Have you ever had other vitamins tested such as Vitamin A, Zinc, Magnesium...?

[Ctb567]

Hi, like most people I have had the usual done: vitamin b12, folate, ferritin and vitamin D.

These tests showed that I needed b12 injections, I had vitamin D treatment and I was told my folate and ferritin were in the normal range but were "low normal". I had these done at an endocrinologists and to me this shows that I have an absorption problem, especially as I've had IBS my whole life. I asked the doctor to test for some other vitamins and he said no because there would be a specific reason if I was deficient in these other vitamins, well why do you think I'm here??!! I would especially like to have Vitamin A tested as I have dry eyes and this can be a symptom of that and I have had every other test I can think of for dry eyes to find out whats causing it.

Has anyone else managed to get these other kind of vitamins tested and if so how did you get them done?

Thanks!

[JoyceA]

Hi Carly,

Blue Horizon do a "Thyroid Plus T" test which tests the thyroid hormones and anti bodies but also includes HCT, MCHC (not exactly sure what these two are but they're to do with red blood cells I think), Folate, Ferritin, Vit D, B12, Magnesium, Zinc and Selenium. It's a bit pricy but works out cheaper than doing them individually.

I asked for monetary gifts for Christmas and was able to do the test last week. Got the results today and discovered I'm deficient in magnesium and "low normal" ferritin and folate and around middle with Vit D and B12 (no wonder I feel like a zombie). I had never thought to check my magnesium levels before so I'm glad I did this test as I now discover I'm deficient!!

[JoyceA in reply to JoyceA]

Sorry, I fogot to say I'm not sure about Vitamin A, but good luck with everything.

Joyce

[gabkad]

Carly, cod liver oil is high in retinol (real vitamin A) as opposed to beta carotene. You can supplement (look on line for capsules that contain 25,000 IU and take one per week). We need 5,000 IU retinol per day. Here's a good blogpost on the topic:

empoweredsustenance.com/tru...

[Jackie]

HI Magnesium is an electrolyte, so I have to have a weekly test and dose of magnesium oxide accordingly. It is a very small range and must always be in range.

D should be tested regularly and if taking it calcium too as it affects the calcium, also if calcium goes over range D must be stopped however bad it is.

Jackie

[BeansMummy]

I'm glad you asked this question, as it is something I was wondering about as well. I have deficient or low-in-range results for all the usual because, I assume, I can't absorb them. Therefore, it would follow that maybe everything else would be low too? It was nigh on impossible getting doctors to agree to test me for iron, vitamin D, B12 etc., I don't think they will agree to test anything else.

I was reading about vitamin A deficiency symptoms recently. I thought I also read that supplementing vitamin A wasn't a good idea though, unless you are definitely deficient, but am happy to be wrong about that so I will have to do some more reading.