Vegetarian & Vegan Diet Vitamin Deficiency Test Panel

The Vitamin B1 Test measures the level of vitamin B1, also known as thiamine, in your blood. Thiamine is a water-soluble vitamin needed to help your cells grow, develop, and work properly. It also helps your body turn the food you eat into energy.

If you don't eat enough thiamine-rich foods, or if your body doesn't store or absorb enough of it, you may have low levels. Too little thiamine may cause tiredness, poor memory, confusion, appetite loss, muscle weakness, weight loss or mood changes.

Our bodies don't make thiamine, so we need to get it daily from food or supplements. Thiamine is naturally found in foods such as beef, pork, salmon, mussels, sunflower seeds, and yogurt.

The Vitamin B6 Test measures the level of vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, in your blood. Pyridoxine is a water-soluble vitamin that functions as a coenzyme in the body, with over 100 enzymes dependent on it for breaking down proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. It also helps support brain health and protect cells from damage.

If you don't eat enough pyridoxine-rich foods, or if your body doesn't store or absorb enough of it, you may have low levels. Not having enough pyridoxine may cause depression, confusion, cracks at the corners of the mouth, a swollen tongue, or microcytic anemia (a condition when there are fewer and smaller red blood cells than usual).

Our bodies don't make pyridoxine, so we need to get it daily from food or supplements. Pyridoxine is naturally found in foods such as beef, chicken, fish, eggs, milk, and dark leafy greens.

The Vitamin B12 Test measures the level of vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, in the blood. Cobalamin is a water-soluble vitamin that helps your body make red blood cells, create DNA, and keeps your nervous system healthy.

If you don't eat enough cobalamin-rich foods, or if your body doesn't store or absorb enough of it, you may have low levels. People who are deficient in cobalamin may not have any symptoms or may have symptoms of anemia, depression, weakness, tiredness, memory loss, or nerve damage. Early detection is important to prevent irreversible damage over time, especially to the nervous system.

Our bodies don’t make cobalamin, so we need to get it daily from food or supplements. Cobalamin is naturally found in animal proteins and other foods such as red meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy. Plant foods are not a reliable source of cobalamin unless they are fortified.

The Vitamin D test measures the amount of 25-OH vitamin D in your blood, an indicator of the level of vitamin D in your body. Vitamin D is an essential fat-soluble vitamin that is necessary for the proper functioning of your heart, blood vessels, insulin, and mood. Vitamin D also helps regulate calcium and O6. These are essential nutrients for strong bones and healthy cells. Vitamin D can also help the immune system fight infections.

If you don’t eat enough vitamin D-rich foods, or if your body doesn’t make enough of it, you may have low levels. Not having enough vitamin D can lead to bone pain, muscle weakness, or depression.

Your body makes vitamin D after direct exposure to sunlight. It then stores an inactive form of vitamin D in fat cells until it's needed. Your liver and kidneys change the inactive form of vitamin D into the active form (25-hydroxyvitamin D) your body needs. Vitamin D is naturally found in foods such as meat, seafood (trout and salmon), cod liver oil, or fortified dairy and plant-based milk products. It can also be found in supplement form.

The Calcium Test measures the total calcium levels in your blood. Calcium is a major mineral the body uses and stores in large amounts. Many people know the importance of calcium for strong bones, but it also helps keep muscles, nerves, and blood vessels working properly. Calcium is necessary for blood clotting, muscular movement, heart function, and bone strength as we age. If we don't consume enough of it, our bodies 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).

For your body to absorb enough calcium, you must also have sufficient levels of vitamin D. Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption and helps to enhance calcium reserves over time. If you don't get eat enough calcium-rich foods, or your body doesn’t store or absorb enough of it, your levels may be low. Abnormal calcium levels in the blood may be a sign of bone disease, kidney disorders, thyroid disease, or other conditions.

Our bodies do not produce calcium, so we must get it from food or supplements. Calcium is naturally found in black soybeans, leafy greens, and almonds.

The Iodine Test measures the amount of iodine in your blood. Iodine is a trace mineral that is essential for making thyroid hormones (T3 and T4). These hormones drive many bodily functions, such as regulating metabolism, growth, and development, and turning food into energy. The thyroid can't produce the proper level of hormones without enough iodine.

If you don’t eat enough iodine-rich foods, or if your body doesn’t store or absorb enough of it, you may have low levels. While deficiencies are rare in the United States, those deficient in iodine may develop an enlarged thyroid (goiter), reduced immunity, fatigue, dry skin, hair loss, weight gain, coldness, or a slowed heart rate.

Our bodies don't produce iodine so we must get it from food, iodized salt, or supplements. Iodine is naturally found in animal proteins, fish, shellfish, dairy products, seaweed (dulse, kelp, nori), iodized table salt, strawberries, prunes, and cranberries. Some cereal grains are also fortified with iodine.

The Ferritin Test measures the amount of ferritin in your blood. Ferritin is a protein in the blood that contains iron and helps you understand how much iron your body is storing. Blood levels of ferritin correlate to the body's iron status.

If you don't enough enough ferritin-rich foods, or if your body doesn't store or absorb enough of it, you may have low levels. Too little ferritin may​​​ lead to weakness and fatigue. Left unchecked, abnormal iron levels may lead to certain health issues (e.g., anemia, hemochromatosis).

Our bodies don't make ferritin, so we must get it from food or supplements. Ferritin is naturally found in foods such as red meat, egg yolks, organ meats, oysters, clams, canned fish, and green leafy vegetables.

The Iron Test measures the amount of iron in your blood. Iron is an essential micronutrient that the body needs to make healthy red blood cells. It is also a key component of proteins, such as: hemoglobin (the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen), myoglobin (the protein in muscle that binds to oxygen), and enzymes. Iron is needed for proper growth and development.

A low iron level can be a sign of anemia, which may be caused by diet, injury or blood loss, pregnancy, heavy exercise, and certain health conditions. If you don’t eat enough iron-rich foods, or if your body doesn’t store or absorb enough of it, you may have low levels. When abnormal iron levels are left untreated, they may lead to serious blood disorders or other health conditions.

Our bodies don't make iron, so we must get it from food or supplements. Iron is found naturally in foods such as red meat, egg yolks, organ meats, oysters, clams, canned fish, and green leafy vegetables. The best absorbed iron (heme) is found in meat and seafood, but another form (nonheme) is found in some vegetables.

• Omega-3 Total
  Omega-3 fatty acids are also known as essential (your body can’t produce them itself) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Omega-3 fatty acids are involved in many body processes, including blood clotting, muscle function, and cell division and growth—all of which affect heart health. Too little omega-3 can lead to dry skin, an itchy rash, dry eyes, inflammation, joint pain, or depression. Omega-3 PUFAs include eicosatetraenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA). Our bodies cannot make omega-3 fats so we must get them from food or supplements. EPA and DHA are naturally found in fish oil and fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, herring, and tuna. ALA is an additional omega-3 fatty acids that is naturally found in plant-based foods like green leafy vegetables (kale, and spinach), soybeans, seeds, flaxseed oil, nuts, and vegetable oils.
 
• Omega-6 Total
  Omega-6 fatty acids are essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Omega-6 fatty acids have important roles in brain function, skin health, blood clotting, cell health, and growth and development. Too little omega-6 can lead to dry skin, an itchy rash, dry eyes, inflammation, joint pain, or depression. Omega-6 PFUAs include linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA). Our bodies cannot make omega-6 fats, so we must get them from food or supplements. Omega-6 is naturally found in walnuts, tofu, peanut butter, sunflower seeds, and safflower oil.
 
• EPA + DPA + DHA
  This measurement may show the body’s intake and storage of EPA, DPA and DHA. A higher percentage suggests optimal levels that are seen with reduced risks of chronic diseases, while a lower percentage may mean there is a need for increased dietary intake or supplementation.^1,2
 
• Arachidonic Acid/EPA Ratio
  The AA/EPA ratio is a valuable predictor of cardiovascular risk.  A higher ratio is associated with higher risk for major cardiac-related diseases and issues.^3,4,5
 
• Omega-6/Omega-3 Ratio
  The Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio helps determine if there is a proper balance between these two types of fatty acids to ensure optimal health outcomes.^6,7

The Zinc Test measures the level of zinc in your blood. Zinc is an essential trace mineral, needed in small amounts, to help activate over 300 enzymes in your body. Zinc helps to build and protect DNA, grow cells, heal wounds, build proteins, and strengthen your immune system. It can help reduce oxidative stress (when free radicals outnumber antioxidants), inflammation, and the risk of infection. Zinc is especially important during times when the body is changing quickly, such as during childhood or pregnancy.

If you don’t eat enough zinc-rich foods, or if your body doesn’t store or absorb enough of it, you may have low levels. Too little zinc may cause weakness, loss of appetite, and weight loss. It may also cause skin changes, vision problems, slow wound healing, irritability, hair loss, and frequent infections.

Our bodies cannot make zinc, so we must get it from food or supplements. Although the zinc found naturally in meats is more completely absorbed than through plant foods, it is also found in fortified cereals, dairy, eggs, legumes, mushrooms, tofu, tempeh, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains.