SpectraCell Laboratories Now Measures Vitamin C
Houston,TX - Effective immediately, SpectraCell Laboratories now measures functional levels of Vitamin C (ascorbate) using its proprietary FIA (Functional Intracellular Analysis) technology. This test enables a clinician to diagnose specific vitamin and mineral deficiencies long before classic deficiency symptoms appear. The demand for testing Vitamin C levels in patients has been climbing in recent years and represents an important addition to their existing panel of over 30 nutrients tested.
Often considered one of the "superstars" of the nutrient world, Vitamin C has a prominent role in over 300 functions in the body. Dozens of studies show that Vitamin C has multifaceted benefits ranging from protection against heart disease and cancer to other, more esoteric conditions such as fatigue, wound healing and general immunity. It is also a potent antioxidant that helps protect against premature aging.
"For years, our clients have requested that we add Vitamin C, but adding a nutrient to our panel is not a simple task. In many cases, it takes several months, even years to develop the recipe for the perfect media needed to measure a nutrient's functional levels in a patient," states Dr. Fred Crawford, VP of Operations. "A functional level tells you so much more than a static level, which is what is measured in serum tests. Very few, if any, truly functional tests for vitamin C existed before we added it to our panel."
Because of the functional nature of the FIA technology, nutritional deficiencies can be detected regardless of serum levels. What may be optimal for one person may be suboptimal for another, depending on such factors as metabolism, age, genetics, prescription drug usage, lifestyle or illness. Since FIA takes all these individual biochemical factors into account, true individual deficiencies are discovered and can be treated before they contribute to chronic disease states. This test gives a doctor the specific information needed to replete deficiencies and effect real improvements in health and wellness. Like so many nutrients, especially antioxidants, balance is key.
The "more is better" philosophy does not apply to all nutrients. In fact, too much of one nutrient can induce deficiencies in others, sometimes resulting in a pro-oxidant versus antioxidant effect, especially with Vitamin C. Determining optimal levels is key, which means results must be tailored individually to a patient's unique genetic and metabolic requirements. SpectraCell's FIA test is specifically designed for this purpose. It incorporates functional diagnostic testing into mainstream medicine.
SOURCE: SpectraCell Laboratories