Description
Nutrient & Toxic Metals Profile P6
A urine-based analysis of heavy metal excretion and essential mineral excretion. Often performed on a 24-hour urine (or sometimes a shorter provoked urine after a chelation agent) to see what metals the body is dumping out.
What does this test measure?
It covers:
- Toxic elements (lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, etc.)
- Essential elements (zinc, copper, selenium, etc.)
Who is this test most suitable for?
- Patients in detox/chelation therapy (to measure pre- and post- levels)
- Residents in known polluted areas (to see current exposure)
- Those taking traditional medicines or supplements that might contain heavy metals
- People with high seafood diet (mercury check)
Clinical Use
Clinically, elevated metal levels in urine indicate significant exposure or a substantial body burden of that metal. This finding is useful both for diagnosing toxicity and for monitoring the effectiveness of chelation therapy—for example, a chelation challenge may result in high urinary lead output, demonstrating the mobilization of stored lead.
The test can also reveal excessive loss of essential nutrients in urine, such as high urinary magnesium, which may contribute to deficiency. It is frequently included in integrative detox programs to personalize treatment and confirm that detoxification efforts (such as EDTA or DMSA chelation) are successfully increasing the excretion of metals. Overall, this test provides valuable insights into environmental exposures and the body’s ability to process and eliminate metals.
