Do you know what organic acids are? Terms like organic acids, mitochondria, CoQ10, and other big words we frequently use as clinicians are often viewed as nebulous to people outside the scientific community. So, what are organic acids and why are they important? What information can they provide to medical practitioners and clinicians?

Today, fellow Genovians, Dr. Steven Goldman, Christine Stubbe, and Ed Wallace, explain what organic acids are and the type of information we can gleam from these organic compounds. Dr. Goldman explains how they work as a metabolic intermediary in the body. Christine describes how they are produced and the process we use to measure them. Ed explains the chemistry naming of organic acids. We also discuss how our bodies absorb microbes, what clinicians consider when evaluating your organic acid levels, and when you should consider treating elevated levels of organic acid.

 

“Just because there is a lot of bacterial activity in the GI tract - or there’s a lot of bacterial products - you don’t necessarily know that that means it’s worth antimicrobial therapy.“ - Michael Chapman

 

This week on The Lab Report:

• Understanding what organic acids are, how they work and why it’s important to measure them
• How organic acids are produced and measured
• The chemical naming of organic acids
• How microbes create organic acids and how our bodies absorb them
• Factors clinicians consider when evaluating organic acids
• Common food sources that may elevate organic acids in your body
• Identifying when to treat high levels of organic acids
• Biomarkers and what we focus on when assessing organic acids
• How we measure mitochondrial dysfunction
• Understanding CoQ10 and what it does in the body’s cells
• Common food sources with high, natural CoQ10 levels

 

Question of the Day:

• What is the clinical significance of urinary oxalates?

 

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Disclaimer: The content and information shared in The Lab Report is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in The Lab Report represent the opinions of Michael Chapman and Patti Devers and their guests.

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