How do you test for vitamin b deficiency?

Have you been feeling incredibly fatigued lately? Do your hands and feet tingle more often than not? Perhaps you are experiencing memory loss or brain fog. All of these symptoms could be indicators that you are lacking in vitamin B.

Vitamin B is vital for making energy, aiding your neurological functions, processing fats and carbohydrates, producing red blood cells, and keeping your skin healthy. It’s essential to make sure you have enough of this critical vitamin!

So the question stands- how can we test for a lack of vitamin B?

Blood Tests

Blood tests are an excellent way to determine whether or not someone is deficient in vitamins; however, many doctors may only check a patient’s typical “B12” levels on their yearly lab work (yawn). While checking those levels is important as well (yay!), there may be many other factors at play when it comes specifically to high-quality vitamin testing.

Methylmalonic Acid Test:

A methylmalonic acid (MMA) test can identify deficiencies where typically a general screening blood panel does not catch it at all! MMA allows physicians to measure functional markers that aren’t typically included in routine lab work like holotransferrin saturation!!! An elevated MMA level indicates deficiency even when various biomarkers seem ordinary – likely because MMAs reflect tissue concentrations (wowza!).

Other excellent vitamer measures include riboflavin phosphate (what did she say?) , direct measurement of Pyridoxal 5-Phosphate, Active Transcobalamin(ATC), Total Homocysteine(Hcy), Adenosylcobalamin(AdoCbl).

Hopefully all words above don’t sound Greek but do note: these terminology-looking terms will help detect real problems hidden under normal-looking labs.

Urine Testing:

Urine testing is another great option, checking a patient’s urine for elevated levels of methylmalonic acid and formiminoglutamic acid. These are discarded by-products caused by the body dumping unusable vitamin B into waste products.

The test can distinguish between particular forms of vitamin B deficiencies as well, including pyridoxine and niacin!

Physical Symptoms

In addition to proper lab work, your doctor may also evaluate you for certain physical symptoms that could indicate a lack of vitamin B. Such indicators might include:

  1. Fatigue
  2. Tingling in limbs
  3. Loss of memory
  4. Diminished cognitive function
  5. Reduced enjoyment in pleasurable events
    6..Feeling faint or lightheadedness

These symptoms’ presence suggests further testing – which means we’re one step closer to getting back to feeling lively again! Yay!!

Wrap-Up

So there you have it: three methods to check if you are experiencing adverse health outcomes due to nutrient deficencies — AKA– Vitamin Bs!

Remember no information should replace advice from a medical professional; please consult with them on which options may be appropriate for your unique situation.

With proper lifestyle changes and nutrition regimens (such as incorporating more leafy greens, beef liver, fish (tilapia not mackerel…just kidding!), yogurt( sans the added sugar) , and nutritional yeast)(remind me what that is again?), patients will often restore healthy supplies without much intervention. Thank goodness (’cause who’s got time for all those tests?) But still vital info whenever needed!

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