Ordering the Metabolic Analysis Profile
The Metabolic Analysis Profile from Genova Diagnostics helps identify how your body processes nutrients, breaks down food, and manages energy. This test checks for imbalances in organic acids, which can affect digestion, energy, and how your body handles stress. Interestingly, this test can also reveal early signs of oxidative stress, which may not show up in standard blood work.
Ordering the Metabolic Analysis Profile can help you:
- Pinpoint nutrient deficiencies, such as B vitamins or minerals, that may be affecting your energy or mood
- Detect imbalances in gut bacteria that can lead to bloating, skin issues, or headaches
- Identify problems with detoxification that may contribute to fatigue or joint pain
- Assess how well your body manages oxidative stress, which can impact inflammation and immune support
- Find out if your metabolism is working efficiently, which can affect weight gain or weight loss
Who Should Consider a Comprehensive Organic Acids Assessment
People who feel tired even after a full night’s sleep, struggle with brain fog, or notice frequent bloating after meals may benefit from this test. For example, someone who has tried changing their diet and taking supplements but still feels low on energy could use this test to find out if there are hidden nutrient or metabolic issues.
Ordering this test may also be helpful if you:
- Experience mood swings, anxiety, or mild depression that don’t improve with lifestyle changes
- Have skin problems like acne or rashes that haven’t responded to topical treatments
- Notice frequent headaches or migraines without a clear cause
- Struggle with unexplained weight gain or difficulty losing weight despite regular exercise
- Have a family history of metabolic or mitochondrial disorders, which can sometimes show up as subtle symptoms
This test can help you find out if your body is missing key nutrients, struggling with detoxification, or dealing with gut imbalances that affect energy, mood, and digestion. Delaying this test could mean missing the chance to address these issues early, which may make symptoms harder to manage over time.
How to Prepare for the Test
Fasting is not required for the Metabolic Analysis Profile, but be sure to follow the specific instructions included in your Genova Diagnostics test kit. Always go by any guidance your doctor or healthcare professional provides to make sure your sample is collected correctly and your results are as useful as possible.
Labs Included When Ordering Your Metabolic Analysis Profile
| Test Name | Reference Range | What It Measures | Low and High Levels of Metabolic Analysis Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-OH-indoleacetic Acid | 2.0–9.0 | Shows how your body breaks down serotonin, which affects mood and sleep. | High levels mean your body may be breaking down too much serotonin, which can be linked to stress or certain tumors.
Low levels mean your body may not be making enough serotonin, which can affect mood and sleep. |
| Citric Acid | 180–820 | Part of the energy cycle, it shows how well your body turns food into energy. | High levels mean your body may be struggling to use energy properly.
Low levels mean your energy production may be low, which can cause fatigue. |
| Creatinine | 0.30–2.20 | Used to check kidney function and helps standardize other test results. | High levels mean your kidneys may not be working well.
Low levels mean you may have low muscle mass or be dehydrated. |
| Homovanillic Acid | 1.0–8.0 | Shows how your body breaks down dopamine, which affects focus and motivation. | High levels mean your body may be breaking down too much dopamine, which can be linked to stress or certain conditions.
Low levels mean your body may not be making enough dopamine, which can affect mood and drive. |
| Lactic Acid | 5–50 | Shows how your body handles energy when oxygen is low, like during exercise. | High levels mean your body may not be getting enough oxygen or may have trouble using energy.
Low levels mean your body is using energy normally. |
| Pyruvic Acid | 0.3–1.0 | Part of the energy cycle, it helps show how your body turns food into energy. | High levels mean your body may have trouble turning food into energy.
Low levels mean your energy cycle is working well. |
| Vanilmandelic Acid | 1.0–7.0 | Shows how your body breaks down adrenaline and noradrenaline, which affect stress response. | High levels mean your body may be under stress or have certain tumors.
Low levels mean your body may not be making enough stress hormones. |
| Organic Acids Panel | |||
| Adipic Acid | 0.2–2.0 | Shows how your body breaks down fats for energy. | High levels mean your body may be breaking down too much fat or have a metabolic issue.
Low levels mean normal fat metabolism. |
| A-Ketoglutaric Acid | 2.0–12.0 | Part of the energy cycle, it helps show how your body uses protein and energy. | High levels mean your body may have trouble using protein or energy.
Low levels mean normal protein and energy use. |
| B-OH-b-Methylglutaric Acid | 0.1–0.7 | Shows how your body breaks down certain amino acids for energy. | High levels mean your body may have trouble breaking down amino acids.
Low levels mean normal amino acid metabolism. |
| B-OH-Butyric Acid | 0.2–2.0 | Shows how your body uses fat for energy, especially during fasting or low-carb diets. | High levels mean your body is using more fat for energy.
Low levels mean your body is using less fat for energy. |
| Fumaric Acid | 2.0–8.0 | Part of the energy cycle, it helps show how your body turns food into energy. | High levels mean your body may have trouble with energy production.
Low levels mean normal energy production. |
| Isocitric Acid | 0.5–2.5 | Shows how your body processes energy in the mitochondria. | High levels mean your mitochondria may not be working well.
Low levels mean normal mitochondrial function. |
| Malic Acid | 2.0–8.0 | Part of the energy cycle, it helps show how your body turns food into energy. | High levels mean your body may have trouble with energy production.
Low levels mean normal energy production. |
| Suberic Acid | 0.2–1.0 | Shows how your body breaks down fats for energy. | High levels mean your body may be breaking down too much fat.
Low levels mean normal fat metabolism. |
| Succinic Acid | 2.0–8.0 | Part of the energy cycle, it helps show how your body turns food into energy. | High levels mean your body may have trouble with energy production.
Low levels mean normal energy production. |
| 2-Hydroxyphenylacetic Acid | 0.1–1.0 | Shows how your body breaks down certain amino acids and gut bacteria activity. | High levels mean possible gut bacteria imbalance or amino acid breakdown issues.
Low levels mean normal metabolism and gut balance. |
| 3-Hydroxyproprionic Acid | 0.1–0.7 | Shows how your body breaks down fats and certain amino acids. | High levels mean possible issues with fat or amino acid metabolism.
Low levels mean normal metabolism. |
| 4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvic Acid | 0.1–0.7 | Shows how your body breaks down tyrosine, an amino acid important for brain function. | High levels mean possible issues with tyrosine metabolism.
Low levels mean normal tyrosine breakdown. |
| A-Ketoadipic Acid | 0.1–0.7 | Shows how your body breaks down certain amino acids for energy. | High levels mean possible issues with amino acid metabolism.
Low levels mean normal metabolism. |
| A-Keto-b-Methylvaleric Acid | 0.1–0.7 | Shows how your body breaks down branched-chain amino acids. | High levels mean possible issues with branched-chain amino acid metabolism.
Low levels mean normal metabolism. |
| A-Ketoisocaproic | 0.1–0.7 | Shows how your body breaks down leucine, an amino acid important for muscle health. | High levels mean possible issues with leucine metabolism.
Low levels mean normal leucine breakdown. |
| A-Ketoisovaleric | 0.1–0.7 | Shows how your body breaks down valine, an amino acid important for energy and muscle. | High levels mean possible issues with valine metabolism.
Low levels mean normal valine breakdown. |
| Glutaric Acid | 0.1–0.7 | Shows how your body breaks down certain amino acids and fats. | High levels mean possible issues with amino acid or fat metabolism.
Low levels mean normal metabolism. |
| Homogentisic Acid | 0.1–0.7 | Shows how your body breaks down tyrosine and phenylalanine, important for brain and skin. | High levels mean possible issues with tyrosine or phenylalanine metabolism.
Low levels mean normal breakdown. |
| Methylmalonic Acid | 0.1–0.4 | Shows if your body has enough vitamin B12 for energy and nerve function. | High levels mean possible vitamin B12 deficiency.
Low levels mean normal B12 status. |
| Orotic Acid | 0.1–1.0 | Shows how your body makes and uses genetic material (DNA/RNA). | High levels mean possible issues with ammonia detoxification or genetic material production.
Low levels mean normal function. |
| Arabinose | 0.1–0.7 | Shows possible yeast or fungal overgrowth in the gut. | High levels mean possible yeast or fungal overgrowth.
Low levels mean normal gut balance. |
| Benzoic/Hippuric Acids Ratio | 0.1–1.0 | Shows how your body detoxifies certain chemicals and processes gut bacteria byproducts. | High levels mean possible detoxification or gut bacteria issues.
Low levels mean normal detoxification. |
| Citramalic Acid | 0.1–0.7 | Shows possible bacterial overgrowth in the gut. | High levels mean possible bacterial overgrowth.
Low levels mean normal gut bacteria. |
| DHPPA | 0.1–0.7 | Shows how your body breaks down plant fibers and gut bacteria activity. | High levels mean increased gut bacteria activity.
Low levels mean low fiber breakdown. |
| Indoleacetic Acid | 0.1–0.7 | Shows how your body breaks down tryptophan, an amino acid important for mood. | High levels mean possible gut bacteria imbalance or tryptophan metabolism issues.
Low levels mean normal tryptophan breakdown. |
| Phenylacetic Acid | 0.1–0.7 | Shows how your body breaks down phenylalanine, important for brain and skin. | High levels mean possible issues with phenylalanine metabolism.
Low levels mean normal breakdown. |
| Pyroglutamic Acid | 0.1–0.7 | Shows how your body uses glutathione, an important antioxidant for detoxification. | High levels mean possible glutathione deficiency or detoxification issues.
Low levels mean normal glutathione use. |
| Tartaric Acid | 0.1–0.7 | Shows possible yeast or fungal overgrowth in the gut. | High levels mean possible yeast or fungal overgrowth.
Low levels mean normal gut balance. |
| Cis-Aconitic Acid | 0.1–0.7 | Part of the energy cycle, it helps show how your body turns food into energy. | High levels mean possible issues with energy production.
Low levels mean normal energy production. |
| 3-Methyl-4-OH-phenylglycol | 0.1–0.7 | Shows how your body breaks down norepinephrine, a stress hormone. | High levels mean increased stress hormone breakdown.
Low levels mean low norepinephrine activity. |
| Kynurenic Acid | 0.1–0.7 | Shows how your body breaks down tryptophan, which affects mood and brain function. | High levels mean possible inflammation or tryptophan metabolism issues.
Low levels mean normal tryptophan breakdown. |
| Formiminoglutamic Acid | 0.1–0.7 | Shows if your body has enough folate for making new cells and energy. | High levels mean possible folate deficiency.
Low levels mean normal folate status. |
Reference ranges may change slightly as labs update their methods or as new research becomes available. Always check your report for the most current reference values.
Metabolic Analysis Profile FAQ
Is there Metabolic Analysis Profile testing near me?
You will receive a test kit that can be collected at home or at a local draw site—check the draw location link at the top of the page. For those dealing with ongoing fatigue or digestive issues, having a nearby collection option makes it easier to get tested without extra travel or delays.
How do I interpret the test results?
While your treating physician should review your results, we also offer a one-on-one test results review with our clinical team to help you understand what your results mean and what steps you can take next.
What is the cost of the test?
The price listed for the Metabolic Analysis Profile includes standard shipping to you and return shipping to the lab, though draw fees may apply. Ordering this test can help you quickly identify nutrient or metabolic imbalances that may be slowing your progress with energy, mood, or digestion.
How often should I retest?
It’s best to retest every 6 to 12 months, especially if you are making changes to your diet or supplements, to track improvements or spot new imbalances. Regular retesting helps you and your healthcare provider adjust your plan based on measurable changes in your body’s metabolism and nutrient status.
How accurate is the test?
The Metabolic Analysis Profile uses advanced mass spectrometry and gas chromatography to measure organic acids in urine, with a specificity of 98% and sensitivity of 97%. TrueHealthLabs.com partners with CLIA-certified and CAP-certified laboratories to uphold rigorous testing standards for dependable results.
Important Notes
- This kit cannot be mailed or collected in New York State. Contact us with questions.
Medical Review Board
Reviewed by Jeff Donohue M.D. from Body Logic and Brady Hurst DC, CCCN. Written by True Health Lab’s team of editorial health contributors.
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and not intended as medical advice. Consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance.
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