The end of last year I had a Micronutrient Analysis test. What is a Micronutrient Analysis? It is a blood test which tests for deficiencies in a large range of nutrients. If you can afford this test I highly recommend it. Many insurances will cover it, but some will not. Be sure to check first as it can be very expensive if you have to pay out of pocket.
I regularly take supplements to back up my diet. I wanted to know if I was taking the right supplements or if I was overlooking some key areas. This test proved to be a real eye opener. The Repletion Suggestions were fairly long and covered some supplements I was already taking. Obviously I need to increase my dosage for these critical nutrients to stay healthy.
The test covers the B Complete vitamins; B1 (Thiamin), B2 (Riboflavin, B3 (Niacinamide), B6 (Pyridoxine), B12 (Cobalamin), Folate, Pantothenate and Biotin. It further tests for Amino Acids and Metabolites such as Serine, Glutamine, Asparagine, Choline, Inositol, Carnitine, Oleic Acid as well as Vitamin D, Vitamin A, Calcium Zinc, Copper, and Magnesium. Carbohydrate Metabolism tests include Fructose Sensitivity, Glucose-Insulin Interaction and Chromium.
Individual antioxidants such as Glutathione, Cystein, Coenzyme Q-10, Selenium, Vitamin E, Alpha Lipoic Acid, and Vitamin C are also tested. I am a big proponent of CoQ10 for heart protection, energy and gum health and still I needed to increase my daily supplementation by an additional 30 mg. That was a surprise since I have been taking this supplement for about 15 years at a gradually increasing dosage.
This Nutrient Analysis includes a test for overall antioxidant function. With this test the cell’s ability to resist oxidative damage is determined.