More laboratories are offering fatty acid analyses as their importance in human health is becoming better understood. The red blood cell fatty acid analysis is done from a blood sample and the results reflect the status of many different EFAs in your body. As some fatty acids are ‘essential’, they must be obtained from the diet. Some of the health conditions in which fatty acid analysis can be of benefit include ADD, Autism, CFS, cardiovascular disease, cancer, arthritis and other inflammatory conditions, skin conditions, depression, schizophrenia, tardive dyskinesia, pyroluria, immune and neurological disorders.
Fatty acid analysis can also be performed on pregnant and nursing women, as fatty acid imbalances may impair nervous system and retinal development of the fetus and infant, possibly predisposing to impaired visual and cognitive function including ADD and even degenerative neurologic disorders in adulthood. Please see our links page under Laboratories, as most of these offer this service.