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Amino Acids (Morning Urine)
€ 169,00
Functional Nutrition and Detox Analysis
Your test at a glance
- Sample
- Morning urine
- Results from receipt
- Usually 3–10 days
- Fasting
- An overnight fast is usually not needed. Follow the kit’s food, drink and collection-timing instructions.
Timing starts when suitable samples arrive at the laboratory. Shipping time is additional. Combined panels may take longer.
Preparation: Pause non-prescribed nutritional supplements for at least 48 hours, unless WHL or your clinician advises otherwise.
WHL will send the full test instructions with your kit or appointment confirmation. Follow these before collecting.
Preparation and important notesOne charge per request. Processing and handling is charged once for the complete request, not for each test or panel. Collection and delivery charges are shown separately at checkout.
Description
Purpose & Functional Medicine Relevance
The first morning urine amino acid profile reflects overnight metabolic processing and is particularly valuable for:
- Nutrient status evaluation: Identifies amino acid insufficiencies and excretion patterns linked to malnutrition, stress, or impaired nutrient assimilation (Lord & Bralley, Laboratory Evaluations for Integrative and Functional Medicine, 2008).
- Functional detoxification assessment: Evaluates sulfur metabolism, methylation, and antioxidant pathways active overnight.
- Protein metabolism insights: Assesses catabolic processes and protein turnover occurring during fasting and overnight repair.
- Oxidative stress and mitochondrial function: Provides insight into amino acids involved in energy metabolism, such as glutamine, glycine, and carnitine-related pathways.
- Neurotransmitter precursor balance: Screens for imbalances in precursors for dopamine, serotonin, and GABA relevant for mood, cognition, and sleep.
- Convenient specimen: Easier for patient compliance vs. 24-hour collection while still providing highly valuable functional insights.
Clinical Utility in Functional Medicine
| Clinical Focus | Role of Morning Urine Amino Acids |
|---|---|
| Detoxification Capacity | Assesses taurine, glycine, cysteine (glutathione precursors) |
| Methylation Pathways | Evaluates methionine, homocysteine, SAMe precursors |
| Neurotransmitter Balance | Measures tryptophan, tyrosine, phenylalanine |
| Gut & GI Health | Detects malabsorption, dysbiosis-associated amino acid shifts |
| Oxidative Stress | Monitors glutathione precursors |
| Nutritional Deficiencies | Identifies low intake or poor assimilation of essential amino acids |
| Sleep & Circadian Biology | Reflects overnight amino acid metabolism involved in rest, repair, and brain detoxification (glymphatic system function) |
Key Amino Acids Typically Monitored
| Amino Acid | Clinical Relevance |
|---|---|
| Taurine | Liver detoxification, bile acid conjugation, antioxidant protection |
| Glycine | Detoxification, neurotransmission, collagen synthesis |
| Cysteine | Glutathione production, redox balance |
| Methionine | Methylation, homocysteine cycle |
| Tyrosine & Phenylalanine | Catecholamine production (dopamine, norepinephrine) |
| Tryptophan | Serotonin, melatonin synthesis; sleep & mood regulation |
| Glutamine | Gut barrier repair, immune modulation |
| Ornithine, Citrulline, Arginine | Urea cycle function and ammonia detoxification |
| Histidine | Inflammation control, histamine regulation |
| Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) | Muscle maintenance, mitochondrial metabolism |
Why Choose Morning Urine Amino Acids?
| Morning Urine Amino Acids | 24-Hour Urine Amino Acids |
|---|---|
| Reflects overnight metabolic state | Reflects daily excretion |
| Excellent for methylation, neurotransmitters, detox pathways | More suited for full metabolic turnover evaluation |
| Higher patient compliance | More complete cumulative data |
| Ideal for nutritional therapy follow-up | Ideal for complex chronic metabolic monitoring |
(Adapted from Bralley & Lord, 2008; IFM Functional Medicine Textbook, 2010)
Summary Statement for Clients
The Morning Urine Amino Acids Test provides a functional snapshot of overnight amino acid metabolism, offering valuable insight into detoxification capacity, methylation pathways, neurotransmitter precursors, nutrient status, and oxidative stress balance, making it an essential tool in functional medicine assessments.
- Sample requirement: Morning urine collection
Suitable for postal submission.
Additional information
| Weight | 0,5 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 25 × 16 × 2,5 cm |
| Sample Type |
Preparing for this test
WHL will send detailed collection, storage and return instructions with your test kit or appointment confirmation. Those test-specific instructions take priority.
Sample: Morning urine
Fasting: An overnight fast is usually not needed. Follow the kit’s food, drink and collection-timing instructions.
For nutritional testing, pause non-prescribed supplements, including protein and amino-acid powders, for at least 48 hours unless WHL or your clinician advises otherwise. If monitoring supplements, agree the timing with your practitioner.
The collection time, container and storage depend on the test. Follow your WHL kit; do not switch between a spot sample and a 24-hour collection.
Do not stop prescribed medicines or prescribed supplements without advice from your treating clinician. Tell WHL about high-dose biotin; some tests need a longer pause. A short supplement pause does not remove all effects of long-term use.
If another test in the same order requires fasting, follow the combined instructions. Ask your clinician or WHL before fasting if you have diabetes, use glucose-lowering medicine, are pregnant, or are arranging testing for a child.
When to expect your results
Usually 3–10 days. This estimate starts when suitable samples reach the laboratory, not on the order or collection date. Shipping is additional. WHL will confirm any test-specific exception; a combined panel follows its slowest component.
Practical preparation tips
If fasting is requested, drink only plain water in your usual amounts. Do not have coffee, tea, juice, milk, energy drinks, sweets or chewing gum. Avoid smoking or vaping that morning. Book an early appointment and eat after collection.
For a planned blood test, avoid alcohol and unusually strenuous exercise for 24 hours, where practical, and sit quietly for about 15 minutes before collection. Tell WHL if you could not follow the preparation instructions.
Do not extend fasting or change prescribed medication on your own. Ask your clinician first if you have diabetes, need medicine with food, are pregnant, or are arranging testing for a child. WHL’s full test-specific instructions take priority.
Sources for this general preparation guidance
- Mayo Clinic Laboratories — plasma amino acids
- Mayo Clinic Laboratories — vitamin B6
- Mayo Clinic Laboratories — B12 and folate
- Mayo Clinic Laboratories — vitamins A and E
- Mayo Clinic Laboratories — iron studies
- NHS — fasting blood tests
- EAS/EFLM — fasting and non-fasting lipids
- EFLM/COLABIOCLI — preparation for blood collection
Other laboratories’ methods and preparation rules can differ. These sources support the general advice; WHL confirms the instructions for the method used for your test.
