Vitamins and minerals testing is important to determine your nutritional health profile and identify any abnormal levels of nutrients associated with disease; either too little or too much of a particular vitamin or mineral can indicate dietary issues, and can signal problems with the function of certain organs. A variety of ways exist to test for the presence and levels of vitamins and minerals. Consult your doctor about the benefits of getting vitamin and mineral tests.
Blood Tests
A variety of blood tests can determine your vitamin and mineral status. A comprehensive metabolic panel can assess your overall health and metabolism, the physical and chemical processes in the body that utilize energy, and consists of a group of chemical tests that analyze blood serum. The test measures levels of several minerals, including sodium, potassium and calcium, to help determine the health of your liver and kidneys. A blood test that measures nutrients including vitamins A, B-1, B-2, B-6, B-12, C, D, E, folate and trace minerals such as iron, zinc, selenium, manganese and molybdenum may indicate deficiencies of certain nutrients and help determine what, if any, nutritional supplements you may need.
Urine Tests
Urine tests are a non-invasive procedure that involves collection and analysis of your urine. Urine analysis can determine recent intake of vitamins and minerals and indicate whether this intake was too little or too much. The analysis can also identify any potential problems with absorption or excretion of nutrients. The Schilling Test analyzes your urine specicially for vitamin B-12 to determine if you are absorbing the nutrient normally.
Hair Test
Hair analysis is a controversial topic. Conventional medical doctors have traditionally been wary of using hair analysis except for determining exposure to heavy metals or adverse environmental chemicals. Holistic practitioners, such as naturopathic doctors, may support the use of hair analysis for determining mineral content in the body. Hair analysis is a noninvasive procedure that involves cutting a small sample of hair from the head. The results of the analysis can indicate imbalances of minerals and can provide clues of vitamin status and requirements. For instance, vitamin C affects absorption of iron, and a deficiency of vitamin C can diminish the amount of iron you can absorb from food, so a test that reveals a deficiency of iron may also indicate a deficiency of vitamin C.
Electrodermal Test
Electrodermal screening is a noninvasive test that measures energy levels from your fingers and toes to determine imbalances of vitamins and minerals throughout your body. Holistic practitioners such as chiropractors and naturopathic physicians may use electrodermal screening, but it is rarely used by physicians practicing conventional medicine. In fact, there is very little, if any, credible evidence to support its use in mainstream medicine.
References
- Medline Plus; Comprehensive Metabolic Panel; June 22, 2011
- IBS Treatment Center; Vitamin and Mineral Panel; 2005
- American Association for Clinical Chemistry; Trace Minerals; 2011
- Medline Plus; Schilling Test; Jun 22, 2011
- Holistic Naturopathic Center; Trace Mineral Analysis; 2011
- Trinity Holistic Wellness; Electro-Dermal Screening; 2009
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