What is Succinic Acid?

Succinate (Organix Comprehensive Profile – Urine) (or succinic acid – Organic Acids, Plasma) is an important metabolite that is involved in several chemical processes in the body. Succinic acid is a key intermediate of both the Kreb’s cycle and the electron transport chain that generates adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the currency for most of the body’s energy transactions.

Succinate is produced from bacterial degradation of unabsorbed glutamine and is a metabolite of alpha-ketogluturate, as well as methionine, valine & leucine; precursor of fumaric acid; also formed from bacterial action on glutamine.

High values:

Possible causes:

• Impaired metabolism due to low cofactors (Fe, B2)
• Bacterial degradation of glutamine
• Dysbiosis (=microbial imbalance or maladaptation on or inside the body, such as an impaired microbiota.)
• UTI (=urinary tract infection. UTI is an infection in any part of your urinary system, your kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Most infections involve the lower urinary tract — the bladder and the urethra.)

Deficiencies of Fe (=Iron) or B2 (=Riboflavin) or Coenzyme Q10. Clinical signs of CoQ10 and Riboflavin deficiencies include fatigue, lassitude (=lack of energy) and myocardial and neurological degeneration. CoQ10 depletion can be tissue specific.

Additional investigations:

• Vitamins & Minerals analysis
• Urinary Amino Acids test
• Investigate possible causes of malabsorption, dysbiosis or UTI
• Intestinal permeability test
• IgG food sensitivity test
• Comprehensive digestive stool analysis
• Functional liver detoxification profile

Treatment considerations:

• Mucosal support
• Correct malabsorption, dysbiosis or UTI
• Elimination diet
• Supplement Fe or B2 if low

Low values:

Low succinic acid can be due to excess aluminum in your system. Low levels may indicate the need for leucine / isoleucine supplementation.

Disclaimer:

The information on healthmatters.io is NOT intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice.