In today's episode of The Root Cause Medicine Podcast, Dr. Kate Kresge sits down with Cass Nelson-Dooley and Cat Simmons from Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory to explore the clinical applications of organic acids testing. You'll hear us discuss:
- How urine testing may offer different insights into metabolism compared to blood tests
- How urine tests may help identify patterns related to nutrient status without invasive testing
- Exploring how neurotransmitter metabolites may relate to mood and brain health
- Why organic acids testing may be a useful option for children, especially when blood draws are difficult
Cat Simmons, MS, RD, CDCES is a clinical dietitian with a master's degree in metabolic physiology and integrated exercise science from Colorado State University. With over 15 years of experience in laboratory diagnostics, she has worked across blood, stool, and urine testing platforms. At Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory, she plays a key role in test development and practitioner education, particularly in making complex biochemical concepts accessible and clinically applicable. Her background in sports performance nutrition and metabolism uniquely positions her to help practitioners understand and implement organic acids testing in clinical practice.
Cass Nelson-Dooley, MS, studied medicinal plants in the rain forests of Panama, in 2003 as a Fulbright Scholar, and then launched a career in science and natural medicine. She researched the pharmacology of medicinal plants at the University of Georgia and AptoTec, Inc, and then joined the innovators at Metametrix Clinical Laboratory, then Genova Diagnostics. She has over 18 years of experience teaching clinicians about integrative and functional laboratory results. At Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory, she analyzes metabolomics and gut microbiome tests and develops educational tools. Ms. Nelson-Dooley owns Health First Consulting, LLC, a medical writing, patient education, and consulting firm that serves the integrative and functional medicine industry. Ms. Nelson-Dooley is the author of Heal Your Oral Microbiome and has published case studies, book chapters, and journal articles about natural medicine, nutrition, and laboratory testing.
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Timestamps
03:07 - Experts' Journeys to Lab Testing
06:35 - The Simplicity of First Morning Urine Collection
08:44 - Metabolism and Energy Support from Urine Markers
11:54 - Glutathione and Detoxification Pathways
14:32 - How Urine Testing May Reflect Gut Microbiome Imbalances
19:52 - Observing Patterns Related to Wellness
24:20 - What Plant Compounds Like Quercetin May Suggest About Dietary Intake
28:14 - Exploring Cortisol and Cortisone Patterns in Urine Testing
32:22 - Neurotransmitter Metabolites and Their Potential Links to Mood and Brain Health
39:17 - The Test's Accessibility: Affordable Price and Valuable Insights