***PRICE INCLUDES CONSULT WITH DR. GUBERMAN TO DISCUSS TEST RESULTS
The DiagnosTechs Bone Health Panel uses convenient, non invasive testing of your saliva and urine to give you valuable information about your bone health. As you age, fluctuating levels of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, cortisol, and FSH may affect your bone density. These hormones can be measured to help evaluate and monitor the health of your bones and your risk for osteoporosis. The Bone Health Panel also measures the level of deoxypyridinoline, or Pyrilinks-D, from a urine sample. Pyrilinks-D is a specific marker of bone breakdown, which is used to screen for excess bone loss and for monitoring the effectiveness of osteoporosis treatments.
Your risk for osteoporosis increases if you: |
• Are 40 years of age or older • Have a sedentary lifestyle • Smoke cigarettes or consume alcohol • Have previous fractures or a family history of osteoporosis or hip fractures | • Are approaching or recently entered menopause
• Have low body weight
• Take glucocorticoid or steroid therapy long-term
• Have been diagnosed with diabetes, thyroid disease, kidney disease, or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) |
Bone Density
Bone density is influenced by many factors such as genetics, vitamin D status, hormone levels, diet, and lifestyle. When bone density decreases to a level below normal, it is referred to as osteopenia. If bone thinning continues to the point where the bone is at higher risk for breaking, it is referred to as osteoporosis. Early detection and intervention are very important for minimizing loss of bone density and preventing fractures. Although the standard procedure for evaluating bone health involves measuring specific biomarkers in the blood in combination with radiographic tests, the Bone Health Panel serves as a noninvasive and cost effective way to screen for and monitor bone loss that does not involve radiation or blood draws.
It is important to be screened for osteoporosis if you have:
•Diabetes (Type 1 or 2)
• Dementia
• Thyroid or kidney disease
• Low vitamin D levels
• Celiac disease
• Cystic fibrosis
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Premature ovarian failure or amenorrhea
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• History of an eating disorder
Why saliva instead of blood ?
For hormones to be active, they have to exist in their free state. In blood, most hormones are bound to proteins and are therefore inactive. It can be difficult to determine how much of a hormone measured in serum or blood is free and actually available to your cells. In saliva, however, hormones exist in their free state and are therefore bioavailable.
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