Metabolism

The 75g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) measures blood glucose two hours after drinking a 75-gram glucose solution, typically from capillary whole blood, to assess how well the body handles sugar. It is a key tool for diagnosing diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance.

Amylase is an enzyme that helps digest carbohydrates. It is primarily produced by the pancreas and salivary glands, and its blood levels are used to assess pancreatic and salivary gland health.

Autoantibodies targeting myeloperoxidase, an enzyme in neutrophils; a subtype of ANCA used to diagnose and monitor certain autoimmune vasculitides.

ATP production measures how efficiently your cells generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy currency of the body.

ATP reserve measures the additional amount of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) your cells can produce on demand, reflecting your spare energy capacity.

Beta-hCG is a hormone produced during pregnancy and used as a tumor marker for certain cancers. Its blood level helps confirm pregnancy or monitor germ cell tumors and trophoblastic diseases.

Fasting blood glucose measures the amount of glucose in your blood after an overnight fast. It helps assess how your body regulates blood sugar and screens for diabetes and prediabetes.

Total carnitine measures the sum of free carnitine and acylcarnitines in the blood. It reflects the body's capacity to transport fatty acids into mitochondria for energy production.

CK-MB is an enzyme found mainly in heart muscle, measured to help detect heart damage, particularly in suspected heart attacks.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a vitamin-like substance that plays a key role in the production of energy (ATP) within cells and also functions as an antioxidant.

Creatine kinase (CK) is an enzyme found mainly in skeletal muscles, the heart, and the brain that plays a key role in energy production in cells.

Postprandial glucose measures the concentration of glucose in the blood typically 2 hours after a meal, reflecting how well the body processes sugar.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is an enzyme that helps protect red blood cells from oxidative damage. The test is primarily used to diagnose G6PD deficiency, the most common human enzyme defect.

Glucose is the main sugar found in the blood and the body's primary source of energy. This test measures blood glucose levels to screen for or monitor diabetes and other metabolic conditions.

HbA1c reflects average glucose exposure over roughly three months and is used to diagnose prediabetes and type 2 diabetes and to monitor diabetes. Red-cell turnover, hemoglobin variants and some illnesses can distort the result.

HbA1c (IFCC) reflects average blood glucose levels over the past 8–12 weeks, helping assess long-term blood sugar control.

The HOMA index is a calculation used to estimate insulin resistance and pancreatic beta-cell function from fasting blood glucose and insulin levels.

Insulin is a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels by enabling cells to absorb glucose, and testing it can evaluate insulin production and sensitivity.

Bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) is an enzyme that reflects bone formation and turnover. A blood test for BAP can help assess conditions affecting bone metabolism.

Kynurenine is a metabolite of the amino acid tryptophan, produced via the kynurenine pathway. It is measured to assess immune activation and inflammation.

Free L-carnitine is the biologically active, unbound fraction of carnitine that transports fatty acids into mitochondria for energy production.

Lactate is a byproduct of anaerobic metabolism, produced when the body breaks down glucose without sufficient oxygen. Elevated levels can signal tissue hypoxia or metabolic stress.

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is an enzyme present in almost all body tissues, released into the blood when cells are damaged. It serves as a general marker of tissue injury.

Lipase is a digestive enzyme primarily produced by the pancreas that breaks down dietary fats. Blood levels of lipase are measured mainly to diagnose and monitor pancreatic disorders, particularly pancreatitis.

Lipid peroxidation is the oxidative degradation of lipids, producing malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of oxidative stress measured in blood.

Thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) are immune proteins that can attack the thyroid gland, often indicating autoimmune thyroid disease.

VO2 max (maximal oxygen consumption) is the maximum rate at which your body can use oxygen during intense exercise. It is a key indicator of cardiovascular fitness and mitochondrial function.

Estimated average glucose (eAG) is a number calculated from your HbA1c result that estimates your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is an enzyme released by white blood cells during inflammation; it is measured to assess inflammatory activity and cardiovascular risk.

Ostase (bone-specific alkaline phosphatase) is an enzyme produced by bone-forming cells that reflects bone formation activity. It is measured to evaluate bone metabolism and monitor conditions like osteoporosis and Paget's disease.

Pancreatic amylase is an enzyme produced by the pancreas to digest carbohydrates. Its blood level is used to diagnose pancreatic disorders, particularly acute pancreatitis.

Anti-parietal cell antibodies (APCA) target the acid-producing cells of the stomach lining and are associated with autoimmune gastritis and vitamin B12 deficiency.

Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) is a protein made by the prostate gland. It is measured in blood to screen for prostate cancer and assess prostate conditions.

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is a metabolite produced from dietary choline and carnitine by gut bacteria, further processed in the liver. Elevated blood levels are linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including atherosclerosis and thrombosis.