Brain Health & Neuronutrition Panel

Comprehensive biomarker panel addressing the biological drivers of mental health — including neurotransmitter precursors, thyroid, cortisol, omega-3 status, and neuroinflammatory markers — interpreted by Dr Menka Gupta to identify correctable root causes of depression, anxiety, and brain fog.

Mental health challenges — depression, anxiety, brain fog, emotional dysregulation, burnout — have biological roots that are measurable, and in many cases, directly correctable. NutraNourish's Brain Health and Neuronutrition Panel is designed to identify the physiological drivers of psychological symptoms that conventional psychiatry rarely investigates before prescribing medication. The panel begins with neurotransmitter precursor nutrients: vitamin B6 (essential for converting 5-HTP to serotonin and L-DOPA to dopamine), methylfolate and B12 (critical for the methylation cycle that regenerates these neurotransmitters), and tryptophan and tyrosine as the amino acid substrates. The organic acid test (OAT) — a urine-based panel — directly measures downstream metabolites of serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and GABA metabolism, identifying functional deficiencies in neurotransmitter production or excessive breakdown. Thyroid function (TSH, free T3, free T4, reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies) is comprehensively assessed, as subclinical hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's thyroiditis produce depressive and cognitive symptoms virtually indistinguishable from primary mood disorders. Cortisol profiling — via DUTCH or salivary collection — characterises HPA axis function, identifying the hyperactivation pattern (anxiety, insomnia, hypervigilance) and the blunted pattern (emotional numbness, fatigue, cognitive slowing) associated with chronic stress. Omega-3 fatty acid status (EPA and DHA index) is measured as these are structural components of neuronal membranes and potent anti-neuroinflammatory agents with strong clinical trial evidence for reducing depression severity. Neuroinflammatory markers (hsCRP, IL-6, TNF-alpha, homocysteine) are assessed given their central role in the inflammatory hypothesis of depression. Dr Menka's consultation synthesises all findings into a neuronutrition protocol — addressing each identified biological driver through targeted supplementation, dietary modification, and lifestyle interventions — and identifies where a referral to integrated psychiatric support would complement the functional approach.