Orotic Acid is a sensitive marker of your liver’s capacity to convert toxic ammonia to non-toxic urea that you can excrete. That capacity can be increased by additional arginine. Ammonia toxicity can also be reduced by supplementation with α-ketoglutarate, magnesium, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid. Ammonia impairs brain function, causing difficulty with thinking, fatigue, headaches, and increased food sensitivities. Associated nutrients: Arginine, Magnesium
References:
- Low orotic acid in the presence of high ammonia indicates magnesium deficiency.
- Low orotic acid together with low urea levels suggests your cells are not burning protein for fuel at a very high rate. This is consistent with elevated branched-chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine and valine). It also means that you do not have gut bacteria that are producing a lot of ammonia. Check the bacterial dysbiosis markers to see if they’re consistent.
Elevations are most commonly associated with ammonia toxicity. Elevated ammonia may result from drug toxicity to the liver, viral liver infection, gastrointestinal bleeding, or inborn errors of ammonia metabolism. Confirmation of a genetic disorder requires testing plasma amino acids.
Possible causes:
- liver damage (e.g. from alcohol)
- urea cycle dysfunction
- ammonia excess
- barbiturates
- impaired metabolism due to cofactor insufficiencies (vitamins B3, B6, folate, Mg, glutamine, glycine, serine)
- use of allopurinol or chemotherapy
Additional investigations:
- Functional Liver Detoxification Profile
- Vitamins & Minerals Analysis
- Urinary Amino Acids
Possible treatments:
- Supplement vitamins B3, B6, folic acid, Mg, glutamine, glycine, serine
- Consider alpha-ketoglutarate and arginine for ammonia excess
- Support liver
- Antioxidants
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