Metabolite of yeast or anaerobic bacteria, including Clostridia.

Citrate holds significant importance in metabolic assessments and clinical evaluations. This molecule plays a central role in energy metabolism as it is an essential component of the Citric Acid Cycle (CAC), also known as the Krebs cycle, which is a crucial process in cellular respiration. Citrate serves as the starting point in the CAC, where it undergoes a series of enzymatic reactions to generate ATP, the cell's primary energy currency.

Citrate is a key organic acid and an essential intermediate in the citric acid (Krebs) cycle, the core metabolic pathway responsible for producing energy (ATP) within the mitochondria. On the Neurotransmitter XL panel, citrate is used as a functional marker of mitochondrial health and oxidative metabolism, reflecting how efficiently the body converts nutrients into usable cellular energy.

Because mitochondrial energy generation directly supports neurotransmitter synthesis, stress resilience, and detoxification, citrate levels can provide crucial insight into whether energy metabolism is functioning optimally—or if it’s being impaired by oxidative stress, inflammation, or nutrient deficiencies.

Citric acid, cis-aconitic acid, and isocitric acid are the first three metabolites in the Krebs Citric Acid energy production cycle, which operates in the mitochondria of your cells. 

Citric acid, cis-aconitic acid, and isocitric acid are the first three metabolites in the Krebs Citric Acid energy production cycle, which operates in the mitochondria of your cells. 

Citrate Synthase (CS) is an enzyme found inside mitochondria—the structures responsible for producing cellular energy. In buccal (cheek) cells, CS is used as a marker of mitochondrial content. Higher CS activity typically reflects an increased number of mitochondria in the sampled cells, while lower activity suggests reduced mitochondrial density. Because buccal cells can mirror mitochondrial patterns seen in other tissues, this test helps clinicians assess potential mitochondrial stress, dysfunction, or compensatory changes in energy production.

Citric acid, cis-aconitic acid, and isocitric acid are the first three metabolites in the Krebs Citric Acid energy production cycle, which operates in the mitochondria of your cells. 

Citric acid, cis-aconitic acid, and isocitric acid are the first three metabolites in the Krebs Citric Acid energy production cycle, which operates in the mitochondria of your cells. 

Citric acid, cis-aconitic acid, and isocitric acid are the first three metabolites in the Krebs Citric Acid energy production cycle, which operates in the mitochondria of your cells. 

Citric acid, cis-aconitic acid, and isocitric acid are the first three metabolites in the Krebs Citric Acid energy production cycle, which operates in the mitochondria of your cells. 

- Diet has a significant impact on citric acid levels:

    » Increased acid load due to diets high in animal-based proteins, carbonated drinks, and in severe carbohydrate restriction can lead to mild metabolic acidosis, hypercalciuria, and reduced citric-acid excretion.

    » Plant-based diets are associated with increased citric acid. Alkalinization of urine through consumption of citrus foods, alkaline mineral water, fruits and vegetables, or citrate supplements (such as mag-citrate) increase citric acid levels.

- Low urine citric acid has been associated with insulin resistance, metabolic acidosis, bonedensity, hypokalemia, the development of kidney stones, kidney disease, and chronic kidney disease, and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis.

Citric acid, cis-aconitic acid, and isocitric acid are the first three metabolites in the Krebs Citric Acid energy production cycle, which operates in the mitochondria of your cells. 

A two-carbon group from Acetyl-CoA is transferred to oxaloacetate to form citric acid. Citric acid is then converted to isocitric acid through a cis-aconitic intermediate using the enzyme aconitase. Aconitase is an iron-sulfate protein that controls iron homeostasis.

Citric acid, cis-aconitic acid, and isocitric acid are the first three metabolites in the Krebs Citric Acid energy production cycle, which operates in the mitochondria of your cells.

Citric acid, cis-aconitic acid, and isocitric acid are the first three metabolites in the Krebs Citric Acid energy production cycle, which operates in the mitochondria of your cells. 

A two-carbon group from Acetyl-CoA is transferred to oxaloacetate to form citric acid. Citric acid is then converted to isocitric acid through a cis-aconitic intermediate using the enzyme aconitase. Aconitase is an iron-sulfate protein that controls iron homeostasis.

Citric acid helps prevent stone formation by binding calcium.

Citrate is a powerful force against calcium stones. It binds calcium in a soluble complex. It interferes with calcium crystal formation and growth. Low urine citrate is a risk factor for new stone onset. Above 400 mg daily there is no extra risk of stones in men or women, so ‘hypocitraturia’ means a urine citrate below 400 mg daily.

Dihydrocitrinone (DHC) is a metabolite of Citrinin (CTN), which is a mycotoxin that is produced by the mold genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Monascus.

Citrinin (CTN) is a mycotoxin that can be detected in a urine test, and its presence often signifies potential exposure to this fungal toxin. Citrinin is primarily produced by various species of molds, particularly Penicillium and Aspergillus, commonly found in food products, such as grains, cereals, and fermented foods like cheese and soy sauce.