Recently I was offered a Trace Metal Analysis done by Biochemical Laboratories out of Edgewood, New Mexico. I have never had one before so I did not know what to expect. What is a Trace Metal Analysis you might ask? Well according to the documentation from the lab report, it is:
“A useful indicator of dietary availability and metabolic utilization of trace metals. TMA also reveals exposure to toxic metals. Results are influenced by general state of health, diet, exposure, exercise, digestion and absorption, hormone balance and genetic factors.”
First this is they take about half a gram of hair for the analysis. OK, pretty painless so far outside some missing hair and perhaps an additional visit to the hair cutter to straighten it up. Then they send it off to the labs.
Here is what they return. A list of all the metals and whether I am too high or too low in them such as Calicum, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Copper, Zinc, Iron.. the list goes on. So along with the normal levels for each item, whether one is too high or too low, they also include some basic information on what factors may influence your state. Let me give you an example from my report.
Your Calcium level is 80.0, the Normal Value is 30.0 - 60.0. High calcium levels may indicate mobilization from the bone due to poor absorption and utilization. High calcium is consistent with joint problmes. High calcium may indicate poor bone and dental health… etc..
So you can see they provided me with some very useful information. But what good is this? Well they provide the generic information above and then add some specific items like the Calcium to Magnesium ration that I personally have. They also then use that to show some issues I may be experiencing, which were dead on mind you.
What makes this all the more useful to me is that they then add some ways to correct this situation. They have a reccomended vitamin regime with actual vitamin reccomendations and also, what I find more valuable, a personalized dietary program to help my body atutomatically correct its natural state and put my body back into balance.
This diet program is chock full of useful information of foods I should take, their typical benefits, what typicaly is a problem when your short them and how much to eat of them. Also what it gives is a diet that takes all my factors into account to help me balance my life.
So does it work? Well only time will tell and I plan on reporting the results as well as a retest as this blog progresses. So far I am into it one day and I already noticed a marked improvement. My number one issue was constant fatigue, stress and lack of energy. Well just on the first day of their reccomended program I am energetic and feeling pretty good about myself.
What I would like to know since this is all pretty new to me is has anyone else had a TMA? What do you think? There seems to be some negative information out there on them, but also positive. Comment below and let me know. We could all benefit from this information 
Ah! I want to take one now
I would like to know which vitamins I should take, and what I am lacking.
Comment by Kage — November 11, 2008 @ 6:56 pm
Well I know many Chiropractors do them, but it all depends on where you live and what is available.
My report was incredibly helpful and to tell you the truth I have more energy now that I started taking the recommended vitamins and eating a little better.
Comment by admin — November 11, 2008 @ 7:02 pm
That’s great, I should be going sometime soon, I will ask if they do those tests.
Comment by Kage — November 11, 2008 @ 7:25 pm