On a few of the message boards I frequent, I heard about something called an “OAT test” which I had no clue about. It made me think of oatmeal, and I immediately imagined a canister of Quaker oats.
Sidebar: I miss oatmeal. Its high in oxalates, even the gluten free kind.
Anyway…
The OATs Test is most definitely not related to oatmeal. It stands for The Organic Acids Test.
Here’s the official info from The Great Plains Laboratory:
Organic acids are chemical compounds excreted in the urine of mammals that are products of metabolism.
Metabolism is the sum of chemical reactions in living beings by which the body builds new molecules and breaks down molecules to eliminate waste products and produce energy. Organic acids are organic compounds that are acidic.
Organic acids are substances in which carbon and hydrogen are always present but which may also contain the elements of oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus as well.
The Organic Acids Test is a comprehensive assessment for a wide variety of biomarkers related to yeast (candida) and bacteria toxicity – specifically clostridia bacteria. It also evaluates oxalate toxicity, as well as mitochondria function, and various markers for vitamin and neurotransmitter problems. source
What health-related information can be learned from the OATs test?
The Great Plains Laboratory states:
When I went for my latest doctors visit, I asked about the test, but the office isn’t contracted with the lab so they can’t offer OATs test. I went home to mull over my options and learn more to see if the test was something that might shed light on my many issues.
Natural News has a good article about it here.
Some of the important notes I gathered from the Natural News article is below:
The Organic Acids Test (OAT) offers a comprehensive metabolic snapshot of a patient’s overall health with over 70 markers. It provides an accurate evaluation of intestinal yeast and bacteria.
Abnormally high levels of these microorganisms can cause or worsen behavior disorders, hyperactivity, movement disorders, fatigue and immune function.
Many people with chronic illnesses and neurological disorders often excrete several abnormal organic acids in their urine.
The cause of these high levels could include oral antibiotic use, high sugar diets, immune deficiencies, acquired infections, as well as genetic factors.
Our Organic Acids Test also includes markers for vitamin and mineral levels, oxidative stress, neurotransmitter levels, and is the only OAT to include markers for oxalates, which are highly correlated with many chronic illnesses.
If abnormalities are detected using the OAT, treatments can include supplements, such as vitamins and antioxidants, or dietary modification.
Upon treatment, patients and practitioners have reported significant improvement such as decreased fatigue, regular bowel function, increased energy and alertness, increased concentration, improved verbal skills, less hyperactivity, and decreased abdominal pain.
The OAT is strongly recommended as the initial screening test.
Have any of the following health conditions? The OATs test could be beneficial for you
- Sleep abnormalities
- Fatigue
- Mood changes
- Blood sugar dysregulation
- Weight gain
- Nausea
- Multiple chemical sensitivity
- Bloating, gas and distention
- Joint pain
- Headaches
- Acid reflux
- Autoimmune disorders
- Dermatitis
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Cancer
- Inflammation
- Accelerated aging
- Acne/Eczema
I spent a few weeks going back and forth about the test.
Would it help me?
Would the information from my results help me improve my overall health?
I was concerned about the fact I can’t seem to get rid of this candida. Also not processing oxalates is causing me distress. Knowing if there was a bigger picture I was missing would definitely be helpful. I have a lot of small health issues in my body and hoped the results would find something that my own doctor has missed.
On Dr. Jocker’s website, you can buy the test and get your results along with supplement recommendations. I am all for doing everything online and avoiding another doctors visit and expensive co-pay.
I ordered the test which is nothing more than a urine test and mailed it back then waited.
After about 2 weeks, I got my results which I tried to analyze myself by searching the internet for keywords and phrases. I was super high in some things and low in others but the biggest revelation was that the candida wasn’t as bad as I thought.
When I spoke to the nutritionist, candida wasn’t what she was most concerned with. She recommended some supplements through Dr. Jockers, and I purchased them.
I think they are helping. I believe one of my biggest problems is leaky gut. Oxalates weren’t even an issue according to the test but by now I am only eat low oxalates foods.
Leaky gut is a whole other topic that can be explored for days. Briefly put, the junctions in the gut which should be tight like the knot in a shoelace, are wide and loose enabling food particles to slip through and wreak havoc in the body.
I am liking the GI Regulator. I have less stomach troubles than I did before since taking them.
Plus the proteo enzymes:
This supplement is great for people with microbial overgrowth as the proteolytic enzymes help to metabolize the outer biofilms of the various microbes. Often, people have trouble reducing microbial overgrowth because of these biofilms.
This supplement can be a huge game changer for someone trying to heal from digestive complaints.
Since taking both, I have noticed less candida symptoms which is actually amazing.
I would recommend doing the OAT Test via DrJockers.com. The supplement protocol was helpful, I think they are working for me which I am grateful for.
The worst part of the test was waiting for the results. Count on about 2 weeks before you hear anything.
This detailed report will be hard to understand so the breakdown with a specialist was very helpful.
Have you had this test?
