Vitamin and mineral deficiency testing

Vitamins

When the body cannot make enough of a compound, we call that organic chemical compound a vitamin. As a result, you must obtain vitamins through diet. Vitamin testing helps identify what you need.

A substance’s biological and chemical activity, not its molecular structure, classifies it as a vitamin. Each vitamin name refers to several compounds that all show the same biological activity. The term “vitamin” does not apply to dietary minerals, essential fatty acids, and essential amino acids.

Organic chemical compounds have diverse biochemical functions in your body. For instance:

• Hormone-like regulation of mineral metabolism by vitamin D, for instance helping metabolize calcium
• Vitamin A regulates cell and tissue growth and differentiation
• Some vitamins, for example, E and sometimes C, act as antioxidants
• And the B complex, the largest number, functions as coenzymes, substances that help enzymes as catalysts in metabolism.

Until the mid-1930s, we obtained vitamins solely through food. Changes in diet seasonally usually greatly alter the vitamins taken in. Now, manufacturers can produce multivitamin supplements and additives as inexpensive semisynthetic and synthetic chemicals.

So different levels of deficiency show up in different ways. Inadequate nutrition causes a primary deficiency. A vitamin deficiency can cause a disease or a syndrome, a long-term deficiency. Malabsorption, metabolic anomalies, or the result of lifestyle choices including smoking and alcohol consumption may cause secondary deficiencies and underlying disorders.

Mineral deficiency

Your body needs dietary minerals and micronutrients for proper health. So poor diet, faulty uptake of minerals, or dysfunction in use of the mineral after your body absorbs it may cause a deficiency. These deficiencies cause many disorders including anemia and goiter. They may be named by the deficient mineral, such as a zinc deficiency, an iron deficiency, or a magnesium deficiency.

Testing for vitamin and mineral deficiency

Basic vitamin and nutrition blood tests can detect gluten, minerals, iron, calcium, and other deficiencies. As a result, the tests tell you which vitamins and minerals you lack, and which you are getting enough of naturally.

A micronutrient test will measure essential micronutrients. Such a test provides the basis for a personalized, functional approach to many metabolic disorders and micronutrient deficiencies. As a result, based on the test results, your added supplements and diet changes will support your comprehensive treatment plan.

You are our top priority here at Vedas. Our North Houston office is minutes from I-45 (Houston’s North Freeway) in The Woodlands, Texas. We offer you a free consultation with Dr. Nangrani and our Spa Director. Together, you will discuss your expectations and design your treatment plan.

Come get acquainted with Dr. Nangrani, our board-certified Medical Director. She has practiced for over 15 years. Please call our office to schedule your consultation at (281) 298-5476. We look forward to seeing you soon!

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