Urine
Dysbiosis organic acid screening
Measures organic acids in urine. Detects bacterial and yeast overgrowth.
€ 195,00
All tests
Gut · Urine
D-arabinitol
A sugar alcohol made by yeasts such as Candida, among other sources; not suitable for detecting yeast in the gut.
At a glance
- Measured in urine
- In 1 test panel
- Check the preparation
Explanation
D-arabinitol: what is measured?
D-arabinitol is a sugar alcohol made by most Candida yeasts, but small amounts also reach the urine from your own body and from food. The value rises when kidney function is reduced. In hospitals, the ratio between D- and L-arabinitol in urine has been studied as an aid in detecting an invasive candida infection (yeast in the blood or in organs) in people with a severely weakened immune system.
What can it detect?
- Presence of D-arabinitol from your own body, food or yeasts; the test does not distinguish between harmless yeasts in the gut and an infection
- Rarely: an invasive candida infection; this occurs almost only in people with a severely weakened immune system, who are then already being treated in the hospital
Result
What does the result mean?
D-arabinitol too high
A raised value can be caused by Candida yeasts, which also normally live in the gut, the mouth and on the skin of healthy people, by food or by reduced kidney function. A raised value does not prove 'candida overgrowth' in the gut; in people with a normal immune system this is not a recognized diagnosis and the test has not been studied for it. A raised value does not cause symptoms by itself. Rarely, in someone with a severely weakened immune system, a raised value can fit an invasive candida infection.
D-arabinitol too low
A low or normal value is the usual result and does not cause symptoms. A low value does not rule out a yeast infection of the skin, mouth or vagina; that is diagnosed in a different way. Otherwise, a low value has no meaning.
After an abnormal result
For the GP, a raised value in someone with a normal immune system is usually no reason for further tests or treatment against yeasts. With symptoms that fit a yeast infection of the skin, mouth or vagina, the GP diagnoses it with a physical examination and a culture if needed.
Reliability
How reliable is the test?
Research on D-arabinitol in urine concerns hospital patients with a severely weakened immune system. According to a scientific review, there are too few good studies to give the method a fixed place in diagnosing invasive candida infections. For people without an immune disorder, or to assess 'yeast in the gut', the test has not been studied.
What can affect the result?
- Reduced kidney function raises the value, regardless of yeasts.
- Laboratories measure differently: only D-arabinitol, or the ratio between D- and L-arabinitol; the results cannot be compared with each other.
- Diet and the concentration of the urine affect the result.
Preparation
- Do not eat for 8 hours before collecting the sample. Do not drink much the evening before, no more than 300 to 500 ml.
- Collect the first morning urine, the middle part of the stream.
- Stop taking supplements 2 days beforehand.
- The day before, do not eat fruit, tomatoes, avocado, nuts or pumpkin and do not drink soft drinks or wine.
- Do not collect urine during your period.
Who it is for
Who is the test useful for?
Useful for
In people with a normal immune system, the result says little, even with abdominal complaints, tiredness or a suspicion of 'candida in the gut', because the test has not been studied for those situations. The studied use, in hospital patients with a severely weakened immune system, is outside the scope of this service.
How common is it?
There are no Dutch figures on how often a raised D-arabinitol in urine occurs in people without symptoms. Invasive candida infections occur almost only in seriously ill hospital patients with a weakened immune system.
No Dutch figures available; qualitative description based on Christensson et al.
Drawbacks and risks
- A raised value can lead to the wrong conclusion that there is 'candida overgrowth', with unnecessary worry, diets or antifungal products.
Get tested
D-arabinitol: test panels
D-arabinitol is part of these test panels. You order online and have your blood drawn at a collection point or collect the sample at home.
Evidence
Sources
This explanation is based on Dutch guidelines and independent information. It is general information, not a diagnosis. Discuss an abnormal result with your GP.
More about risks and results- UMC Utrecht, Bepalingenwijzer: Organische zuren (urine)
- ACMG technische standaard: Laboratory analysis of organic acids, 2018 update (Gallagher e.a., Genetics in Medicine)
- Verbeke e.a., Towards microbial fermentation metabolites as markers for health benefits of prebiotics (Nutrition Research Reviews, 2015)
- Erfelijkheid.nl: Stofwisselingsziektes
- RIVM, Hielprik: ziekten die de hielprik opspoort
- Christensson e.a., D-/L-arabinitol-ratio in urine bij invasieve candidiasis bij kinderen met neutropenie (J Clin Microbiol, 1997)
- Christensson e.a., D-arabinitol, a marker for invasive candidiasis (Medical Mycology, 1999; PMID 10647119)
More explanations
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