test result page with two circles in first woman eating muesli with fruits in second man and woman smiling

NutrEval®

Understand your body's nutritional status, identify potential toxic exposures, and take charge of your well-being.

SPECIMEN TYPE: URINE / BLOOD / BUCCAL SWAB

TURNAROUND TIME: 14 DAYS

Clinical Information

The NutrEval® is both a blood and urine profile that evaluates over 125 biomarkers and assesses the body's functional need for 40 antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, amino acids, digestive support, and other select nutrients.

Personalized recommendations for nutrients are determined by using an algorithm based on person's test findings. Functional pillars with a built-in scoring system guide the need for therapeutic support in areas of methylation, toxic exposure, mitochondrial dysfunction, fatty acid imbalances, and oxidative stress. The NutrEval® Plasma and NutrEval® FMV (first morning void) differ based on which sample type is used to measure amino acids, plasma or urine.

Which patients might benefit from functional nutritional testing?

According to the World Health Organization, every country in the world is affected by one or more forms of malnutrition. Nutritional imbalances are often root cause contributors to disease. Correcting these imbalances can result in optimized health and your well-being.

Common clinical indications for testing include:

Mood disorders;
Cardiovascular disease;
Obesity/ Insulin resistance/ Type 2 Diabetes;
Fatigue;
Weight Issues/ Dietary Guidance;
Malnutrition (often observed in the elderly);
Maldigestion/Malabsorption;
Athletic performance;
Physical trauma/healing.

About the NutrEval® Profile

The NutrEval® report categorizes results into several metabolic areas:

Personalized Results Overview and Nutrient Need Overview
- Functional Imbalance Scores in areas of methylation, toxic exposure, mitochondrial dysfunction, fatty acid imbalances, and oxidative stress,
- Nutrient Need Overview with recommendations for antioxidants, B-vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, GI support, and amino acids,
- Interpretation-At-A-Glance pages provide nutritional educational support for you and your patient highlighting the function of each nutrient, cause of deficiency, complications of deficiency and food sources of the nutrient.
Organic Acids (urine)
- Malabsorption and Bacterial/ Yeast Dysbiosis Markers are metabolites produced by the gastrointestinal microbiome,
- Cellular Energy & Mitochondrial Metabolites are biomarkers of carbohydrate and fatty acid metabolism, and the citric acid (Kreb’s) cycle,
- Neurotransmitter Metabolites are downstream byproducts of epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine,
- Vitamin Markers are specific analytes used to assess functional levels of vitamin cofactors,
- Toxin & Detoxification Markers relate to certain toxic metabolites and the body’s detoxification capacity,
- Oxalate Markers relate to kidney stone formation, oxidative stress and metabolic dysfunction.
Oxidative Stress Markers include antioxidants glutathione (whole blood) and Coenzyme Q10 (serum), as well as the oxidative damage markers lipid peroxides and 8-OHdG (urine).

Amino Acids (plasma or urine)
- Essential Amino Acids must be derived from dietary sources,
- Nonessential Amino Acids are synthesized by the body,
- Intermediary Metabolites are byproducts of amino acid metabolism,
  - B Vitamin Markers are involved in biochemical reactions that specifically require B vitamins,
  - Urea Cycle Markers are byproducts associated with nitrogen (ammonia) detoxification,
  - Glycine/Serine Metabolites are involved in the serine-to-choline pathway and the methylation pathways,
- Dietary Peptide Related Markers can indicate incomplete protein breakdown and meat intake.
Essential and Metabolic Fatty Acids Markers (RBCs)
- Omega 3 Fatty Acids are essential for brain function and cardiovascular health and are anti-inflammatory,
- Omega 6 Fatty Acids are involved in the balance of inflammation,
- Omega 9 Fatty Acids are important for brain growth, nerve cell myelin, and reducing inflammation,
- Saturated Fatty Acids are involved in liproprotein metabolism and adipose tissue inflammation,
- Monounsaturated Fats include omega 7 fats and unhealthy trans fats,
- Delta-6 Desaturase Activity assesses efficiency of this enzyme to metabolize omega 6’s and omega 3’s,
- Cardiovascular Risk includes specific ratios and the Omega 3 Index.
Elemental Markers
- Nutrient Elements are direct measurements of copper and zinc (plasma), magnesium and potassium (RBC), and manganese and selenium (whole blood),
- Toxic Elements (whole blood) indicate exposure to lead, mercury, arsenic or cadmium within approximately a 90-120 day timeframe.
Add-on Vitamin D (serum) measures a total of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 (ergocalciferol).
Add-on SNPs (buccal swab) include MTHFR, COMT, TNF-a, and APOE.

What is the difference between plasma and urine amino acids?

Certain amino acids are measurable in blood versus urine and sample type selection depends on the clinical concern. The key differences between plasma and urine amino acids are summarized below.

What is a Functional Nutritional Assessment?

Unique approach to nutritional testing begins by assessing the body’s biochemical pathways. Marked accumulation of organic acids or amino acids in urine can signal a metabolic inhibition or block. The metabolic block may be due to a nutrient deficiency, an inherited enzyme deficit, toxin build-up, or drug effect. Enzymes that are responsible for metabolizing organic acids and amino acids are vitamin and mineral dependent. With this, elevations in organic acids or amino acids can reflect a functional need for these nutrients on a cellular and biochemical level, even despite normal serum levels. Recommendations for nutrient supplementation based on results are generated using a literature-based proprietary algorithm.

Traditionally, urinary organic and amino acid assessment has been used in neonatal/pediatric medicine to identify genetic inborn errors of metabolism, with severity depending on the degree and type of error.* In many cases of genetic inborn errors, the enzymatic defect may be compensated for by high doses of specific vitamin and mineral cofactors and/or dietary interventions. Intervention with higher-dose nutrient cofactors may also be effective in cases of decreased enzyme activity due to causes other than frank inborn errors.

There are various methods of assessing nutrient status, including intracellular and extracellular direct measurement, and measuring biochemical pathway markers.

The NutrEval® utilizes all of these methods, making it the only nutritional profile of its kind.

*Test is not intended for the diagnosis of neonatal inborn errors of metabolism.

Watch the NutrEval® Report Review to learn more

Optimize your nutrition and improve your health

Nutrition plays a vital role in your overall well-being, and even small adjustments can make a significant difference in how you feel. Nutritional testing is designed to help you identify your unique nutritional needs, ensuring that you're getting the right nutrients for your body.

Nutrition is a cornerstone of good health, impacting every system in your body. Poor nutrition can contribute to chronic diseases and a host of health issues. Testing is tailored to address a wide range of your concerns, from managing chronic health conditions to optimizing your health and performance.

NutrEval® combines several cutting-edge methodologies and biomarkers to provide you with the most comprehensive nutritional assessment available. Dynamic reporting makes it easy to interpret the results and take clinically actionable steps toward improving your nutrition and overall health.

Why do I need that test?

Whether you're seeking to address specific health concerns, optimize your nutrition, or achieve peak performance, our test provides valuable insights tailored to your unique needs.

This test is suitable for you if you have any of the following conditions:

Depression;
Heart disease;
Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes;
Fatigue;
Weight issues;
General dietary guidance;
Malnutrition (often observed in the elderly);
Maldigestion/Malabsorption related to the gut;
Athletic performance;
Physical trauma/healing.

NutrEval® nutritional testing goes beyond standard assessments, offering a more comprehensive view of your nutritional status. You'll receive personalized recommendations for amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and digestive support, all while uncovering potential toxic exposures and your body's ability to neutralize them.

Achieve a healthier weight, mental well-being, disease prevention, and increased energy.

The NutrEval® requires both a blood draw and a urine sample. Review the Test Preparation tab to learn more about the collection process.

Test Preparation

Certain medications, supplements, and/or foods may impact test results. Please note that the reference ranges were established based on patients who were taking no medications or supplements. In some instances it is unknown what potential impact a medication may have on test results.

Stopping essential medications or supplements for testing is not recommended. If needed, consult with your healthcare provider or book a consultation with a specialist.

There may be times when a person may stay on a medication or dietary supplement during testing in order to evaluate its effectiveness. The recommendation to discontinue any substance is intended to establish a baseline finding. While there are no rigid rules on time frames for discontinuing supplements to establish a baseline, some clinicians choose to discontinue 4 days prior to testing.

If you choose to discontinue a medication, a good rule of thumb is to take the biological half-life of the drug times 5 to allow for 'clearance' before testing. With certain medications, the drug itself may have cleared the body, but the effect of the medication may be longer lasting. Below you will find a list detailing the potential interference or influence of certain substances on the biomarkers.

Medications and supplements may impact results. The discontinuation of any medication is at the discretion of the clinician, only if medically appropriate.

Dietary Influences on urinary organic acids: 4-16

Diabetic Patients

Urine glucose is a direct interferent to the lipid peroxides assay. Persons with uncontrolled diabetes and elevated urine glucose may receive a result of 'not reportable, NR' for lipid peroxides. Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) Inhibitors lower blood sugar by disposing of excess glucose via urine.

Urinary Creatinine Levels and Kidney Function

The urine biomarkers are ratioed to urinary creatinine. The urine biomarkers include organic acids, urine amino acids and urine oxidative stress markers. If urinary creatinine is out of range, it can impact the levels of reported urine analytes which are used for nutrient recommendations. The collection instructions recommend not to drink more than six (6), 8-ounce (227 ml) glasses of liquid (48 ounces/1,362 ml) 24 hours prior to sample collection because it can dilute the urine impacting the reported urine analytes.

Below are considerations for altered urinary creatinine:

Elevated Creatinine: High muscle mass, heavy exercise or increased physical activity, increased protein intake, significant dehydration, and increased renal clearance.
Low Creatinine: Poor renal clearance or dysfunction, low muscle mass (i.e. physical inactivity or muscle wasting disease), diluted urine (use of diuretics), malnutrition/protein insufficiency, and hypothyroidism.

Urine testing is not recommended for individuals with known kidney dysfunction, as indicated by abnormal serum testing.

Pediatric Patients

Testing is not available for children under 2 years old and samples will be discarded. Appropriate reference ranges have not been established for this population. Squeezing liquid out of a diaper for sample collection is not recommended, as it can alter the concentrations of creatinine and biomarkers. A pediatric urine bag that can be taped to the body is available upon request for appropriate sample collection. While this is not a catheter procedure, instructions for catheterized patients can be followed below with regards to collecting and pooling all urine samples from the child's bedtime to early morning awakening.

Urinary Catheters

It is unknown whether having a catheter placed will affect the results, or whether there will be any interference or decreased viability of the sample owing to this procedure. It is imperative to collect all urine samples from bedtime until early morning awakening. The bladder should be voided before bed. If the person urinates during the night, the contents of the bag should be emptied into a clean container and refrigerated as soon as possible. This must be done each time urine is collected during the night. This may be inconvenient for the person but would ensure a more viable sample. Finally, collect the first urine upon waking for the day, and combine that sample with all samples collected during the night. Ensure the combined sample is well mixed before transferring into the labeled tubes.

Pregnant Patients

The reference ranges were not designed for a pregnant population. However, it may be useful to evaluate functional nutritional needs to optimize health during pregnancy, for both the mother and fetus. In pregnancy, the demand for various nutrients increases dramatically. The recommendations offered may reflect that increased nutritional burden. However, because the reference ranges were not established for this patient population, the implementation of nutrient recommendations or botanicals should be in accordance with standard pregnancy recommendations and precautions. Please refer to the link below addressing micronutrient needs during pregnancy and lactation:

Linus Pauling: Micronutrient Needs During Pregnancy and Lactation

TAKE THE FIRST STEP TO A HEALTHIER YOU

Discover the hidden truths about your nutrition.
Order your test now.

NutrEval®

Clinical Information

Watch the NutrEval® Report Review to learn more

Test Preparation

Certain medications, supplements, and/or foods may impact test results. Please note that the reference ranges were established based on patients who were taking no medications or supplements. In some instances it is unknown what potential impact a medication may have on test results.

Pediatric Patients

Urinary Catheters

Pregnant Patients

Support Materials

TAKE THE FIRST STEP TO A HEALTHIER YOU

Discover the hidden truths about your nutrition.
Order your test now.

BE VITAL

Join Vital Positive

Shop Policy

Privacy Policy

NutrEval®

TAKE THE FIRST STEP TO A HEALTHIER YOU

Discover the hidden truths about your nutrition. Order your test now.

BE VITAL

Join Vital Positive

Shop Policy

Privacy Policy

Discover the hidden truths about your nutrition.
Order your test now.