Organic acids are acidic byproducts of cellular metabolism that are produced by living organisms—including humans, bacteria, and fungi—and are typically excreted in urine. These compounds are the downstream products of various metabolic pathways, such as microbial activity, energy production, detoxification, neurotransmitter synthesis, and nutrient metabolism. When metabolic pathways function efficiently, organic acids are processed and excreted at expected levels. But if enzymatic function is impaired, nutrient cofactors are deficient, or toxins/ microbial byproducts inhibit pathways, these can become blocked, causing abnormal organic acid buildup in urine.
The Organic Acids Test (OAT) provides a comprehensive nutritional and metabolic snapshot of an individual’s overall health. The OAT measures 76 organic acids from one easy to collect urine sample.