Did you know nearly 70% of people in the US are deficient in calcium, followed by omega-3 fatty acids, folic acid, iron, and vitamin B12?
When you don't get the essential vitamins and nutrients from your regular diet, you're more likely to develop chronic health problems such as fatigue, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis.
Due to this, lab tests for vitamins and mineral deficiencies are essential for your body to maintain its health and wellness.
If you're concerned you might have vitamin deficiencies, then keep reading to learn everything you need to know about vitamin and mineral deficiency lab tests.
What Are Vitamin and Mineral Tests?
Vitamins and minerals play a huge role in practically every process in your body, from immunity, metabolism, digestion, to hormone regulation. If you have ongoing nutritional imbalances, it can lead to:
- Weight loss
- Loss of muscle mass
- Loss of bone density
- Joint pain
- Fatigue and insomnia
- Poor memory
- Chronic disease
When you want to understand the state of your health truly, a vitamin or a mineral deficiency test can provide valuable insights into how what you eat affects your body.
How to Test for Vitamin Deficiency
If you're wondering how to test for a vitamin deficiency, it's important to understand what types of nutrients there are. Nutrients can be put into two different categories. First, there are macronutrients which include:
- Proteins
- Fats
- Carbohydrates (fiber, starch, sugar)
- Water
The next category is macronutrients that include:
- Minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and iron
- Vitamins like Vitamin, B, C, and D
- Antioxidants
Vitamin deficiency tests evaluate the micronutrients in your blood. They help your doctors diagnose nutritional deficiencies and get an overall picture of your nutritional health.
Benefits of Vitamin and Mineral Lab Tests
A blood test is a simple and powerful tool that identifies nutritional problems early on and prevents disease development.
Many people don't suffer symptoms but can still be deficient in essential nutrients like vitamin D, calcium, and magnesium. You can also easily fix many of these imbalances by modifying your diet and adding supplements.
Other benefits of vitamin and mineral lab tests include:
- Improve your organ function with the right nutrients
- Eliminate symptoms
- Prevent illness
- Boost your immune system
- A diet plan can be formed based on your lab results
- You can save money by only taking the supplements that you need
Vitamin and Mineral Lab Tests
Depending on your symptoms and what nutrients you want to check, you can find different vitamin and mineral panels from basic to comprehensive.
The Vitamins & Minerals + ( Omegas, CMP & CBC) - Basic panel includes:
A complete blood count (CBC) checks the overall health of your blood. The CBC measures things like red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. A comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) measures electrolytes, proteins, blood sugar and gives an overall indication of your kidney and liver function.
Next, a ferritin level measures how much iron is stored in your body. Ferritin is a protein found in your cells directly related to the amount of iron stored in your body. Folate is necessary for normal red blood cell formation and the repair of cells and tissues.
Iron is a mineral your body needs for most of its functions. Your body needs enough iron to carry oxygen to the cells and tissues. Low levels of iron can cause iron deficiency anemia. And omega-3 and omega-6 are fatty acids necessary for your body to function properly, and magnesium is essential for your bones, organs, and tissues.
The Vitamins & Minerals + ( Omegas, CMP & CBC) - Basic Plus panel includes the same tests as the basic panel but includes a prealbumin level, a protein produced by the liver and carries thyroid hormone and vitamin A throughout the body.
Next is a vitamin D and vitamin B12 deficiency test. And a transferrin level more closely assesses iron deficiency and the total iron balance in your body.
The Vitamins & Minerals + ( Omegas, CMP & CBC) - Advanced panel includes additional tests such as homocysteine level, which checks for vitamin B6, B12 deficiencies as well as identify if you're at risk for heart disease or a stroke. Zinc helps your immune system and metabolism function normally.
Vitamins & Minerals + ( Omegas, CMP & CBC) - Comprehensive also includes additional tests such as a detailed panel for vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K, zinc, and copper levels. Copper and zinc are necessary for your immune and nervous system to function normally. They are also key for healthy digestion.
FAQS About Vitamin and Mineral Deficiency Tests
What exact role do minerals play in the body? Minerals are crucial to the health of your and support many functions like:
- Thyroid gland function
- Immune system function
- Muscle function
- Normal red blood cell production
- Bone health
What illnesses can cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies? Digestive disorders like inflammatory bowel, celiac disease, or any disorder that causes malabsorption of food. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies also cause disorders like scurvy, rickets, and protein-energy malnutrition.
Vitamins and Mineral Deficiency at Ulta Lab Tests
Ulta Lab Tests offers highly accurate so that you can make the best decisions about your health. Here are a few great things to love about Ulta Lab Tests:
- Results are always secure and confidential
- No need for health insurance
- No need for a physician's referral
- You always receive affordable pricing
- A 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Order your vitamins and mineral deficiency test from Ulta Lab Tests today, and your results will be provided to you securely and confidentially online in 24 to 48 hours for most tests.
Take charge of your health with Ulta Lab Tests today!
