Many patients seeking help with their health challenges ask if there is a test for determining exactly what they need nutritionally. Well there is! It is the FIA (Functional Intracellular Analysis) by Spectracell Laboratories in Houston Texas. The white blood cells, WBC's or lymphocytes, are measured for vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and other essential micronutrients. WBC's carry the nutritional history of a patient over the last several months, much like the hemoglobin A1C measures the blood glucose levels over the last three months. It measures the DNA synthesis or cell growth inside the white blood cell, determining the nutritional support for optimal cell function. For example measuring serum folic acid status in a patient is not as accurate as these are sensitive to short term variations in folate intake. The FIA folate test is far superior to serum and red blood cell levels of folate.

Occasionally a patient comes in and wants the best tests to determine their health risks. This was the case with Alex age 50. He wanted to have a complete blood chemistry done as well as a complete nutritional analysis. On his chemistry panel I might have missed that he had a problem with regulating his blood sugar if we had not done the FIA test. So this was emphasized in his diet to avoid the "fast release" or simple carbohydrates and to eat more of the "slow release" or complex carbohydrates such as legumes, brown rice, and squash vegetables. The other deficiency that often shows in these tests, and showed up in Alex's results, is the lack of anti-oxidants such as vitamin E, C and selenium. Often people are taking them but not in adequate dosages or they have a digestive problem so they are not absorbing them as well.

Another deficiency came up and that was the non-essential Oleic acid, the fatty acid found in olive oil. This fatty acid is important for the prevention of arteriosclerosis, heart attack and cancer. By taking extra virgin olive oil 2 tbsp per day he will easily get his levels back to normal.

In one study cancer patients had an increased incidence of niacinamide and folate deficiencies both measured with FIA. In Chronic Fatigue, deficiencies of B12, folic acid, magnesium as well as abnormal sugar metabolism are found, all measured by the FIA. Rheumatoid Arthritis patients are shown to be deficient in zinc, B12, folate and magnesium. Arthritis patients have deficient niacinamide and pantothenic acid. Breast cancer patients have been found to be deficient in anti-oxidants, oleic acid and vitamin A. In post menopausal women a deficiency of magnesium contributes to osteoporosis.

Alex's results turned out fairly positive, but now that he knows he is low on anti-oxidants, low on oleic acid and has poor glucose metabolism, he can take measures to make sure he is well prepared to prevent the two leading causes of death in North America, cancer and heart disease.

For every health condition there is every reason to know your nutritional status and the FIA test is the most accurate of all the tests available in North America. Check with your extended health provider to see what your coverage is for naturopathic medical tests. This test is the best "health insurance" coverage you can buy knowing how to prevent the chronic diseases of aging!