Vitamins are essential for normal cellular function and health. Having a deficiency in any of the individual vitamins can give rise to disease and any of a number of complaints.

Overt vitamin deficiency is relatively rare in the western world, although prevalent in developing countries, but sub-clinical deficiencies are a common finding, especially among high-risk groups.

This means that the body vitamin status is too low to maintain proper health, but just sufficient to prevent classic clinical symptoms of deficiency.

This makes it virtually impossible for the clinician to detect such deficiencies when they exist. Having a blood test is the definitive way of picking up vitamin deficiencies and checking body status of vitamins (although hair mineral analysis can give some important clues on vitamin status).

Deficiencies can go unnoticed for many years until illness develops. Sub-clinical and frank deficiciency can arise either from inadequate intake, abnormal metabolism, excessive excretion or because of an underlying disease process. It can also arise because of imbalance in other vitamins or minerals since these nutrients interact with each other. Regardless of how they arise, if allowed to go unnoticed then your health becomes compromised.

Some groups particularly at risk for vitamin deficiency are:

• Pregnant women and lactating women, who are at risk for vitamin A deficiency and folate deficiency, for example.

• The elderly who often live a sedentary lifestyle and are at risk for a broad range of deficiencies including vitamin D deficiency, vitamin B1 group deficiency and low antioxidant vitamin status.

• Those on special diets such as the strict vegetarian who are at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency.

• those having an existing conditions which may affect absorption or storage of nutrients, such as patients with celiac disease, sprue, cystic fibrosis, pancreatic disease, duodenal bypass, congenital partial obstruction of the jejunum, obstruction of the bile ducts,, and cirrhosis.

Depending on the particular deficiency, symptoms include sore tongue, hair loss, lethargy, back pain, skin problems, depression. For more complete information on the individual vitamins see our fast guide to nutrients.


By having a vitamin analysis done you will know your body status with respect to several important vitamins and essential nutrients. The vitamin test profile measures several B vitamins and vitamin D and vitamin E as well as total Antioxidant function and the essential minerals calcium, magnesium and zinc.

Thiamin (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Biotin (B7)

Ease of testing:

Having your vitamin profile is easy to arrange. You are sent a blood-collection testing kit which you can take to your doctor or local clinic for taking the sample. A single blood draw is all that is required.

The kit includes supplies for the proper blood collection and instructions for taking the sample. Your results will be posted to you with recommendations and explanations to help you or your physician.

Having your vitamin blood test profile done is important for a number of reasons.

A vitamin profile will help you to discover if you have a particular vitamin deficiency(ies) that could be affecting your health.

• You will know which vitamins to pay attention to, allowing you an effective and rational approach on any dietary or supplement changes.

• You may discover the cause of a pre-existing conditions .

• It could also save you the trouble and expense of embarking on a course of unnecessary vitamin supplementation. Some vitamins in excess can be detrimental to your health. Eg, high vitamin A either through the diet, or by supplementation, is known to put certain groups at risk for illness including increased risk for hip fracture in postmenopausal women.

• Ordering the test on-line is easy. The test kit comes with instructions and the necessary blood collection supply and material for returning the sample to the laboratory.

• The test can also be used to check if any dietary or lifestyle changes are having the desired effect on your nutritional status.

• Pre-paid return postage is included.

• Your results will be posted to you or you may request your profile results by fax.