Description
Amino Acids Test – Plasma or Urine (24 hr. or Random)
A test measuring a wide array of amino acids and related metabolites either in plasma (blood) or urine.
What does this test measure?
It assesses levels of all essential amino acids (like lysine, leucine) and non-essential amino acids (like alanine, glutamine), plus intermediary compounds (for example, ornithine, citrulline in the urea cycle). This profile helps determine nutritional protein status, malabsorption issues, or inherited aminoacidopathies.
Who is this test most suitable for?
- Strict vegetarian/vegan diet (potential amino acid deficiencies)
- Bodybuilding or athletic training (monitoring amino acid status)
- Post-bariatric surgery (malabsorption check)
Clinical Use
Clinically, it can reveal if someone has protein malnutrition or malabsorption (low amino acids), or if specific pathways are disrupted (e.g., elevated ammonia-related amino acids might suggest liver detox issues, or certain patterns might point to genetic disorders like PKU or homocystinuria). In functional medicine, amino acid imbalance testing is also used for tailoring diets and supplementing deficient amino acids to support mood, muscle, or detoxification. When done in urine (especially 24-hour), it reflects overall amino acid losses and metabolism; plasma levels give a snapshot of what’s circulating.
