Are Metametrix Tests Valid? Are the Treatment Suggestions Useful?

Hi,

As the title of this post says, I am asking if the tests that Metametrix uses are valid, and if the company is legitimate. I'm also wondering if anyone's health has improved from taking the supplements that these tests suggest might help.

I'm writing for my 19-year old daughter who was diagnosed with CFS, FM and orthostatic intolerance one year ago. Her stomach has also never felt quite right after a prolonged viral illness when she was in 6th grade. Now, her stomach issues are worse though.

After seeing many conventional docs for a variety of issues, a coworker recommended I take my daughter to a naturopath. My coworker's sister sees this naturopath and was personally helped based on the results of Metametrix tests. I had a phone conversation with the naturopath and she seemed legitimate. But, I read some reviews about Metametrix online, such as this one.

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Tests/urine_toxic.html

The above posting is primarily concerned with another company, Doctor's Data, but Metametrix is mentioned as well.

In all fairness, I've seen that posts such as the one above tend to discredit all of naturopathy too, in addition to companies that perform biochemical tests. So, I'm a little suspicious of those postings too. But, before taking my daughter to another facility, have her do another blood test, and try another supplement, I'd like to know if 1) the the tests measure valid parameters and 2) if patients have felt any improvement from taking nutritional supplements that these tests suggest.

The Metametrix tests for nutrional deficiencies, as well as mitochondrial dysfunction, seem in line with what Dr. Sarah Myhill recommends in her eBook. Assuming her testing/treatment suggestions are valid, I would want to make sure that the laboratory the naturopath uses is worth it indeed. The tests are certainly expensive, and the last thing I would want to do is give my daughter a treatment that would harm her vs. help her. I'm not expecting conventional medicine docs to love naturopathic medicine or biochemical testing, but I am looking for some unbiased, science-based reviews of the tests.

The additional link below, which specifically mentions Metametrix, makes me cautious as well.

http://forums.owndoc.com/candida/lufenuron-and-gut-parasites/

My daughter's doctor said she would be open to "alternative" tests, as long as they were based on scientific studies, and as long as the recommendations they provide are also based on science as well. I realize that not all of the treatment suggestions are going to be "double blind, placebo controlled studies", but I need to rely on more than ancedocal results before proceeding.

However, I have seen several people post test results from Metametrix. And, I also noticed that Rich V has offered his interpretation of several of these results. So, I would be cautiously optimistic that tests such as the ION Profile GI Effects Profile tests might provide some useful information.

Thank you in advance for any advice and experience you can share.

Scotty

I have different thoughts on Metametrix testing. I had it done about 3 years ago and it came back with a very postitive gluten intolerance reading. I mean extremely high...I was told I had celiac disease and to go on a gluten free diet.

Well I did for about a month and decided to go to my GI doctor and ask his opinon. He didn't agree with the test at all and did the celiac blood test on me. It came up totally negative but I wasn't myself sure so asked for the intestinal biopsy. He didn't think it was necessary but did it anyway.
I had absolutly no signs of celiac...he said I positively did not have gluten intolerance or celiac.

Nothing else showed up on the Metametrix test.

I've had the Metametrix ION test done twice.

First time in 2003, it showed I had signs of intestinal bacteria, and a second local test showed I indeed had c. difficile, an intestinal bacteria infection. Then in 2008 it showed that I had a yeast (or candida) infection, and without further testing, the doctor put me on fluconazole - I had what I believe was some bad Herxheimer reaction taking this stuff, but eventually my stools became more normal, sinus headaches, tinnitus, rashes, and paresthesia cleared up. But I never had any second test (either before or after) for that. Both the 2003 and 2008 tests indicated to the doctor that I might be consuming too much alcohol, and that was probably correct. I stopped in 2008.

I was a bit taken aback that the 2008 Metametrix report recommended that I take, among several other things, 4000mg of glycine per day, and I had assumed it was common knowledge that one shouldn't megadose on one amino acid for long because it throws the body's whole processing of proteins out of whack. The doctor didn't think I needed to take the mega-glycine and wouldn't say more...hmm.

So in short, I don't have any definite conclusions about Metametrix, though they do seem to have hit the mark on my GI problems at least twice. It is puzzling that my doctor, both MD and naturopath, has stopped using Metametrix entirely in favor of SpectraCell Laboratories. He's too "cautious" to talk to me about why - maybe it was an insurance problem - my insurance wouldn't pay for the tests, and they are expensive. I have not had any of the SpectraCell tests done yet, so I can't comment on them.

Post Edited (Verseau) : 8/26/2012 5:42:38 PM (GMT-6)

Hey stereofidelic89, I just wanted to see how you were doing after following up with the candida. Have your symptoms improved? Some say that candida can follow Crohn's disease, just like H. Pylori. I also have Crohn's disease and have taken Metametrix tests before but nothing meaningful came up...so I don't know! Good luck! Nikki