The Athletic Performance Panel includes the following profiles and tests:

• Amino Acid Profile, Quantitative, Plasma

Humans have a need for a total amount of daily protein plus requirements for individual amino acids. Every athlete knows about the importance of amino acids but few actually test their amino acid levels. Deficiencies of specific amino acids are extremely common and can have a variety of different causes.

The Amino Acid Profile includes: Alanine; β-alanine; α-aminoadipic acid; α-amino-N-butyric acid; γ-aminobutyric acid; β-aminoisobutyric acid; anserine; arginine; asparagine; aspartic acid; carnosine; citrulline; cystathionine; cystine; glutamic acid; glutamine; glycine; histidine; homocystine; hydroxylysine; hydroxyproline; isoleucine; leucine; lysine; methionine; 1-methylhistidine; 3-methylhistidine; ornithine; phenylalanine; phosphoethanolamine; phosphoserine; proline; sarcosine; serine; taurine; threonine; tryptophan; tyrosine; valine; and interpretation

• Fatty Acids, Free (Nonester)

The status of fatty acids, such as omega-3’s found in fish and flaxseed, can also be assessed via the Fatty Acids profile. A typical pattern is too little omega-3 fatty acids, indicating the need for fish oil supplementation, however, human fatty acid intake and metabolism varies considerably. For example, about 10-15% of the population tends to be predisposed to a deficiency of specific omega-6 fatty acids (e.g. GLA and AA). These individuals tend to feel better while taking omega-6 fats such as evening primrose oil. Fatty acid deficiencies across the board often indicate fat malabsorption. The balance of these fatty acids is vital for the regulation of inflammation, cardiovascular health, neurological health, and skin/hair/nail health, among other things.

• Organic Acid Analysis, Urine

Urine organic acid testing is useful in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with inborn errors of organic acid metabolism, inborn errors of amino acid metabolism, urea cycle defects, and defects of the mitochondrial respiratory chain.The organic acid test measures 45 metabolic intermediates from an overnight urine sample. These metabolic intermediates are indicative of the functioning of specific biochemical pathways. For example, elevated adipate and suberate reflect unmet needs for carnitine, required for mitochondrial energy regulation, while elevated formiminoglutamate reflects a deficiency of folate, a B-vitamin.

• Coenzyme Q10, Total

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10; Ubiquinone 50) is an endogenous compound found in most human tissues. It possesses multiple cellular and extracellular functions, primarily based on it ability to undergo redox cycling. Such redox cycling plays an important role in vivo. Examples include CoQ10’s involvement in ATP synthesis (as part of the electron transport chain of the inner membrane of the mitochondrion) and its ability to act as an antioxidant in the prevention of lipid peroxidation.