Organic cation transporter functional status home page

  Urine testing of serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine has evolved into three applications:

1. Screening for serotonin or dopamine secreting tumors.

2. Organic cation transporter (OCT) functional status determination.

3. Urinary neurotransmitter testing.

Urinary Neurotransmitter Testing Approach

Which Has Been Discredited Scientifically

  The gold standard in science is peer-reviewed scientific writings. These writings prior to publication are subjected to scrutiny by other scientists with expertise in the area. Those that promote the urinary neurotransmitter testing model have no scientific writings to back their claims. Those selling urinary testing under the urinary neurotransmitter model claim the following scientific basis for the approach.

1. Testing urinary neurotransmitters is a measurement of neurotransmitter levels in the brain and peripheral system.

2. Peripheral neurotransmitters are merely filtered by the kidneys then placed in the urine.

3. Administration of neurotransmitter amino acid precursors directly affects the urinary neurotransmitter levels therefore neurotransmitter testing merely needed to be interpreted is as high or low.

4. Baseline urinary neurotransmitter testing is needed prior to starting amino acids in order to define the amino acid starting dose.

5. Baseline urinary neurotransmitter testing is needed prior to starting amino acids in order to identify any neurotransmitter imbalances that exist in the brain, peripheral system, and urine.

6. Baseline urinary neurotransmitter testing is needed prior to starting amino acids in order to serve as a reference point in gauging the effectiveness of treatment once amino acids are started.

7. Baseline urinary neurotransmitter testing is needed prior to starting amino acids in order to reduce the chance of side effects once amino acids are started.

Scientific Discrediting of the

Urinary Neurotransmitter Testing Model

  Make no mistake, the approach being taught in the NeuroResearch Clinics AMA category 1 continuing medical education courses is not urinary neurotransmitter testing. It is the organic cation transporter (OCT) functional status determination approach.

  It is not the amount of amino acids being taken that determines the level of neurotransmitter found when testing blood, cerebral spinal fluid of urine. It is the transporters of the neurotransmitters that determine neurotransmitter levels. The organic cation transporters are transporters that move neurotransmitters in and out structures containing neurotransmitters. Proper application of OCT assay interpretation leads to the optimization of transporter function needed for relief of symptoms and optimal function.

  Simply assuming all that is needed is to determine if levels of neurotransmitters are high or low is not a proper interpretation of the testing. The neurotransmitter levels found on testing are the results of a complex interaction between transporters. Simply determining if neurotransmitter levels are high or low does nothing to determine the function status of the transporters which are the driving force behind neurotransmitter levels.

The following peer-reviewed scientific article

is the first peer-reviewed scientific writing to document the lack

of science behind the urinary neurotransmitter model.

  This article was written by:

1. Marty Hinz, MD President Clinical Research NeuroResearch Clinics, Inc. Cape Coral, FL

2. Alvin Stein, MD Director of Stein Orthopedic Associates Plantation, FL

3. George Trachte, PhD Chairman of the Research Committee University of Minnesota Medical School Duluth, MN

4. Thomas Uncini, MD Director of Laboratory Services Mesabi Regional Medical Center Hospital Hibbing, MN

 This article notes the following:

1. Testing urinary neurotransmitters does not correlate with brain and peripheral system neurotransmitter levels.

2. Neurotransmitter filtered by the kidneys are metabolized by the kidneys. Neurotransmitters found in the urine were newly synthesized by the kidneys. Levels of neurotransmitters found in the urine is a result of the interaction of the basolateral monoamine transporters and the apical monoamine transporters of the proximal convoluted renal tubule cells of the kidneys.

3. Administration of neurotransmitter amino acid precursors does not directly affects the urinary neurotransmitter levels. Administration of 5-HTP dosing has no correlation with serotonin levels found on testing. Administration of L-tyrosine has an inverse relationship with urinary dopamine levels.

4. Baseline urinary neurotransmitter testing of neurotransmitters has no correlation with testing performed once amino acid precursors are being taken.

5. Baseline urinary neurotransmitter testing can not identify urinary neurotransmitter imbalances since there is no correlation between testing performed from one day to the next in the same person.

6. Baseline urinary neurotransmitter testing can not serve as a reference point once amino acids are started since there is no correlation between baseline testing performed on one day and on a different day in the same individual. Theoretically if a large number of baseline tests were performed on many different days an unlimited number of reference points would be generated.

7. Baseline urinary neurotransmitter testing can not be used to minimize side effects once amino acids are started, since there is no correlation between baseline testing and testing performed on subsequent days in the same person.

  The urinary neurotransmitter testing model which claims that results merely need to be interpreted as high or low is beyond simplistic, it is grossly flawed. Baseline neurotransmitter testing has no correlation with subsequent baseline testing performed on different days in the same person therefore it can not serve as a method for determining amino acid starting points, neurotransmitter imbalances, gauge effectiveness of treatment once amino acids are started, and as a strategy for minimizing side effects.

P.T. Barnum said:

There is a sucker born every minute

  Those that promote and pay for urinary neurotransmitter testing are those suckers.

  Based on science there is only two valid approaches for the use of urinary neurotransmitter levels found on testing:

1. Use as a screening tool for neurotransmitter secreting tumors.

2. Use with organic cation transporter (OCT) function status determination of transporters.