- Sample required: 1 test tube of urine
- This single test may be used for initial diagnosing and
follow-up, as well as a primary test for monitoring therapeutic
digestive protocols.
- Lab reporting time: 3 business days
Overview
The Indican test uses a urine sample to test for the presence
of indol, a metabolic byproduct of the action of intestinal
bacteria on the amino acid tryptophan. The level of indican
is an index of the efficiency of protein digestion.
Indican
The level of indican is an index of the efficiency of protein
digestion. The indican scale measures the presence of indol,
a metabolic byproduct of the action of intestinal bacteria
on the amino acid tryptophan. Insufficient gastric hydrochloric
acid, insufficient digestive enzymes, adverse food reactions,
parasitic infection, fungal infection, overgrowth of bacteria
that metabolize specific proteins, hypermotility of the small
intestine, or other gastrointestinal dysfunction can compromise
protein digestion.
Poor protein digestion also can result from the dietary intake
of protein from a group of food proteins called lectins. A
property common to lectins is that they agglutinate specific
cell-surface antigens. Lectins have many beneficial effects,
and some harmful ones. A beneficial example is the agglutination
of cancer cells, which makes them easier for macrophages to
phagocytize. Determining which lectins will cause agglutination,
however, varies among individuals, possibly because of differing
blood types. A commonly found lectin is gluten, which is present
in various forms in several grains. In the intestines of some
individuals, gluten can agglutinate with other food proteins,
which makes complete digestion difficult or impossible. Ingestion
of incompatible lectin-containing foodstuffs can lead to chronic
subclinical agglutination, indigestion, and eventually, putrefaction.
Putrefaction is especially detrimental, because it can produce
dozens of carcinogenic substances. These substances can enter
the liver through the general circulation. Undigested protein
also increases systemic toxicity, burdening the detoxification
capacity of the liver. Poor protein digestion can lead to
other problems, such as intestinal microbial overgrowth, which
can lead to unfavorable pH changes and impaired absorption.
These factors can prevent the synthesis of essential proteins
and other compounds.
Eventually, the inability to digest protein can prevent proper
glycemic control, and can lead to serious hormone imbalances.
With poor protein digestion, eventually all absorption is
adversely affected, including the absorption of water. This
can be a prelude to chronic degenerative disorder including
gastrointestinal disease and cancer. Without proper digestion,
it is impossible to have optimal health.
Clinical Use
This profile provides data relevant to a multitude of health
disorders. Its findings are applicable in treating existing
health concerns and in counseling for nutritionally based
wellness and anti-aging programs. This lab test specifically
assesses protein digestion.
Conditions Assessed
Conditions assessed include a wide variety of GI symptoms
and other vague, generalized symptoms.
Logical Sequence of Testing
The logical sequence of using this test as an initial or follow-up
test is determined by a variety of individual considerations,
including the patient's chief complaint, the array of signs
and symptoms, the chronicity of the condition, the tests previously
taken, and the judgment of the practitioner. Technical assistance
is available from BioHealth Diagnostics' support staff.
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