However, it appears from the scientific literature that HMA is providing very significant information about deficiency of zinc, chromium, copper, potassium, calcium and magnesium, to name a few. It also can indicate excess of minerals. These elevated levels of minerals do not always mean increased ingestion. Rather, in many cases they reveal certain patterns caused by metabolic changes. These changes, as we will see in the following examples, can con- tribute to an understanding of the underlying biochemical changes, which are very difficult to detect by other analytical means.
Energy production is one of the major functions of our metabolism.
Normally, the breakdown products of carbohydrate, protein and fat enter the Krebs cycle and 'burn down' to carbon dioxide and water. Lactic acid usually is the end product of fermentation. This transfer activity occurs through the blood system with the help of the parathyroid hormone. The excess will be excreted and will show up simultaneously in the urine and the hair tissue. The elevated level of calcium in a 24h urine may indicate the presence of MA, but without any information as to the period during which this process was occurring.