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Vitamins and amino acids needs may be revealed using hair analysis.
Keep in mind, there are laboratory analyses specifically for vitamins, amino acids, and fatty acids.
A hair analysis is a nutritional and toxic element analysis.
However, because complex nutrient interrelationships exists between all essential nutrients, a hair mineral analysis can be helpful for assessing the needs for vitamins and amino acids.
Essential minerals interact not only with each other but also with vitamins, amino acids, fatty acids, and toxic elements. Minerals influence each of these factors, and they, in turn, influence mineral status.
Minerals act as enzyme activators, and vitamins are synergistic to minerals as coenzymes. It is extremely rare that a mineral disturbance develops without a corresponding disturbance in the synergistic vitamin(s) and amino acids.
It is also rare for a disturbance in the utilization or activity of a vitamin or amino acid to occur without affecting a synergistic mineral(s).
Vitamins, amino acids, fatty acids, and minerals interrelationships: A brief example.
Elements (minerals) are the absolute foundation of human nutrition. Without minerals, other essential nutrients cannot function.
As seen throughout the website, we constantly refer to cofactors. Cofactors are secondary or additional nutrients that enable the primary nutrient to actually perform its metabolic functions in the body.
As you read the following examples, focus on the mineral in each example and the nutrient interrelationships between all essential nutrients.
- Vitamin C affects iron absorption and reduces copper retention. Boron and iron influence the status of vitamin B2. Vitamin B2 affects the relationship between calcium and magnesium.
- Vitamin B1 enhances sodium retention, B12 enhances iron and cobalt absorption, and vitamin A enhances the utilization of zinc, while antagonizing vitamins D and E. Protein intake will affect zinc status, etc.
- Phenylalanine, an essential amino acid, requires biopterin (a form of folic acid), iron, copper, and vitamins B3, B6, and C for proper metabolism.
- Important co-factors for omega-3 metabolism are vitamins B6, B12 (cobalt), biotin (vitamin H), niacin, folic acid, zinc, magnesium, iron, selenium, and iodine/iodide.
As you can see in this brief example, nutrient interrelationships are complex and apply between all nutrients in the body that extend well beyond the “calcium/vitamin D” synergistic relationship.
Minerals as cofactors and catalysts… Alternatively, when minerals act as cofactors, they become a part of the enzyme or protein structure that is essential for the biochemical reaction to proceed. Minerals that act as cofactors include manganese, selenium, magnesium, and molybdenum. Some minerals, such as cobalt, iodine, calcium, and phosphorus, act as cofactors for certain non-enzymatic proteins. Others, like copper, zinc, and iron, act as cofactors for both non-enzymatic and enzymatic proteins.
Biology Online, https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/coenzyme
How does hair analysis reveal additional nutrient needs?
As stated at the beginning, specific analyses exist for fatty acids, vitamins and amino acids. However, a hair analysis is a mineral analysis and because minerals are important cofactors for other essential nutrients, one can deduce that a mineral excess or deficiency may alter the functions of the other nutrients.
Let’s look at two more brief examples that may help clarify that last sentence.
- If your magnesium is out of the reference range (high or low), it could infer the need of additional vitamin B6 (a primary cofactor of magnesium). However, vitamin B6 is a primary cofactor for most essential amino acids.
- If your copper is out of the reference range, it could infer several amino acids or fatty acids may not be functioning properly because copper is also an important cofactor. Vitamin B2 is a cofactor for copper as well as several essential amino acids.
As you can see, it is essential for a practitioner to understand nutrient interrelationships. Also, it is common to use vitamins, amino acids, and fats to modulate mineral levels due to nutrient interrelationships.
As for hair analysis, all of the minerals in the examples (and many others) are revealed in the analysis. As you may realize by now, mineral excesses and deficiencies may easily alter the functionality of the other essential nutrients.
Remember, Minerals (elements) are the absolute foundation of nutrition!
Our Profile 2 and 3 hair analysis, through a large database, accounts for nutrient and toxic element interrelationships when producing your specific food and supplement recommendations.
The specific food recommendations are based on the results of your analysis and the list of healthy foods are specific to your personal nutrient needs. You may also find foods called out that provide different vitamins and amino acids required to balance your nutritional elements and detox the body.
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