but also inflammatory conditions, allergies, frequent infections,
menstrual problems and infertility.
Comprehensive
Adrenal Stress Index £90
This profile also measures levels of Secretory
IgA, which is critical for intestinal protection against bacteria, fungi and
viruses, as well as particles that might be toxic or trigger allergic
reactions. Useful for Patients with Crohn’s Disease etc.
Female Hormone Panel £150
Oestrogen and progesterone imbalances cause
significant health problems, including premenstrual syndrome, infertility,
endometriosis and ovarian cysts. In addition, imbalanced testosterone can lead
to acne, excess hair, loss of motivation and low libido. Unlike a conventional
blood test, our hormone panel measures the active ‘free’ hormones that actually
exert an effect. As it uses saliva samples it is non-invasive and also shows
what is happening over the course of a whole menstrual cycle, rather than being
just a snapshot of a particular moment.
Comprehensive
Female Hormone Panel £190
This profile consists
of the Female Hormone Panel plus the Adrenal Stress Index to provide an
in-depth picture of how stress affects female hormones. Melatonin levels are
also measured, because imbalances are linked to fertility problems, stress,
insomnia and mood disturbance as well as cardiovascular disease, immune
dysfunction and premature aging.
Testosterone Levels £65
This
profile measures the active testosterone levels for both men and women. Production
is sensitive to stress, smoking, environmental toxins, oestrogen levels and
nutritional deficiencies.
Low testosterone levels
in men results in lowered libido, low mood, low motivation and drive, loss of
muscle mass, decreased size of sexual organs (if deficiency is severe),
difficulty establishing an erection and infertility. Low levels are also
associated with arteriosclerosis and hip fractures.
In women low
testosterone can also cause decreased libido and a loss of motivation and
drive. Symptoms of elevated testosterone in women include excessive hair, acne,
weight gain and failure to ovulate.
Male Hormone Profile £160
This is a convenient,
non-invasive saliva test that evaluates testosterone activity in men. It
includes an analysis of the stress hormones (cortisol and DHEA) and melatonin,
providing a more complete picture of how these hormones may be affecting
testosterone imbalances. Optimal health is dependant not on an individual
hormone, but on the overall hormone balance.
PCOS Profile £220
Polycystic
Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one the most common hormonal disturbances affecting
women. An estimated 5 to 10% of women of childbearing age have PCOS and at least
30% of women have some symptoms of PCOS. Symptoms include weight gain,
menstrual irregularities, excess body/facial hair, acne and infertility.
Contributory factors include genetic predisposition, stress, pollution,
nutrient deficiencies and various dietary and lifestyle habits.
This profile is very
useful for identifying the various hormone imbalances that appear in PCOS.
Menopause
Profile £120
The hormonal changes
that occur in the menopause increase the risk for a number of health concerns
including osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, breast and vaginal cancer. The
Menopause Profile consists of three tests: the 1-Day Progesterone/Oestrogen
test, the Osteoporosis Risk Assessment and the Estronex tests. Together these
tests provide valuable information about current health and help target
preventative treatment.
Estronex £120
Oestrogen can be
metabolised or 'broken down' into various different products; some of which are
protective while others are known to promote cancer. This urine test measures
the ratio of these metabolites, which has been shown to be a significant modifiable
risk factor for oestrogen-sensitive diseases, including breast and cervical
cancer.
Studies have shown that
women with low protective/carcinogenic ratios have a very much higher rate of
oestrogen sensitive cancers (breast, ovarian, cervical, uterine). Further
research has demonstrated that measuring the ratio of these two forms of
oestrogen provides an important indication of future risk, and of how
successful treatment to modify the ratio has been.
Total Thyroid Screen £80
The
thyroid is the body’s metabolic thermostat controlling body temperature, energy
use, growth rate, and affecting the operation of all bodily processes and
organs. This test can
determine whether the thyroid gland is working properly and identify an under
or overactive thyroid.
When the thyroid is
under active it doesn’t produce enough active hormones, so the body's systems
become inert. As the thyroid regulates the burning of calories body weight
tends to increase as thyroid function decreases. Low thyroid function
can lead to symptoms ranging from depression and fatigue to weight gain and
hair loss.
Hyperthyroidism occurs
when excessive levels of hormones being secreted resulting in symptoms
including excessive weight loss, palpitations, anxiety and diarrhoea.
ELEMENT
PROFILES – Essential and Toxic
Hair Mineral
Analysis £65
This popular test gives
an astonishing long-term insight into your body chemistry. It can indicate
dietary imbalances, metabolic problems, malabsorption and levels of toxic
elements. Hair is an excretory tissue for many essential, nonessential and
potentially toxic elements. In general the amount of an element that is
irreversibly incorporated into growing hair is proportional to the level of the
element in other body tissues.
Clinical research
indicates that hair levels of specific elements, particularly toxic elements
such as cadmium, mercury, lead and arsenic, are highly correlated with
pathological disorders. Symptoms
of excess toxic metals can include: fatigue, constipation, insomnia, emotional
disturbances, and learning disabilities to name but a few.
Many elements are essential to life, assisting in the production of energy and
other important biochemical processes, particularly enzyme reactions.
Deficiencies or imbalances among elements lead to health problems.
Nutrient
and Toxic Elements £160
This test measures
blood levels of key minerals, as well as certain toxic or heavy metals
including aluminium, mercury, lead and cadmium.
Antioxidant Profile £160
This profile measures the
antioxidant vitamins A, E, beta-carotene, Co-enzyme Q10, as well as the
minerals selenium and zinc which are needed to make important antioxidant
enzymes. Anyone with a history of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes or
periodontal disease should consider this test.
Vitamin and Mineral Screen £280
It is because of their
diverse and vital roles that vitamin and mineral imbalances are frequently
found to be factors in many chronic degenerative diseases. There is no way for the
body to manufacture these nutrients, and daily losses are unavoidable. Vitamins
and minerals are classed as "essential" and can only therefore be
taken in through the diet, making deficiencies a common factor in many
different conditions.
24 Hour Urine Toxic &
Essential Elements £160
An assessment of toxic
metal status.
Osteoporosis
Risk Assessment £60
This is a simple
urine test that measures a key marker for bone resorption to identify risk
categories for developing osteoporosis and monitor treatment.
Whereas a bone density scan shows what has
already happened, this test shows the actual processes involved in osteoporosis
and thus gives a much better outlook for treatment and prevention.
Homocysteine £60
Your homocysteine score
predicts your risk of more than 100 diseases! It is recognised not only as
an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but as a more important
predictor than 
cholesterol.
Homocysteine is an
amino acid, a building-block of protein, but is an intermediate stage of
metabolism. The body requires certain key nutrients to turn it into something
safer, so without adequate supplies, this dangerous molecule builds up in the
circulation. Lowering an elevated score requires supplements, but the test is
essential to find out what level of supplementation is required.
Insulin Resistance Profile £60
You don’t have be a
diabetic to have problems keeping blood sugar levels healthy. Insulin is a powerful
hormone secreted by the pancreas to instruct cells to absorb glucose and so
bring blood sugar levels down. Insulin Resistance occurs when target cells
become unresponsive and the pancreas produces ever-larger amounts of insulin.
It is an extremely common problem associated with diseases including heart
disease, cancer and adult-onset diabetes.
Consider having this test if you tend to:
·
Gain
weight despite watching what you eat
·
Store most of your body fat around your middle
·
Have poor memory or concentration and fuzzy brain
after eating
·
Feel tired or lethargic even after a goodnight
sleep
·
Have high blood pressure or high cholesterol
DIGESTIVE
PROFILES
Comprehensive Stool Analysis with Parasitology £220 (save £80)
This is the gold-standard profile for
investigating gastrointestinal problems. Not only does it provide vital
information about digestion, absorption, immunity, inflammation and levels of friendly
bacteria, but also detects disease-causing micro-organisms, and indicates how
best to get rid of them.
These
separate panels are useful for assessing individual areas:
Comprehensive
Stool Analysis (CSA) £180
Comprehensive
Parasitology £120
Parasitology £110
Gut
Permeability £90
Increased Intestinal
Permeability or ‘Leaky Gut Syndrome’ is a condition whereby the lining of the
digestive tract becomes damaged. Small molecules like vitamins and minerals may
not be successfully absorbed, while ‘unauthorised’ food particles or toxic
compounds may enter the bloodstream, triggering immune reactions or
overwhelming the livers detoxification systems.
Leaky Gut Syndrome is
associated with a wide range of symptoms and conditions including Inflammatory
Bowel Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Allergies, Coeliac Disease, Urticaria,
Eczema, Psoriasis, Acne, Chronic Fatigue, Autism and hyperactivity.
A drink containing PEG400, a mixture of eleven sizes of molecules is
taken. The different sizes of molecules pass through the gut wall and into
circulation with differing levels of ease. All the urine passed over the next
six hours is collected. The quantity of each molecular size of PEG in the urine
collection are measured and we can then reconstruct an absorption profile.
Helicabacter Pylori Breath
Test £80
H.
pylori is a bacterium that has been shown to be the single biggest cause of
ulcer formation and gastritis. It causes virtually all gastrointestinal ulcers,
apart from drug-induced forms.
It is thought that the
infection occurs primarily in childhood though lays dormant for many years
eroding and damaging the stomach lining, causing continual damage. Genetic
studies have shown that blood group A is more susceptible to H. pylori.
If there is a history of gastric/peptic ulcers, poor diet, high stress levels,
excessive caffeine/alcohol intake, and high use of aspirin and NSAIDs the risk
of infection increases.
This simple breath test
will confirm whether or not there is an active current infection of H.pylori.
The breath test procedure is a highly accurate and non-invasive diagnostic
test.
Signs of H.pylori
infection:
·
Persistent, abdominal ache 2-3 hours after eating
or at night and is relieved by eating or taking antacids
·
Duodenal and gastric ulcers
·
Chronic gastritis
·
Excess acidity or dyspepsia
·
Indigestion / Heartburn
/ Acid reflux
·
Nausea and vomiting
·
Burping / Upper intestinal bloating
·
Weight loss and decreased appetite
·
Family history of gastric cancer
Chronic
Fatigue Screen £260
This non-invasive profile combines the
Organix and Adrenal Stress Index to assess the underlying factors that cause chronic
fatigue. It measures various cellular processes, metabolism, energy production,
detoxification, neurotransmitter breakdown, hormone levels and even the balance
of intestinal micro-flora.
Cardiovascular
Risk Profile £280
This unique assessment uses both conventional
indicators of cardiovascular health and cutting-edge nutritional and metabolic
markers. Includes Homocysteine test.
You may think some of these tests look rather
expensive. They are very different however, from those you might have had
through your GP.
·
Most are simply not available through the NHS. For example, you might
have been tested by your GP for a few immediate allergy reactions, but not for
hundreds of immediate and delayed reactions. You might have your cholesterol
checked, but not your levels of homocysteine, which is a FAR MORE important
marker for heart disease. You might have had your blood levels of iron
measured, but not your precise tissue levels of the dozens of other elements
essential or harmful to your health. You might even have had scans or invasive
procedures in hospital, but no test that showed what was actually happening
inside you.
·
Your test results will not amount to glimpsing a few numbers and
abbreviations on a sheet of fax paper, which gets filed away and never seen
again! Instead, you will receive your own copy of an extensive report with
colour graphs and a detailed description of the findings. Your nutritionist
will also provide you with a report summarising the main points and
recommending the best treatment strategy. (Small fee for non-patients wanting practitioner report or letter to
their GP.)
·
These are very high quality tests that give consistently reliable,
valuable results. Some companies offer ‘electro-diagnostic devices’
(particularly for food intolerance) for which there is no scientific evidence
whatsoever. People tested in this way are often given advice that is at best
inappropriate and at worst dangerous.
·
These are the laboratories’ own prices. Unlike some companies, we do not
offer these tests with a 100% mark-up!
If you have private health insurance you may be able to reclaim the test
fee. Please ask for further details.
