Micronutrient Testing

Micronutrient testing evaluates essential vitamins and minerals that power energy, immunity, brain function, bone strength, and healthy blood. Gaps can be silent at first, then show up as fatigue, hair/skin changes, muscle cramps, neuropathy, anemia, or bone pain. Testing gives you an objective baseline, helps pinpoint likely causes, and lets you track progress after diet or clinical changes.

A proactive plan typically starts with B12 with methylmalonic acid (MMA), folate, 25-OH vitamin D, and an iron panel with ferritin—plus CBC/CMP to provide context. Add zinc, magnesium (± RBC magnesium), copper with ceruloplasmin, selenium, and iodine (usually urine) based on symptoms and history (vegan diets, bariatric/GI surgery, celiac/IBD, heavy menstrual loss, pregnancy planning, aging, alcohol use, or medications like metformin and acid-reducers). Labs support screening, diagnostic work-up, and monitoring, but they do not replace a clinician’s evaluation or individualized nutrition advice.

Signs, Symptoms & Related Situations

• Energy & brain: fatigue, brain fog, headaches, low mood, restless legs, numbness/tingling (B12, iron, B1/B6)

• Hair/skin/nails: hair thinning, brittle nails, dry skin, mouth sores or cracks (iron, zinc, biotin, B-vitamins)

• Muscle & bone: cramps, weakness, bone pain or fractures (vitamin D, calcium, magnesium)

• Blood & oxygen: pallor, shortness of breath with exertion, fast heartbeat (iron- or B12/folate-related anemia)

• Immune & thyroid: frequent infections (zinc), goiter or thyroid symptoms (iodine, selenium)

• Higher-risk contexts: vegan/vegetarian diets, bariatric or GI surgery, celiac or IBD, heavy menstrual loss, pregnancy planning, older adults, alcohol use disorder, long-term metformin or acid-suppression therapy

• Seek urgent care now: chest pain, severe shortness of breath, black or bloody stools, high fever, confusion, or rapidly worsening neurologic symptoms

All symptoms and risks should be reviewed by a qualified clinician.

Why These Tests Matter

What testing can do

• Detect deficiencies early before complications (neuropathy, anemia, bone loss)

• Differentiate causes of similar symptoms (iron vs. B12/folate anemia; magnesium vs. calcium issues)

• Monitor trends after diet changes, supplementation prescribed by your clinician, or recovery from illness/surgery

What testing cannot do

• Replace a full medical/nutrition assessment or provide dosing instructions

• Diagnose every cause of symptoms—some cases need stool studies, breath tests, imaging, or specialist evaluation

• Guarantee energy or performance gains without attention to lifestyle and clinical follow-up

What These Tests Measure (at a glance)

• Vitamin B12 with MMA ± Homocysteine: confirms functional B12 status even when serum B12 looks “normal.” Caveat: MMA can rise with kidney disease.

• Folate (serum ± RBC folate): DNA synthesis and red-cell production. Caveat: alcohol and some medicines affect levels.

• Iron Panel with Ferritin (Iron, TIBC, Transferrin Saturation): screens iron deficiency and iron distribution. Caveat: ferritin rises with inflammation—pair with history/CRP.

• 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D: best screen for vitamin D status; supports bone and muscle health. Caveat: 1,25-OH2 D is not a deficiency screen.

• Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium (± RBC Mg): mineral balance and nerve/muscle function. Caveat: serum magnesium may not reflect tissue stores.

• Parathyroid Hormone (PTH): integrates the calcium–vitamin D–bone axis; can rise in vitamin D deficiency or low calcium intake.

• Zinc (plasma/serum): immune function, taste/smell, skin healing. Caveat: low albumin/inflammation can lower measured zinc.

• Copper & Ceruloplasmin: neurologic and hematologic health; keeps balance with zinc. Caveat: excess zinc can depress copper.

• Selenium: antioxidant and thyroid enzyme support.

• Iodine (usually urine): reflects recent intake; useful when thyroid symptoms and low iodine intake coexist.

• B-vitamins (selected): B1 (thiamine), B6 (pyridoxine/PLP), B2 (riboflavin), vitamin C—ordered when history suggests deficiency or excess (high B6 can cause neuropathy).

• Fat-soluble vitamins A & E (select cases): vision, immunity, and antioxidant status.

Quick Build Guide

How the Testing Process Works

1. Select your starting set: use the Quick Build Guide to match tests to your goals and history.

2. Prepare for accuracy: fasting is rarely required unless your order includes fasting lipids/glucose. Avoid high-dose biotin for 24–48 hours if your report instructions advise, as it can interfere with certain assays.

3. Provide samples: standard blood draw; urine iodine may be a spot urine.

4. Get secure results: most values post within a few days.

5. Review & plan: discuss results with your clinician or dietitian; repeat to confirm corrections and track trends.

Interpreting Results (General Guidance)

• Low ferritin with low transferrin saturation → typical iron deficiency; evaluate intake and blood loss with your clinician.

• Normal B12 but high MMA → functional B12 deficiency; correlate with neurologic symptoms.

• Low vitamin D with high/upper-normal PTH → supports vitamin D insufficiency affecting bone/mineral balance.

• Low zinc with low albumin → may reflect poor intake/absorption or inflammation.

• High B6 level → can contribute to sensory neuropathy—review supplement doses.

• Copper–zinc imbalance → excess of one may suppress the other; interpret together.
  Reference ranges vary by lab; patterns and trends matter more than a single value. Always review results with a qualified healthcare professional.

Choosing Panels vs. Individual Tests

• Foundational micronutrient panel: CBC • CMP • B12 MMA • Folate • 25-OH Vitamin D • Iron panel Ferritin

• Mineral-focused add-ons: Zinc • Magnesium (± RBC) • Copper Ceruloplasmin • Selenium • Iodine (urine)

• Bone/thyroid axis: Calcium • Phosphorus • PTH • TSH

• Neuropathy-focused: B12 MMA • B1 • B6 • Copper • A1c
  Choose bundled panels for efficient screening, then add individual markers to answer specific questions or monitor therapy.

FAQs

Do I need to fast for micronutrient tests?
Usually no. Fast only if your order includes fasting lipids or glucose.

Should I stop supplements before testing?
Ask your clinician. List all supplements on your order. Some tests may be drawn after a washout period; others are used to monitor supplementation.

Why test B12 with MMA?
MMA rises when tissues are short on B12—even if serum B12 looks normal—helpful for early detection.

Is ferritin enough to check iron?
Ferritin is key, but pairing it with iron, TIBC, and transferrin saturation improves accuracy, especially with inflammation.

Are RBC magnesium tests better than serum magnesium?
Both are used. Serum may miss marginal deficits; RBC magnesium provides additional context, but interpretation should consider symptoms and other labs.

How often should I re-test after changes?
Commonly 8–12 weeks for vitamins/minerals, then every 3–6 months if you are correcting a deficiency—follow your clinician’s plan.

Is urine iodine reliable?
It reflects recent intake and is most useful when paired with history and thyroid labs (TSH ± free T4).

Related Categories & Key Tests

• Nutrition & Wellness Tests Hub

• All Vitamin & Mineral Deficiency Tests • Diet Tests • Malabsorption Tests • Dietary Fatty Acids Tests • Bone & Joint (Osteoporosis) • Thyroid Tests • Anemia & Blood Count

• Key Tests: Vitamin B12 • MMA • Homocysteine • Folate (± RBC) • 25-OH Vitamin D • Iron • TIBC • Transferrin Saturation • Ferritin • Calcium • Phosphorus • Magnesium (± RBC) • PTH • Zinc • Copper • Ceruloplasmin • Selenium • Iodine (urine) • Vitamin A (Retinol) • Vitamin E (α-Tocopherol) • B1 (Thiamine) • B6 (Pyridoxine/PLP) • Vitamin C • CBC • CMP • CRP (context)

References 

• NIH Office of Dietary Supplements — Vitamin and mineral fact sheets.
• Endocrine Society — Clinical practice guideline on vitamin D evaluation.
• American Society of Hematology — Iron deficiency evaluation in adults.
• American Thyroid Association — Iodine and thyroid health resources.
• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics — Micronutrient assessment and medical nutrition therapy.
• American Gastroenterological Association — Post-bariatric and malabsorption nutrition guidance.
• ESPEN/ASPEN — Micronutrient monitoring recommendations in clinical nutrition.
• Clinical reviews on B12 deficiency (MMA/homocysteine), zinc–copper balance, and magnesium assessment.

Available Tests & Panels

Your Micronutrient Testing menu is pre-populated in the Ulta Lab Tests system. Start with a foundational panel (B12 MMA, folate, 25-OH vitamin D, iron panel with ferritin, CBC/CMP). Use filters to add zinc, magnesium (± RBC), copper/ceruloplasmin, selenium, iodine, PTH, and targeted B-vitamins. Follow any prep instructions and review results with your clinician or dietitian to confirm findings and set a monitoring plan.