Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) Test

Glucose is the primary sugar found in your bloodstream. The sugar comes from carbohydrates in the foods you eat and is also produced by your body. It is a source of energy for many cells throughout the body. Blood glucose levels are tightly controlled by hormones like insulin, which is produced in the pancreas. High glucose levels may increase the risk of diabetes and associated disorders, such as heart disease. In people with diabetes, insulin is either less effective or not produced in sufficient quantity, making it harder to manage the amount of sugar passing through the blood. In type 2 diabetes, the cells become resistant to insulin and ignore its message to absorb glucose, a condition known as insulin resistance. Insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes, is strongly associated with atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries caused by plaque accumulation in the inner lining of an artery).

Calcium is one of the most abundant essential minerals stored and used in the human body and is also an electrolyte. Most of the calcium in your body is stored in your bones, with only 1% circulating in your bloodstream. It plays a key role in multiple bodily functions including formation and maintenance of strong bones and teeth, proper nerve, muscle, and heart function, and helps move blood through the blood vessels of the body. Calcium is necessary for blood clotting, muscular movement, maintaining a normal heart rhythm, and bone strength as we age.

Our bodies do not produce calcium, so we must get it from food or supplements. For your body to absorb enough calcium, you must also have sufficient levels of vitamin D to promote calcium absorption and help enhance calcium reserves over time. If you don't eat enough calcium-rich foods, or your body doesn’t store or absorb enough of it, your levels may be low, and the body will take it from where we need it the most: our bones. This leads to bone loss and, eventually, osteoporosis (a condition that causes bones to gradually thin and weaken). Abnormal calcium levels in the blood may also be a sign of kidney disorders, thyroid disease, or other conditions. Too much or too little calcium may lead to a variety of symptoms including, but limited to, headache, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, joint pain, constipation, and vomiting.

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) is a form of nitrogen found in urea. Urea is a waste product created by the liver as it breaks down protein and filters out toxic substances, like ammonia, from your body. Urea is transported through the bloodstream to the kidneys, where it is filtered and eliminated from the body through urine.

The liver also produces creatine, which the muscles use as an energy source. During normal muscle use, some creatine will be broken down into creatinine as a waste product by the muscles. Creatinine is transported through the bloodstream to the kidneys, where it is filtered and eliminated from the body through urine.

The BUN/creatinine ratio is used to assess kidney function and hydration status. An elevated BUN/Creatinine ratio may suggest a condition that causes decreased blood flow to the kidneys, such as dehydration or congestive heart failure, and has been shown to help indicate anemia risk in individuals.

Chloride is an electrolyte that helps to balance fluids inside and outside of your body's cells. Chloride plays an essential role in metabolism and is instrumental in maintaining proper blood volume, blood pressure, hydration fluid balance, muscle response, and acid/base balance. Blood chloride can be elevated when the body loses excessive amounts of sodium- chloride in the body through high rates of fluid loss. If the body is inadequately hydrated, the athlete may not be able to perform optimally.

Our bodies do not produce chloride, so we must get it from food or supplements. If you don’t eat enough chloride-rich foods, or if your body doesn’t store or absorb enough of it, you may have low levels. Too little chloride may cause fatigue, dizziness, nausea, and/or muscle cramps.

Potassium is an electrolyte that is also one of the body's most important minerals. It helps to regulate water balance, blood pressure, and heart rate. Potassium is also necessary for muscle contraction and nerve function. Monitoring and regulating potassium levels in the body is critically important, as potassium is essential to muscle and nerve function and hydration.

Our bodies do not produce potassium, so we must get it from food or supplements. If you don’t eat enough potassium-rich foods, or if your body doesn’t store or absorb enough of it, you may have low levels. Too little potassium may cause muscle cramping, muscle weakness, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, constipation, numbness or tingling, or excessive thirst.

Sodium is a vital mineral in the body. It is carefully regulated by the kidneys and plays an important role in the body's water balance. Sodium is an electrolyte, which means it is a mineral with an electrical charge. Electrolytes affect how much water is in your body and how your muscles work. During exercise, sodium is the major electrolyte lost through sweat and the most important one to replace after exercise. Because sodium is essential for muscle and nerve function and hydration, it is critical to monitor and manage sodium levels in the body.

Our bodies do not produce sodium, so we must get it from food or supplements. If you don’t eat enough sodium-rich foods, or if your body doesn’t store or absorb enough of it, you may have low levels. Too little sodium may cause fatigue, nausea, and/or muscle cramps.