Adiponectin is a crucial marker often included in metabolic test panels to provide insights into an individual's metabolic health. This protein hormone, produced and secreted by fat cells, plays a significant role in regulating glucose levels and fatty acid breakdown in the body. High levels of adiponectin are associated with a lower risk of several metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Essentially, adiponectin enhances the body's sensitivity to insulin, making it an important indicator of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance.

Adjusted calcium is useful in the interpretation of calcium levels when albumin levels are low.

Adjusted calcium, also known as corrected calcium, is a critical marker on a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP), which is a blood test used to assess your overall health and detect various medical conditions. Calcium is an essential mineral in the body, crucial for bone health, muscle function, nerve signaling, and blood clotting. The CMP measures the total calcium in your blood, but this value can be influenced by the levels of albumin, a protein that binds calcium. Since only the unbound or "free" calcium is biologically active, it's important to adjust the total calcium level for the albumin level to get a more accurate understanding of your calcium status. This is particularly important for people with abnormal albumin levels, such as those with liver disease, kidney disease, or severe malnutrition. The adjusted calcium value helps doctors make better-informed decisions about diagnosing and treating conditions related to calcium imbalances, such as hypercalcemia (high calcium levels) or hypocalcemia (low calcium levels). By providing a clearer picture of the physiologically active calcium, the adjusted calcium marker is an invaluable tool for ensuring appropriate medical care.

ADMA/SDMA may be measured in individuals with multiple risk factors for the development of CVD.

One of the earliest manifestations of endothelial dysfunction is nitric oxide (NO) deficiency, which promotes atherosclerosis. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), its structural isomer, are metabolites of L-arginine, an amino acid that is catalyzed to L-citrulline and NO by nitric oxide synthase (NOS).

Both ADMA and SDMA have distinct pathophysiologies and manifestations. ADMA is a competitive inhibitor of NOS thereby reducing NO production and promoting endothelial dysfunction. SDMA also interferes with NO production, but does so indirectly by reducing the cellular availability of arginine. ADMA is primarily cleared through enzymatic degradation in the bloodstream and its presence identifies subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD). Conversely, SDMA is primarily excreted in the urine and identifies reduced renal function.

Adrenal reserve, represented by the marker THE+5α-THF+THF (tetrahydrocortisone, 5-alpha-tetrahydrocortisol, and tetrahydrocortisol) on a dried urine essential hormone profile, is a critical indicator of adrenal gland function, particularly in women during the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle. This phase, which occurs after ovulation and before menstruation, is characterized by significant hormonal fluctuations that can influence adrenal function. The adrenal reserve marker provides valuable insights into the body's ability to produce and metabolize cortisol, a vital stress hormone.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) is a critical hormone produced by the pituitary gland in the brain. Its main job is to signal your adrenal glands, located on top of the kidneys, to release cortisol — the body’s key stress hormone.

ACTH plays a central role in your body's hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which regulates your response to stress, blood sugar levels, metabolism, immune response, and more.

An ACTH blood test is commonly ordered when:

• Cortisol levels are abnormal

• Symptoms suggest adrenal insufficiency or Cushing’s syndrome

• You're being evaluated for pituitary gland function

• You’re undergoing an ACTH stimulation test (Cosyntropin test) and a baseline ACTH is needed

- Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is produced by many strains of Aspergillus fungi.

- Aflatoxin B1 is the most potent natural carcinogen known and is usually the major aflatoxin produced by toxigenic strains.

- Aflatoxin B1 is one of the most potent liver carcinogens known and has been associated as a cocarcinogen with hepatitis B in the high incidence of human liver cancer.

- AFB1 is a potent toxin, mutagen, and carcinogen, and is implicated in the etiology of hepatocarcinoma.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a mycotoxin produced by several strains of the fungus Aspergillus flavus. It is found in foods, specifically cereals such as corn and rice, tree nuts, oilseeds (peanut, cottonseed, etc.) and spices, notably those grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions. There is substantial evidence that aflatoxins cause hepatic carcinoma and AFB1, the most toxic aflatoxin, is classified as carcinogenic (Group 1) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Aflatoxins such as AFB1 can cause additive effects in individuals affected by hepatitis B. Wasting and weight loss, stunted growth and development in children, liver cirrhosis and aflatoxicosis are other conditions associated with aflatoxin ingestion.

Aatoxin B2 (AFB2) is a mycotoxin produced by several Aspergillus spp. and found in contaminated foods or hay exposed to water or humid conditions. Exposure routes are primarily ingestion or inhalation. Ingestion can either occur directly from food such as grains, tree nuts, and oilseeds or can also occur from ingestion of milk or meat from animals fed contaminated feed. Toxicity of aatoxins can be categorized as follows, in descending order of known toxic effects: aatoxin B1, aatoxin G1, aatoxin B2, and aatoxin G2. Animal studies have indicated that AFB2 has hepatotoxic, teratogenic, and carcinogenic effects.

Aatoxin B2 (AFB2) is a mycotoxin produced by several Aspergillus spp. and found in contaminated foods or hay exposed to water or humid conditions. Exposure routes are primarily ingestion or inhalation. Ingestion can either occur directly from food such as grains, tree nuts, and oilseeds or can also occur from ingestion of milk or meat from animals fed contaminated feed. Toxicity of aatoxins can be categorized as follows, in descending order of known toxic effects: aatoxin B1, aatoxin G1, aatoxin B2, and aatoxin G2. Animal studies have indicated that AFB2 has hepatotoxic, teratogenic, and carcinogenic effects.

Aflatoxins are naturally occurring Mycotoxins that are produced by Aspergillus species of fungi. Aflatoxin G1 (AFG1) is one of the four major naturally known aflatoxins produced by the Aspergillus species.

Aflatoxin G2 is a mycotoxin produced by certain species of molds, particularly Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. This toxin is a member of the aflatoxin family, known for its potent carcinogenic and toxic effects on humans and animals. Aflatoxin G2 is one of several structurally related compounds, including Aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, and others, but it is considered less toxic than Aflatoxin B1. It can contaminate various food crops, including peanuts, corn, rice, and tree nuts, particularly in warm and humid regions where mold growth is more prevalent. Aflatoxin G2, like other aflatoxins, poses significant health risks when ingested or inhaled, as it can cause liver damage, suppress the immune system, and has been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). It is essential to monitor and limit exposure to aflatoxin-contaminated foods, as they pose a severe threat to food safety and public health.

Aflatoxins can contaminate corn, cereals, sorghum, peanuts and other oil-seed crops. Thus, food contamination by this group of mycotoxins has been implicated in both animal and human Aflatoxicosis.