Getting blood test for nutrients not found in common blood test

[Eliotf]

I have a few questions for the group. First my background information: I am in the USA. My diet/eating habits probably won’t change. My eating habits are only ok. My blood is drawn all the time: cbc, wbc, etc and every 6 months my complete thyroid panel is drawn. I have hashimotos, CLL and they are well controlled and /or stable It’s the dermatomyositis and a few other disorders that seems to flare up. I will be going to a naturalpath & nutritionist/dietitian. My questions are: what nutrition blood panels & or specific tests can I run for a more fuller picture and to see the less common nutrients? Are those freeze dried ‘super greens supplements’ any good ? And of course I am also looking for micronutrients and finally the magic ingredient/pill.

[JenniferW]

Hi Eliot,

Making little changes to your diet will probably help the most, assuming you haven't got an undiagnosed intolerance to a particular food group. I personally found adding more root vegetables like beetroot (beets, I think you Americans call them) to my diet the easiest and most effective improvement.

The vitamins which get recommended on here the most are vitamin D, K2 and magnesium. I have found adding a magnesium supplement to my diet this year has really helped smooth out my thyroid levels. Iron is also important, but you must get tested with a full iron panel before supplementing with iron.

As far as tests go, vitamin D, iron and B12 are common useful tests. Magnesium is hard to test for, so just trying a supplement is the best way to find out if you need it. Make sure you look up the types, you want magnesium glycinate or threonate, not oxide, which can upset the stomach. Iron can also upset the stomach in some forms, if you look it up on these boards there's lots of advice on iron supplements.

Best of luck

Jenny

[SlowDragon Administrator]

B12, folate, vitamin D and ferritin plus CRP

If ferritin is low or CRP high, get full iron panel test for anaemia

Also consider testing zinc, copper and selenium

[Easylover in reply to SlowDragon]

What is CRP?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Easylover]

Measurement of inflammation

medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/c...

Ferritin rises with inflammation

[Easylover in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you