• Fatigue: persistent low energy or tiredness without clear explanation.
• Cognitive symptoms: changes in concentration, memory difficulties or brain fog.
• Mood changes: low mood, irritability or symptoms that practitioners associate with environmental exposures.
• Hair or nail changes: diffuse hair thinning, brittle nails or slowed regrowth.
• Skin symptoms: non specific dermatitis, rashes or slow wound healing.
• Cardiovascular concerns: practitioner led investigation of blood pressure changes or circulatory symptoms.
• Bone or muscle discomfort: reduced bone density, stiffness or unexplained aches.
• Gastrointestinal symptoms: nausea, abdominal discomfort or altered bowel patterns.
• Neurological symptoms: tremors, tingling or unsteady sensations.
• Immune related symptoms: frequent infections or reduced resilience.
• Blood sugar fluctuations: symptoms related to glucose tolerance such as shakiness or energy dips.
• Possible exposure to environmental metals: work or home environments where metal exposure may occur.

The Urine Toxic Metals (single or timed) Pre test measures urinary concentrations of potentially toxic elements using ICP-MS analysis from either a timed or full 24 hour urine collection. Results are presented as creatinine corrected values or 24 hour excretion amounts to reflect urine concentration accurately. As a pre provocation sample, it offers a view of metals currently being excreted without the influence of a chelating agent.

For practitioners, this assessment can be helpful when exploring symptom patterns such as fatigue, cognitive changes, neurological sensations, skin concerns, bone or muscle discomfort or when considering the possibility of environmental exposures. The report highlights relative differences in excretion patterns, showing whether certain elements appear higher or lower within the context of an unprovoked measurement.

These findings are usually reviewed alongside health history, occupational or environmental context, nutritional considerations and lifestyle factors. The information may support broader clinical discussions by illustrating patterns of metal excretion that can be explored further with clients.

Practical

Specimen requirements:

Urine

Single collection or timed, max 8 hours

Average processing time:

9 ±4 days

Research

• 24-hour provoked urine excretion test for heavy metals in children with autism and typically developing controls, a pilot study. Clin Toxicol. 2007;45:476-481.

• Adams J, Audhya T, McDonough-Means S et al. Toxicological Status of Children with Autism vs. Neurotypical Children and the Association with Autism Severity. Biological Trace Element Research. 2012;151(2):171-180.

• Adams J, Howsmon D, Kruger U et al. Significant Association of Urinary Toxic Metals and Autism-Related Symptoms—A Nonlinear Statistical Analysis with Cross Validation. PLOS ONE. 2017;12(1).

• Crinnion WJ. The benefits of pre- and Post challenge urine heavy metal testing; part II. Altern Med Rev. 2009;14(2):103-108

• Crinnion WJ. The benefits of pre- and post-challenge urine heavy metal testing: Part 1. Altern Med Rev. 2009;14(1):3-8.

• Desoto MC. A reply to Soden et al.: your data shows autistic children have higher levels of heavy metals. Clinical Toxicology. 2008;46(10):1098-1098.

• Molina-Villalba I, Lacasaña M, Rodríguez-Barranco M, et al. Biomonitoring of arsenic, cadmium, lead, manganese and mercury in urine and hair of children living near mining and industrial areas. Chemosphere. 2015;124:83-91.

• Pesch A, Wilhelm M, Rostek U, et al. Mercury concentrations in urine, scalp hair and saliva in children from Germany. Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology. 2002;12(4):252-258.