Optimal - The Blog

November 27, 2023

Optimal - The Podcast: Episode 22

Optimal - The Podcast: Episode 22 - Organic Acids – Its Critical Role in Achieving Optimal Health, an Interview with Lindsay Goddard MS, RD, LD/N, RYT-200

Dr. Dicken Weatherby & Beth Ellen DiLuglio, MS, RDN, LDN

Welcome to Episode 22 of "Optimal - the Podcast," where we delve into the facets of health that truly make a difference. In this insightful episode, we're honored to host Lindsay Goddard, an expert in Organic Acids testing.

Lindsay Goddard is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian (RD, LD/N), with a Master’s in Nutrition, and a Bachelor's in Biology with a concentration in Human Physiology and Ecology. She has additional training in Integrative and Functional Nutrition and is currently finishing a Graduate Certificate in Toxicology from the University of South Florida. Lindsay began her career as a dietitian by working in one of the largest hospitals in Florida specializing in recovery nutrition, and critical care. She went on to serve in University-based outpatient clinics with concentrations in gastroenterology, genetics, and oncology. She followed with working in the NICU and Pediatrics in a level II facility until she began educating and advising on functional medicine testing. She has spoken on various platforms nationally, and internationally, on metabolomics, immunology, and toxicology, educating providers on its relevance and utility. She now serves as a Medical Science Liaison on Fullscript’s Integrative Medical Advisory team along with running a successful private practice where she specializes in pediatrics, and GI disorders as well as working in a physiatry clinic focusing on nutrition management for brain and spinal cord injuries.

During our conversation, Lindsay sheds light on the Organic Acid Test (OAT) and its critical role in achieving optimal health. OAT is a sophisticated laboratory analysis that scrutinizes cellular metabolic waste to identify nutrient deficiencies, signs of inflammation, toxic exposures, and microbial imbalances.

Lindsay elaborates on how organic acids, the metabolic byproducts from humans, bacteria, and fungi, are integral to understanding our body’s metabolic processes. The OAT offers a window into the body's use of nutrients and exposes metabolic functions that might be contributing to health issues, aiming to pinpoint deficiencies, inflammatory processes, toxicity, and dysbiosis.

Further exploring the practical applications of OAT, Lindsay discusses the frequency of testing in relation to specific deficiencies and how it complements other tests, such as CBC, CMP, and stool analyses. She also delves into the assessment of oxidative stress and detoxification markers, and the examination of intestinal microbial overgrowth, breaking it down to its yeast, fungal, and bacterial constituents.

A fascinating part of our discussion highlights the relationship between clostridia bacterial markers and dopamine regulation, suggesting possible psychiatric implications. Lindsay doesn't shy away from complex topics such as cellular turnover, DNA synthesis, folate metabolism, ketone levels as an indication of blood sugar regulation, and the nuances of fatty acid oxidation—vital considerations for those on low-carb diets and how these reflect on carnitine and riboflavin requirements, as well as pattern recognition.

Beyond individual biomarkers, Lindsay emphasizes the importance of pattern recognition in the understanding of human physiology and metabolism. She also clarifies how creatinine levels are used to normalize metabolic markers in urine samples. Addressing deficiencies, she underlines the role of a balanced diet and effective stress management in maintaining one’s health.

Join us to uncover the vital insights and practical applications of the Organic Acid Test and empower yourself with the knowledge to understand and address bodily deficiencies for improved health.

Episode Highlights:

(00:52) Introduction of Lindsay Goddard
(6:02) Definition of Organic Acid Test
(8:07) Explains how the Organic Acid Test works and the suggested time gap of re-testing
(11:31) Other laboratory procedures that needed to justify the results of OAT and what categories can be seen in the result
(24:16) How to determine what kind of follow-up test a patient would need
(37:14) How to explain OAT results, the importance of clinical history and retesting, and OAT practice
(47:22) Explains how to utilize OAT by medical practitioners and Awareness on the importance of the test
(51:52) Importance of spreading awareness about the OAT and educating practitioners