COMPENDIUM ON FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE - Flipbook - Page 144
If detected, it’s important to assess blood sugar levels and look for
accompanying signs or markers that may point to an underlying
imbalance.
Negative Result
None detected, indicating
normal glucose metabolism
Positive Result
May indicate an altered
metabolic state or insufficient
glucose availability for cellular
energy production.
Bilirubin
Bilirubin, a key component of bile, is a waste product formed by
the liver during the breakdown of red blood cells. It is usually not
present in the urine of healthy individuals. When detected, it may
indicate early signs of liver dysfunction or bile duct
obstruction4often appearing before symptoms like jaundice
develop. In such cases, additional testing, such as a liver panel, is
recommended to further evaluate liver health.
Collection tip:
Bilirubin is highly sensitive to light and can degrade quickly if left
standing, so urine samples should be processed without delay to
ensure accurate results.
Negative Result
None detected, normal
Positive Result
Indicates potential liver or bile
duct issues.
Nitrite
Nitrites in the urine are often a sign of bacterial infection, most
frequently a UTI. This occurs when certain bacteria4primarily
gram-negative types4convert nitrates naturally found in urine into
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