Amino Acid Test

Amino acids are more than just protein components — they are the chemical currency your body uses to build muscle, produce neurotransmitters, synthesize hormones, repair tissue, detoxify, and fuel every cell. From mental clarity to immune resilience, exercise recovery to metabolic efficiency, amino acids quietly power nearly every system in your body. Yet even mild imbalances can throw things off — leading to fatigue, poor sleep, weak recovery, anxiety, or plateaued performance.

Our Amino Acids Test analyses 26 amino acids from a small at-home dried blood spot (DBS) sample using LC-MS/MS, the gold standard for precision. Whether you’re optimising recovery, managing gut or liver issues, or fine-tuning your supplement stack, this test helps you uncover the invisible biochemical imbalances that can influence how you feel and perform every day.

• Amino acids are the foundation of protein metabolism, neurotransmitter function, and cellular repair. They support everything from muscle growth and immune defense to mood regulation and detoxification.
• Imbalances are surprisingly common, especially in people with digestive issues, plant-based diets, high stress, or restrictive eating patterns.
• Deficiencies or excesses can contribute to symptoms like fatigue, poor recovery, brain fog, low mood, slow wound healing, or hormonal imbalance.
• Amino acid testing goes beyond basic nutrition by revealing how well your body is absorbing, utilizing, and converting protein into critical compounds like glutathione, serotonin, and nitric oxide.
• Testing enables targeted intervention — helping you refine your diet, identify supplementation needs, support methylation or detox pathways, and optimize performance, energy, and resilience.

1. Prioritise protein intake: Include complete protein sources like eggs, poultry, dairy, fish, soy, or protein powders
2. Address gut health: Digestive issues or low stomach acid can impair amino acid absorption
3. Optimise liver detox: Many amino acids feed into detox and methylation pathways — ensure cofactors like B6, B12, and folate are adequate
4. Consider supplementation: Use targeted amino acids (e.g., glutamine, glycine, tryptophan) based on deficiencies

Reference ranges vary by amino acid, age, and context. Your report includes µmol/L values with high/low flagging for each analyte. Trends can suggest issues with:

• Protein intake or breakdown
• Gut absorption or permeability
• Detoxification demand or oxidative stress
• Methylation or neurotransmitter imbalances

Your lab results are interpreted against validated clinical ranges.

These studies support the clinical utility of amino acid profiling to assess functional nutrition and optimise long-term health.

• Kalhan et al. (2012): Documented amino acid profiles as biomarkers of metabolic health and insulin resistance
• Young & Pellett (1994): Established essential amino acid requirements for optimal nutrition
• Gershon et al. (2016): Linked amino acid metabolism to gut-brain axis and neurotransmitter synthesis
• Morris et al. (2008): Identified roles of amino acids in neuroinflammation, cognition, and mood

• Pinpoint hidden nutrient imbalances missed by standard labs
• Support athletic performance, stamina, and recovery
• Optimise mood, focus, and neurotransmitter production
• Strengthen detox, gut health, and immune response
• Personalise supplementation with precision
• Track baseline and progress over time with repeat testing

This test analyses 26 amino acids from a dried blood spot sample, providing insight into essential, conditionally essential, and specialty amino acids involved in metabolic health, muscle recovery, cognition, and detoxification.

Essential Amino Acids (must be obtained from diet):

• Histidine  – tissue repair, hemoglobin production
• Isoleucine – muscle recovery, blood sugar balance
• Leucine – muscle synthesis, energy production
• Lysine – collagen, calcium absorption, immune defense
• Methionine  – methylation, detox, antioxidant support
• Phenylalanine – dopamine and neurotransmitter precursor
• Threonine – protein formation, digestive tract lining
• Tryptophan  – serotonin production, mood regulation
• Valine – tissue repair, muscle energy

Non-Essential and Conditionally Essential Amino Acids:

• Alanine  – glucose metabolism, energy
• Arginine – nitric oxide production, immunity
• Asparagine  – nervous system and protein metabolism
• Aspartic Acid – immune support, energy
• Beta-Alanine  – muscular endurance, lactic acid buffering
• Citrulline – blood flow, nitric oxide precursor
• Glutamine – gut and immune health
• Glutamic Acid – brain fuel, neurotransmitter balance
• Glycine – collagen, detox, sleep support
• Homoarginine – cardiovascular support
• Ornithine – ammonia detox, urea cycle
• Proline – skin, collagen, connective tissue
• Serine  – nerve function, phospholipid synthesis
• Taurine – heart, electrolyte balance, antioxidant
• Tyrosine  – mood, stress, dopamine precursor
• Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)  – stress reduction, relaxation

Each result is reported in nmol/mL and benchmarked against validated reference ranges for adult populations.

• Dried blood spot (DBS) collection card
• Lancets, alcohol swab, gauze, bandage
• Prepaid return envelope and instructions
• Accredited lab analysis + secure online results