COMPENDIUM ON FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE - Flipbook - Page 114
In a conventional medical setting, this patient might be told his
blood work looks "good" with a possible suggestion to monitor his
gallbladder due to the elevated bilirubin [2,3].
Functional Analysis of the Same Case
A functional analysis of the same blood test might reveal:
Metabolic Dysfunction
Glucose, insulin, and HbA1c values that are "normal" but outside
optimal ranges, suggesting early insulin resistance [2,6]
Thyroid Imbalance
TSH, free T3, and free T4 values indicating subclinical
hypothyroidism despite falling within conventional ranges [4]
Hormonal Imbalance
Testosterone within range but below optimal, along with the low
DHEA sulfate, suggesting hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)
axis dysfunction [3,7]
Inflammatory Patterns
Subtle elevations in inflammatory markers suggesting chronic
low-grade inflammation [1,7]
Hepatobiliary Stress
The elevated bilirubin values along with liver enzymes in the
high-normal range suggesting early liver/gallbladder dysfunction
[1,2]
This more nuanced analysis provides a roadmap for targeted
interventions that address the patient's symptoms by correcting
underlying functional imbalances [2,3,7].
Implementing Functional Blood Chemistry Analysis
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