Lymphocytes are separated from the patient’s whole blood.
Cells are stimulated with a mitogen (mitosis generator) and baseline proliferation rates are determined. The lymphocytes’ growth rate stimulated by the mitogen (as determined by intracellular metabolic activity) without the addition of micronutrients, is defined as the patient’s baseline.

Micronutrients are added to the lymphocytes/culture one at a time. Metabolic activity after nutrient additions are compared to the patient’s baseline intracellular rate. The single independent variable is the presence of a specific micronutrient and in this way it is determined if that specific micronutrient enhances metabolic activity of the cells and to what degree.

The nutrients that enhance the cellular functional response to the mitogenic stimuli are reported as a nutrient insufficiency and borderline nutrition insufficiency. The enhancement of the mitogen-induced response (marked or moderate response) indicates a suboptimal quantity of that particular nutrient within the patient’s cells, and an “insufficiency/borderline insufficiency” of that nutrient.

Nutrients are vital to health. They are required for every metabolic process in the body including:
• Energy generation
• Production of cells, tissues, organs, bones, genetic material, and teeth
• Protective mucous membranes
• Immune cells function and structures
• Synthesis of important compounds such as neurotransmitters, enzymes, hormones, and other functional proteins

Essential nutrients—vitamins, minerals, trace elements, water, phytonutrients, amino acids, and essential fatty acids— must be obtained from what we ingest. We must obtain these nutrients from food or in supplement form because the human body cannot produce them at all or in quantities sufficient to meet metabolic needs.

In order to promote optimal health, assessing nutrient status regularly is key to understanding what to address regarding the ideal dietary intake for an individual. Metabolism and all biochemical reactions take place intracellularly (within cells). Nutrients- vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids are utilized within cells to produce energy and to manufacture enzymes, hormones, neurotransmitters, and proteins in order to sustain life. Micronutrients in particular—vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients— are the driving force or the “spark” behind
these metabolic reactions. An insufficiency of any of the nutrients involved can contribute to a disruption in cell metabolism.

Functional cellular nutrient analysis assesses the impact of individual nutrients on cellular function. The CMA (Cellular Micronutrient Assay) directly measures the effect of specific micronutrients on the ability of T and B lymphocytes to reproduce when stimulated with a mitogen (an agent that causes mitosis/cell division). When the body has an infection, it increases production of the T and B lymphocytes (memory cells) that “recognize” and combat that specific invader. The faster these cells reproduce the faster infection is overcome. The ability of these cells to multiply is driven by our nutrient stores. Cells need nutrients in order to grow and multiply. Those nutrient requirements are unique to each individual and are impacted by many factors. Stress, genetics, high energy output in sports, pregnancy, recent infection, toxic burden, sleep patterns, etc., all play a role.

Measurement of micronutrients in plasma or serum is a reflection of their levels in circulation and outside of cells, not a reflection of nutrient levels within the cell where they have the most functional impact. Serum/plasma levels of nutrients are prone to daily fluctuations and are not necessarily a complete and perfect indication of intracellular nutrient status. Therefore, assessing micronutrients and their impact on cellular function at the cellular level is preferred as it provides insight into an individual’s long-term nutritional status (6 months) versus short-term variability.