Uric acid is a waste product formed when the body breaks down purines, which are natural substances found in certain foods and cells. Uric acid levels are commonly assessed through blood tests as part of a metabolic or comprehensive health evaluation. In females, the normal reference range for uric acid is generally lower compared to males due to hormonal differences, particularly the effects of estrogen, which promotes uric acid excretion by the kidneys.

Uric acid, a key biomarker assessed through a 24-hour urine test, holds significant clinical relevance in diagnosing and managing various metabolic and renal disorders. Chemically, uric acid is the end product of purine metabolism in humans, arising predominantly from the dietary breakdown of nucleic acids and, to a lesser extent, endogenous purine synthesis. Normally, it is soluble in the blood, filtered by the kidneys, and excreted in urine. However, deviations in its urinary concentration can be indicative of pathological states. Elevated urinary uric acid levels, or hyperuricosuria, can signal conditions such as gout, a form of arthritis characterized by the deposition of monosodium urate crystals in joints due to hyperuricemia.

Urine creatinine is a crucial marker on an Organic Acids panel, primarily used to assess kidney function and the overall adequacy of urine concentration. Creatinine is a waste product formed from the normal breakdown of muscle tissue and is excreted through the kidneys. Its levels in urine are often evaluated to ensure proper kidney filtration and are used as a baseline to interpret other metabolites on the Organic Acids panel. When urine creatinine is low, it may indicate diluted urine, potentially affecting the accuracy of other metabolite readings. Conversely, high urine creatinine levels might suggest dehydration or impaired kidney function. Monitoring urine creatinine is essential for accurate assessment of metabolic processes and to help rule out issues related to kidney health.

Urine occult blood is a test to determine if there is blood present in the urine and is done, along with several other tests, during a routine analysis of the urine. Although some urine in the blood isn’t unusual, it can also indicate severe problems with the kidneys or cancer.

Urine pH is a test to assess the pH level of your urine and is done, along with several other tests, during a routine analysis of the urine. Although some fluctuation of urine pH is normal, excessively acidic or alkaline urine can indicate a problem with the kidneys or digestive system.

Urinalysis is a series of tests that analyze the chemical composition of urine to assess overall health. One important measurement in urinalysis is urine specific gravity (SG), which indicates the concentration of substances in the urine. This is typically done by dipping a test strip into the urine, where chemical reactions cause color changes that are then analyzed.

What Is Urine Specific Gravity?

Urine specific gravity measures how concentrated urine is compared to pure water. The specific gravity of water is 1.000, and urine with no dissolved substances would have a similar reading. However, since urine naturally contains dissolved substances like salts, minerals, and waste products, a specific gravity of 1.000 is not possible in humans.

Urobilinogen comes from the transformation of bilirubin, a product of the breakdown of hemoglobin in the red blood cells (=heme catabolism). 

Urobilinogen is formed from bilirubin by intestinal bacteria in the duodenum (=the first part of the small intestine). Most urobilinogen is excreted in the feces (90%). A portion of it is absorbed back into the blood (around 10%). Around 5% is transported back to the liver and re-secreted into bile again. The remaining urobilinogen (5%) is transported by the blood into the kidneys where it is converted into yellow urobilin and is excreted giving urine its characteristic yellow color.

Urobilinogen is formed when the body breaks down bilirubin, and small amounts in urine are normal. A dipstick test reports urobilinogen in broad categories (Normal, 1+, 2+, 4+, 8+) rather than exact numbers. Higher-than-normal results may signal liver disease (such as hepatitis), bile duct issues, or increased red blood cell breakdown (hemolysis), while very low or absent levels, though less common, can occur with complete bile duct obstruction. If levels are 1+ or higher, your clinician may recommend blood tests (bilirubin, AST, ALT, ALP, GGT), a complete blood count, or imaging, and you should mention any symptoms like jaundice, dark urine, pale stools, abdominal pain, fever, or fatigue. Because certain medications or poor sample handling can affect the test, repeat testing is sometimes advised, and the most accurate results come from a clean-catch, first-morning urine sample collected when you are well hydrated.

Porphyrins are a group of compounds defined by their chemical structure. These compounds are by-products of heme synthesis and are normally present at low levels in blood and other body fluids. Porphyrin tests measure porphyrins and their precursors in urine, blood, and/or stool.

Porphyrins are a group of compounds defined by their chemical structure. These compounds are by-products of heme synthesis and are normally present at low levels in blood and other body fluids. Porphyrin tests measure porphyrins and their precursors in urine, blood, and/or stool.

Uroporphyrins are porphyrin metabolites formed early in the heme synthesis pathway. They reflect how efficiently the body is converting precursor molecules into downstream heme products. Changes in uroporphyrin levels can signal metabolic stress, liver dysfunction, nutrient deficiencies, or environmental exposures that affect heme production.

Porphyrins are a group of compounds defined by their chemical structure. These compounds are by-products of heme synthesis and are normally present at low levels in blood and other body fluids. Porphyrin tests measure porphyrins and their precursors in urine, blood, and/or stool.

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is a naturally occurring bile acid that has been extensively studied and utilized in the treatment of various liver and gallbladder conditions. It is particularly effective in managing cholestatic liver diseases, where bile flow is impaired, leading to the accumulation of bile acids in the liver.

Vaccenic acid is a naturally occurring trans-fatty acid. Vaccenic acid is called this way as it is found in cow’s milk. The latin word vacca means cow.

Vaccenic acid is a naturally occurring trans-fatty acid. Vaccenic acid is called this way as it is found in cow’s milk. The latin word vacca means cow.

Vaccenic acid (VA) is a monounsaturated omega-7 fatty acid (18:1n7).

VA is a naturally occurring trans-fat unlike those produced industrially. The trans-configuration occurs around carbon 11, therefore VA is sometimes denoted as trans11-18:1n7. Ruminant animals produce vaccenic acid in a fermentation process in their microbiome. The dairy products (cheese, milk, butter) or meat obtained from these animals contain VA. There is also a cis-configuration of vaccenic acid created by de novo lipogenesis.

Vaccenic acid (VA) is a monounsaturated omega-7 fatty acid (18:1n7). VA is a naturally occurring trans-fat unlike those produced industrially. The trans-configuration occurs around carbon 11, therefore VA is sometimes denoted as trans11-18:1n7. Ruminant animals produce vaccenic acid in a fermentation process in their microbiome. The dairy products (cheese, milk, butter) or meat obtained from these animals contain VA.

Valerate is a Short Chain Fatty Acid (SCFA). It is derived from bacterial fermentation of protein in the distal colon.

SCFAs are the end product of the bacterial fermentation process of dietary fiber by beneficial flora in the gut and play an important role in the health of the GI as well as protecting against intestinal dysbiosis.