VITAMINTESTING.COM: Vitamin Deficiency Test Information

         
While there are credible studies that show some of the many vitamin and mineral supplements on the market today are effective in preventing or treating disease, there is an overall lack of well-funded, large-scale studies proving the effectiveness of most vitamin supplements.  But many of us take supplements anyway because of the widespread belief, based on the small-scale studies we read and anecdotal evidence, that proper vitamin and mineral balance will help our health.  So, we take vitamin supplements, but why then go to the trouble of getting our vitamin and mineral levels tested?  A few of the many benefits of vitamin and mineral testing include:

• Preventing or correcting vitamin deficiencies which may be impacting your health or causing or contributing to your health conditions.  Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are not uncommon and there is lots of credible evidence and research that shows these deficiencies can be causing or contributing to conditions such as fatigue, hair loss, stomach upset, irritability, bone fractures and many more. 
• Preventing or correcting vitamin concentrations above the published upper limits (ULs).  Vitamin excesses have been linked, through credible research, to several forms of cancer, dangerous drug-vitamin interactions and increased risk of death.
• Improving long-term heart health by measuring antioxidant levels and correcting deficiencies.  The benefits of antioxidants on heart health have been heavily researched and appear to be widely accepted by medical professionals.  Yet, testing for antioxidants is proactive, and many physicians are oriented towards fixing immediate issues in the limited amount of time they spend with you during office visits.  Even if you take lots of antioxidants in your vitamin supplements, there are several vitamin deficiencies which can negatively affect your body’s ability to absorb them.
• Ensuring the vitamin supplements you take are working and being properly absorbed.  Besides testing your vitamin and mineral levels, you may also want to ensure that the vitamin supplements you take have been independently tested to ensure the actual contents of the bottles match what’s published on the labels (see the Potency Tests Page). 

There is a confusing array of vitamin, mineral and vitamin deficiency tests available (see Tests Page).  And in order to get tests performed, you’ll usually need an order from a licensed alternative healthcare provider who believes in and uses this type of vitamin deficiency testing (see Finding a Provider).   NOTE: We’ve found at least one lab that will provide vitamin blood tests without a physician’s order (visit Vitamin Testing Lab Page for details).

     
Based on our own experience, as well as our experience coaching others, we’ve developed a step-by-step process for you to use to get your vitamin and nutrient blood levels tested and balanced.  We hope to expand upon this process as we conduct more research and get reader feedback. 

Vitamin Deficiency Testing Steps: An Overview

The strategy we recommend (details and the websites you’ll need can be found on our Get Tested: Step-By-Step Process Page) is:

• Research possible vitamin deficiencies, excesses and drug interactions using our step-by-step research process.  Print out this information for your healthcare professional, including a list of your health conditions, medications and vitamin supplements you take.  And use this knowledge to develop the best possible questions in advance of your first appointment.
• Write down your chief complaints (e.g. tiredness, pain).  Your healthcare professional will need these to determine the best possible tests and to justify them to your insurance company.
• Find a qualified healthcare provider (usually an M.D. or D.O.), ideally one covered by your insurance plan.  You’ll want a provider who is both licensed to order tests in your state and who has a history of ordering them (see Finding a Provider Page). 
• Visit that provider, give her your information and hopefully receive lab orders for vitamin deficiency tests (see Your First Visit Page).
• After testing, visit your healthcare provider and go over vitamin blood test results and follow her recommendations.  Ask for and keep copies of all test results (see Follow Up Visits Page). 
• Make sure your healthcare provider re-tests you after you’ve changed your regimen.  After all, you (and your provider) should get proof that the recommended vitamin supplements and changes are having the desired effect.

Congratulations, your vitamin and nutrient levels should be in balance!

Options to Consider

Test your natural level:  Ask your healthcare professional if she would recommend testing your body’s natural baseline of nutritional health by having you discontinue taking all or most vitamin supplements for several weeks prior to testing.  This must be done under the supervision of a medical professional, particularly if you have medical issues in which vitamin supplements have been recommended.  A key benefit would be that you and your healthcare provider can then determine exactly what vitamin supplements you need.  And you could then experiment with using lower-cost, independently-tested (see Potency Tests Page) supplements to achieve nutritional balance and save money in the process! 

Ensure your antioxidant levels are assessed:  Particularly if you or your family have any history of heart disease or are considered to be at risk (e.g. due to diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol or high blood pressure), consider asking your healthcare provider to test your antioxidant levels.  Antioxidants help minimize free radical damage to your heart.  In many studies, higher antioxidant levels have been linked to long-term heart health.  Although antioxidant tests are often included in vitamin tests, you’ll want to ask for these tests specifically to ensure you get them.

The Bottom Line

We spend lots of money on vitamin supplements because we assume they’ll benefit us.  But, in some cases, vitamins can hurt us or fail to correct deficiencies.  The only way we can ensure that what we’re taking is effective in providing us with proper nutritional balance is to get tested!  Hopefully, we’ve provided you with the guidance and information needed to do just that.  And we welcome your feedback and input so we can continually improve the quality of our information and website.