Low Carb 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 chicken, turkey, beef liver, tuna, onions and, dark leafy greens, fish, eggs, and milk.

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 phosphorus. 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 Vitamin E Test measures the levels of alpha-tocopherol and beta-gamma-tocopherol, also called tocopherol, in your blood. Tocopherol is a fat-soluble vitamin that protects cells from damage caused by free radicals (unstable molecules) because it is an antioxidant. Tocopherol also helps strengthen your immune system, make new red blood cells, heal wounds, reduce inflammation, and stop blood clots from forming inside blood vessels.

There are several types of tocopherols. Each one does something different in the body. Alpha-tocopherol is the only type your body uses. Even though other tocopherols are absorbed and serve various roles, your body does not make them into alpha-tocopherol for use. If you don’t eat enough tocopherol-rich foods, or if your body doesn’t store or absorb enough of it, you may have low levels. Too little tocopherol may cause tiredness, weakened immunity, difficulty with balance and coordination, poor vision, or digestive problems.

Our bodies do not make tocopherol, so we need to get it daily from food or supplements. Tocopherol is naturally found in foods such as plant oils, eggs, olives, nuts, seeds, peanuts, peanut butter, red bell peppers, and leafy green vegetables (beet greens, collard greens, and spinach).

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 Folate Test measures the level of vitamin B9, also known as folate, in your blood. Folate is a water-soluble vitamin that helps your body make red and white blood cells; grow tissues; build DNA; and turn food into energy. This vitamin is important during pregnancy to help prevent congenital disabilities (conditions present at birth) of the brain (e.g., anencephaly) and spine (e.g., spina bifida). Folate helps with the healthy development of fetal tissues and cells.

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

Our bodies don't make folate, so we need to get it daily from food or supplements (in the form of folic acid). Folate is found naturally in foods such as beef liver, seafood, dark leafy greens, peanuts, black-eyed peas, sunflower seeds, and eggs.

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 (cod, tuna, etc.), shellfish (e.g., shrimp), dairy products, seaweed (dulse, kelp, nori), eggs, and iodized table salt.

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.

The Magnesium Test measures the amount of magnesium in your blood. Magnesium is an essential mineral needed in our bodies in large amounts. Magnesium plays an important role in keeping your heart and muscles functioning normally, regulating blood sugar levels, maintaining blood pressure, and helping your body absorb calcium. Magnesium also helps keep bones strong and regulates the immune system. Every cell in your body needs magnesium to function properly.

If you don’t eat enough magnesium-rich foods, or if your body doesn’t store or absorb enough of it, you may have low levels. Too little magnesium may cause muscle spasms or cramps, fatigue, nausea or vomiting, loss of appetite, muscle weakness, numbness, uncontrolled eye movements, or convulsions. A lack of magnesium for an extended period has been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis.

Our bodies do not make magnesium, so we must get it through food or supplements. Magnesium is naturally found in leafy greens (spinach, kale, and collard, mustard, and turnip greens), whole grains, nuts (almonds and cashews), seeds, and yogurt.

The Potassium Test measures the amount of potassium in your blood. 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. The relationship between potassium and sodium is essential for proper body function, as their levels need to be balanced for the body to carry out normal functions.

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.

Our bodies do not produce potassium, so we must get it from food or supplements. Potassium is naturally found in beets/beet greens, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, white beans, tuna, salmon, cod, broccoli, spinach, avocados, chicken, and some nuts.

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 eggs, legumes, mushrooms, tofu, tempeh, legumes, nuts, seeds, oysters, and seafood.