Description:
Metametrix Fatty Acid Profile-Blood Spot. Fatty acids are the components of dietary fat. In the body, they serve as a source of energy from a process called fatty acid oxidation. Fatty acids are also the principal components of triglycerides, which act as the body’s long-term energy reservoir. Plasma fatty acids provide a magnified view of serum triglycerides. Unsaturated fatty acids are the predominant building blocks of phospholipids, which are the structural components of nerves and cell membranes, as well as the precursors of a special class of hormones called eicosanoid hormones.

Saple Report

Unlike the endocrine hormones, eicosanoids are not synthesized in a specific gland and transported to their sites of action. Rather, they are synthesized by almost all cells in the body except red blood cells. Eicosanoids are involved in the initiation of inflammatory responses, the regulation of blood circulation and pressure, the control of ion transport through membranes, the modulation of synaptic transport, the induction of blood clotting, the regulation of the sleep/wake cycle, and the control of several reproductive functions.

Recently, a great deal of interest has been paid to the AA/EPA ratio. According to Dr. Sears, a lower AA/EPA ratio indicates a better balance of "good" and "bad" eicosanoids in your body. An AA/EPA ratio of 1.5 is considered to be ideal since this is the ratio found in the Japanese population having the greatest longevity and the lowest incidence of cardiovascular disease.

Blood Spot is a simple finger stick you collect at home and mail to the lab. You receive a copy of the results.
Analytes Reported:Arachidonic Acid (AA),Eicosapentaenoic (EPA),Docosahexanoic Acid (DHA),AA/EPA Ratio,Index of Omega 3 Fatty Acids (EPA + DHA %)