 Assessment
of status phase I and phase II detoxification
- Assessment of chemical exposure
and impaired liver function
- No hepatotoxic challenge drugs
required
- Simple first morning void urine
collection
The body continually attempts
to eliminate chemical toxins through
enzymatic processes in the liver. Urinary
D-glucaric acid, a byproduct of phase
I detoxification, is a valuable indicator
of chemical exposure or liver damage. Urinary
mercapturic acids are direct end product
metabolites of conjugated xenobiotics.
Combined assessment of the urinary
levels of the two analytes provides
valuable information about exposure
to xenobiotics and liver disease, and
the capability of the liver to eliminate
toxins.
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view a sample Test Report by Doctors
Data, Inc. click here.
To
order this test click here |
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The production, use and
disposal of toxic chemicals and synthetic
materials have increased the risk of exposure
to health threatening toxins. Causal relationships
between toxic chemicals and diseases have
been well established. However many patients
endure chronic symptoms that are associated
with exposure to toxins before advanced
stages of specific diseases are realized.
Thus, there is a great demand for noninvasive
laboratory tests that can timely assess
chemical exposure and the capability of
hepatic detoxification.
One process by which the
body eliminates toxins is enzymatic detoxification
in the liver. A reliable biomarker
for exposure to toxic chemicals is urinary
D-glucaric acid. Elevated levels of D-glucaric
acid indicate induction of cytochrome P-450
enzymes (phase I) as a result of exposure
to many xenobiotics (e.g. pesticides, fungicides,
petrochemicals, drugs, toluene, formaldehyde,
styrenes, etc.) Such exposures induce the
glucuronic acid enzymatic pathway and production
of D-glucaric acid, thus urinary D-glucaric
acid is an indirect by-product of chemical
exposure and phase I detoxification reactions.
The urinary level of mercapturic
acids indicates quantitatively the degree
of activity, or capability of phase II
detoxification. Mercapturic acids are the
final excretory products of detoxification
and include a variety of functionalized
xenobiotics that have been conjugated with
glutathione or L-cysteine prior to excretion.
Low levels of mercapturic acids are consistent
with insufficient levels of glutathione
and/or cysteine. When the rate of formation
of functionalized xenobiotics (phase I)
exceeds the capacity of phase II detoxification,
more potent toxins accumulate.
Especially important for
symptomatic patients or those who have
a history of chemical sensitivity, the
noninvasive test does not require the use
of hepatotoxic compounds. Thorough commentary
and treatment recommendations are provided
to simplify interpretation. Results are
expressed per unit creatinine to normalize
for dilution effects, and reference ranges
are age and gender specific. It is highly
recommended that a concentrated first morning
urine specimen is submitted for analysis.
The test does not replace comprehensive
liver tests for cases of advanced liver
disease. |
