Background:
Dr. Lawenda recommends getting your micronutrients (vitamins, minerals) tested. Some assays also include testing of your amino acids and fatty acids.
Did you know that most adults in the U.S. are deficient in multiple micronutrients? Data reported in the large national survey (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, “NHANES”) found that 93% of the US population do not meet the estimated average requirement for vitamin E, 56% for magnesium, 44% for vitamin A, 31% for vitamin C, 14% for vitamin B6, and 12% for zinc. (ref)
These are important compounds that are required for the proper functioning of every enzyme and cell in your body:
- Strengthening the immune system
- Reducing systemic inflammation
- Protecting against free radical damage
- Maintaining a healthful hormonal balance (i.e. thyroid, sex hormones, adrenal hormones, neurotransmitters/brain hormones, etc.)
- Maintaining insulin sensitivity
- Slowing cellular aging
- Promoting the health all tissues: skin, bone, brain, breast, gut, breast, prostate, heart, etc.
- Protecting against the development, progression and recurrence of cancer.
Deficiencies are typically not associated with obvious symptoms (i.e. it’s very rare to get scurvy or a massive goiter in the modern era), but inadequate levels of these nutrients still wreak havoc throughout the body. If you don’t get your levels tested, there is no way you will know if you are deficient and the degree of the deficiency.
Testing gives you a window into this important factor of your underlying health, which enables your to take corrective steps to increase your intake of specific micronutrients. Over time, repeat testing is recommended to make sure any deficiencies have been adequately corrected.
Our body requires only a small amount of these important compounds to function properly. If you overwhelm the system, you can alter the normal physiological mechanisms that use these compounds, so that instead of them be healthful, they can be harmful. This is the reason Dr. Lawenda does not recommend blindly taking micronutrient supplements (except for a quality multivitamin) unless you first get tested and identify deficiencies to correct.
The Test:
Scientific evidence shows that analyzing the white blood cells provides the most accurate analysis of a body’s deficiencies.
Dr. Lawenda often recommends the SpectraCell Micronutrient Test, because it provides a comprehensive panel of the most important vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, amino acids (protein building blocks) and assessments of carbohydrate (sugar) metabolism. It also has two very useful assessments of total antioxidant function (Spectrox) and immune function (Immunidex.)
The reports are relatively easy to understand, and they provide recommendations on how to improve any identified deficiencies.
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See a Sample Test Report
Includes:
- Immunidex™, an indicator of how well a person’s lymphocytes respond to challenges from either the environment or potential disease burdens.
- Spectrox™, which measures a person’s response to oxidative stress
Vitamins
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B1
- Vitamin B2
- Vitamin B3
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin B12
- Biotin
- Folate
- Pantothenate
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D3
- Vitamin K2
Minerals
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Manganese
- Zinc
- Copper
Amino Acids
- Asparagine
- Glutamine
- Serine
Fatty Acids
- Oleic Acid
Antioxidants
- Alpha Lipoic Acid
- Coenzyme Q10
- Cysteine
- Glutathione
- Selenium
- Vitamin E
Carbohydrate Metabolism
- Chromium
- Fructose Sensitivity
- Glucose-Insulin Metabolism
Metabolites
- Choline
- Inositol
- Carnitine
Turnaround time for results is about three weeks from time blood sample is received.
All Orders Receive:
- Test kit shipped directly to the address provided.
- Step-by-step test collection instructions.
- Email support from IOE Program within 24 hours to confirm shipping address.
- Prepaid FedEx shipping label for the submission of a sample.
- Written report that summaries all test findings emailed to you as a PDF file.
- The option to receive additional insight into these findings by Dr. Lawenda.
What Does Dr. Lawenda Do With The Information From This Test?
“I sit down with my patient, and we discuss any nutrient deficiencies identified on the report. Then, we review their diet and determine if there are any obvious areas in which they can improve their intake of foods rich in these compounds. My preference is for patients to try to increase their consumption of these foods, and then re-test them in 3-6 months to see if they can normalize their deficiencies. If they can not, then it is time to assess what other issues might be going on:
- Are there potential gut absorption issues? (we can test for these)
- Are there potential genetic abnormalities in folate metabolism? (we can test for these)
- Are they simply not able to consume enough foods with the micronutrients in question?
- Are they taking any medications that might be causing a micronutrient deficiency?
- Etc.
The next step after these questions have been addressed would be to recommend a high-quality dietary supplement. I then recommend re-testing again in 3-6 months to see if the problem has resolved.”
The Bottom Line:
If you don’t know that you have a micronutrient deficiency, you are potentially putting your body in a state in which it can’t function optimally.
There are numerous adverse symptoms and untoward physiological effects that could manifest as a result (i.e. weakened immune system, increased systemic inflammation, increased exposure and cellular damage from free radicals, etc.)
A simple blood test can help you identify these potential deficiencies, so you and your provider (integrative/functional medicine doctor, dietician, nutritionist, etc.) can help address them effectively.
Simply taking a dietary micronutrient supplement without knowing if you have a deficiency can potentially increase your risk of cancer and other medical problems.
