- March 28, 2023
- Dr Menka Gupta
What can the Dutch test tell you?
When Blood Test Show Hormone Levels as Normal
Recently we had a patient who was suffering from poor sleep, chronic fatigue, stress, anxiety, palpitations, aching joints and brain fog. He had visited his GP, who had done a blood test to check his hormone levels. The results showed his hormone levels were perfectly fine. He was not completely satisfied with these findings as many of his symptoms pointed to a hormone imbalance.
We recommended a DUTCH test to answer his concerns on hormonal imbalance. Unlike blood tests, which only provide a snapshot of hormone levels at a particular time, the Dutch test measures the levels of hormones over a 24-hour period. This provides a more accurate and comprehensive picture of the body’s hormonal balance. Additionally, urine samples are less affected by factors that can impact blood test results, such as stress or diurnal variation.
Dutch test depicts cortisol levels throughout the day. The reason for this person’s dissatisfaction was due to the above factor, his misleading result was likely due to cortisol awakening repsponse which was low in the morning and his DHEA and DHEA-S levels high.
The Dutch Hormonal Test can detect imbalances in stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline. Chronic stress can cause imbalances in these hormones, which can cause chronic fatigue, anxiety, and depression. For our patient above, the test results showed low cortisol levels. His personalised program included adaptogenic herbs, vitamins in therapeutic dosages, lifestyle changes and stress reduction techniques to support his adrenal glands.
Dutch Hormonal Test can also identify imbalances in melatonin levels. Melatonin is a hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle, and imbalances in melatonin can cause sleep disorders and other health issues. Measuring melatonin levels can help identify the underlying causes of sleep disorders.
So, which hormonal issues does the Dutch Hormonal Test help with?
The DUTCH test can help with identification of a wide range of hormonal issues. For example, it can identify imbalances in sex hormones, such as oestrogen dominance or low progesterone and metabolites, which can cause PMS, irregular periods, and infertility. It can also detect imbalances in stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, which can cause chronic fatigue, anxiety, and depression. In patients with breast cancer, dutch test shows estrogen dominance and estrogen metabolism issues through phase 1 and phase 2 detoxification. So, if a patient has a high oestrogen progesterone ratio, the practitioner may recommend natural supplements or lifestyle changes to support oestrogen detoxification.
The Dutch Hormonal Test is a valuable tool for functional medicine practitioners because it provides a comprehensive picture of a patient’s hormonal balance. Once a functional medicine practitioner has received the results of a patient’s Dutch Hormonal Test, they can use the information to create personalized health plans.
The Dutch Hormonal Test is a comprehensive hormone test that analyzes levels of various hormones in the body, including oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone, their metabolites, daily variations in cortisol, and melatonin. This test is different from traditional blood tests because it uses urine samples to measure the levels of hormones.
Hormonal imbalances can cause a wide range of health issues including fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, anxiety, brain fog, depression, mood swings, fertility problems and decreased libido. The DUTCH (Dry Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones) Test has gained popularity in recent years because of its ability to accurately assess hormonal imbalances.
For more information on the DUTCH test, click here
Dr Menka Gupta
IFMCP, MSc, MBBS
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