The Heavy Metals Basic Profile, Urine is a comprehensive analysis of toxic and potentially toxic heavy metals excreted in the urine.
Acute heavy metal poisoning is rare. Chronic exposure to toxic heavy metals is more common and can lead to their significant deposition in the body, which has been linked to a wide range of adverse health effects and the development of chronic diseases.
The Heavy Metals Basic Profile, Urine is useful in finding the causes of pathological conditions such as:
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Decreased bone density (osteoporosis / osteopenia)
- Anemia
- Cardiovascular diseases and hypertension
- Renal dysfunction
- Depression, neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson, Alzheimer)
- Alopecia, Dermatitis, and other dermatological diseases
- Gastrointestinal symptoms
- Immune system disorders
- Chronic inflammation
- Diabetes mellitus and abnormal glucose tolerance
- Vision disorders
- Impotence or decreased testosterone production
- Nutritional deficiencies
Additionally, the Heavy Metals Profile, Urine is used in:
- Testing for possible exposure to toxic substances (occupational or environmental)
- Monitoring and evaluation of heavy metal removal treatments (e.g. with chelating agents)
The adverse health effects of heavy metals depend on their actual concentrations in the "target" organs. In every individual and in every organ or tissue, toxicity occurs when the concentration exceeds the normal tolerance levels. To assess the overall quantity of heavy metals in the body, a comparison of urinary metal levels before and after administration of a metal-removing drug (chelating agent) such as EDTA, DMSA, and DMPS can be used. Different agents have different affinities for specific metals, but they all work by mobilizing "hidden" metals from tissues and excreting them in the urine.
The measurements are performed by the ICP-MS method (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry), a method that enables the simultaneous detection of many metals. Its sensitivity and accuracy are significantly better compared to the conventional method of atomic absorption, having the ability to measure metals in concentrations up to 1 in 1015 (1 in 1 quadrillion, ppq)!
