Welcome

Dr. Peter W. Huddleston, N.D., C.N.C.

SALIVA MINERAL ANALYSIS

Through DNA Testing

Over 300 studies in the last five years have used saliva to measure steroid hormone levels. Saliva is an ideal diagnostic medium to measure the bioavailable level of steroid hormones active in the tissue. The majority (90-99%) of steroid hormones in blood are tightly bound to carrier proteins, rendering them unavailable to target tissue. The small fraction (1-3%) of hormone released from the binding proteins freely diffuse into tissues throughout the body such as the salivary glands. Form the salivary glands the hormones then equilibrate with the salivary fluid (saliva), where they can be collected and measured. Only the small nonpolar hormones such as steroids pass freely into the salivary gland and then into saliva. The steroid hormones routinely tested in saliva by most laboratories include the sex steroids (estradiol, estrone, estriol, progesterone, testosterone).

Customized test reports include:

ü Hormone ranges based on endogenous production and exogenous supplementation

ü Ave-based hormone ranges

ü Dose, delivery, timing, and type of hormone supplements used

ü Graphical presentation of patients’ self-reported symptoms

ü Interpretive comments linking hormone test results with symptoms and hormones used

ü A “History Test Report” that compares current with previous test results, symptoms, and hormones used.

Advantages of Using Saliva vs. Serum

§ Saliva collection is painless, non-invasive, and more convenient

§ Saliva allows private and timely sample collection at home

§ Saliva collection less expensive and more convenient to patient and practitioner

§ Hormones are stable in saliva at room temperature for up to 2 weeks, allowing for worldwide shipment and convenient mailing of samples for testing

§ Saliva requires no special handling, such as cooling, for return shipment

§ Saliva easier to collect multiple times throughout the day

Equivalence of Saliva and Serum Hormone Tests

§ Salivary steroids represent the fraction of hormone delivered to tissue; serum steroids represent the total level of steroid in blood prior to tissue delivery

§ Salivary and serum steroids sho9w strong quantitative correlation when hormones produced endogenously; salivary steroids represent about 1-3% of total serum steroid level

§ Salivary and serum steroids show poor quantitative correlation with exogenous steroid use-saliva is much more representative of tissue uptake of steroid than serum (grossly – underestimates tissue uptake).

Clinical Utility of Saliva Testing

§ Determine endogenous hormone levels

§ Identify hormone imbalances

§ Link clinical symptoms to tested hormone levels

§ Monitor hormone levels while supplementing allowing for individualized hormone dosing

§ Track treatment progress through comparative history reports

§ Facilitate optimal health and disease prevention with early detection

Hormones Tested in Saliva:

Estradiol (E2) Progesterone (Pg) AM Cortisol (Cx1)

Estriol (E3) Testosterone (T) AM / PM Cortisol (Cx2)

Estrone (E1) DHEA-S (DS) Diurnal Cortisol (Cx4)