Functional Medicine and Nutrition Virtual Classroom 308 - Functional Medicine and Nutrition Laboratory Testing

Course overview

Identify optimal serum ranges and clinical applications for assessing fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamin D maintained between 50-70 ng/mL. Differentiate specimen types for assessing essential minerals and toxic heavy metals, including under-carboxylated osteocalcin for vitamin K status. Evaluate zinc, copper, and selenium status using plasma, alkaline phosphatase, and organic acid markers. Recognize functional organic acid markers indicating CoQ10, B6, folate, and B12 insufficiency, including HMG, xanthurenate, FIGLU, and homocysteine. Compare bioidentical folate forms to synthetic folic acid and interpret fasting plasma amino acids for supplementation needs. Analyze fatty acid profiles using ratios such as arachidonic acid to EPA and distinguish IgG-mediated from IgE-mediated food reactions. Interpret IgG food sensitivity patterns to identify intestinal permeability and explain advantages of DNA-based PCR stool testing over culture methods. Apply quantified PCR stool analysis markers including pancreatic elastase-1, calprotectin, and H. pylori virulence factors to guide clinical treatment.