Hepatic Detox Profile

The body continually attempts to eliminate chemical toxins through enzymatic processes in the liver. Urinary D-glucaric acid, a byproduct of Phase I detoxification, is an indicator of chemical exposure to over 200 chemicals. Urinary mercapturic acids are excreted end products of Phase II detoxification. Together, assessment of these two analytes provides valuable information about exposure to xenobiotics, liver disease and the ability of the liver to eliminate toxins. This non-invasive test requires a single, first morning void (FMV) urine collection.
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Analytes Tested

Click any analyte name for additional clinical information, including reference ranges, specimen collection, stability and rejection criteria.

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This test is useful for

• Chemical Exposure
• Detoxification Therapy
• Liver Detoxification Function

Detailed Information

The production, use and disposal of toxic chemicals and synthetic materials have increased the risk of exposure to health-threatening toxins. Causal relationships between toxic chemicals and diseases have been well established. However many patients endure chronic symptoms that are associated with exposure to toxins before advanced stages of specific diseases are realized. Thus, there is a great demand for noninvasive laboratory tests that can provide timely assessment of chemical exposure and the capability of hepatic detoxification.

One process by which the body eliminates toxins is enzymatic detoxification in the liver. A reliable biomarker for exposure to toxic chemicals is urinary D-glucaric acid. Elevated levels of D-glucaric acid indicate induction of cytochrome P-450 enzymes (phase I) as a result of exposure to many xenobiotics, including pesticides, fungicides, petrochemicals, drugs, toluene, formaldehyde, styrenes and more. Such exposures induce the glucuronic acid enzymatic pathway and production of D-glucaric acid, thus urinary D-glucaric acid is an indirect byproduct of chemical exposure and phase I detoxification reactions.

The urinary level of mercapturic acids indicates quantitatively the degree of activity or capability of phase II detoxification. Mercapturic acids are the final excretory products of detoxification and include a variety of functionalized xenobiotics that have been conjugated with glutathione or L-cysteine prior to excret