Vitamin D3, B12, E deficiency testing for adults and children

Vitamins are a series of vital substances, without which normal functioning of all cellular structures is impossible. Vitamin deficiency has a negative effect on general health indicators of a person and on the functions of individual organs. But it is not always possible to understand why this or that dysfunction occurs, in such cases the doctor recommends taking a vitamin test to find out the root cause of poor health or some negative symptoms.

Complex analysis of vitamins

The main purpose of vitamins is to regulate metabolic processes and normalize all biological, chemical and physiological reactions in the body.

Without vitamins, normal hematopoiesis, high-quality functioning of the nervous, cardiovascular systems, digestive tract, and human immunity are impossible.

Vitamins take part in the formation of enzymes, hormonal substances, and strengthen the body against the effects of intoxication and other irritating factors.

Vitamins are present in foods, but in small quantities, so they are classified as so-called micronutrients.

Neither microelements nor essential amino acids can be classified as vitamins.

The presence of the required amount of vitamins in the body should be taken quite seriously. Nutritional disorders, improper absorption of food, long-term and severe illnesses and taking certain medications can seriously affect the content of vitamins in the body. To avoid unpleasant consequences for health, you need to consult a doctor and take a comprehensive analysis for vitamins - this is the only way to draw conclusions about the need for additional intake of certain vitamin preparations.

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Indications for the procedure vitamin tests

As a rule, doctors recommend taking a vitamin test if they suspect hypovitaminosis or avitaminosis.

• Hypovitaminosis is a condition that develops when the body does not receive enough of certain vitamins. This condition develops gradually and is often characterized by irritability, constant fatigue, decreased concentration, decreased appetite, insomnia or drowsiness. With regular hypovitaminosis, overall performance decreases, the condition of the skin and mucous membranes worsens, and immunity is impaired. In some cases, the reproductive system, intellectual and physical abilities, human growth and development may suffer.
• Avitaminosis is a severe form of vitamin deficiency that can occur with a prolonged absence of vitamins in food products or with the impossibility of their absorption in the digestive tract. This leads to a powerful metabolic failure, especially when it comes to children and adolescents. The main signs of avitaminosis include:
  • flaccidity and pallor of the skin, tendency to dryness;
  • dryness and “lifelessness” of hair, hair loss;
  • loss of appetite;
  • cracks in the lips, "cheilitis";
  • bleeding of the oral mucosa, loosening of teeth;
  • frequently recurring colds;
  • excessive irritability, fatigue, indifference;
  • deterioration of mental activity;
  • sleep problems;
  • deterioration of vision;
  • frequent exacerbations of chronic pathologies.

In addition, doctors often recommend donating blood to test vitamin levels during periods when there is a high probability of a deficiency - these are periods of pregnancy and breastfeeding, puberty, etc.

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Preparation

The vitamin analysis is carried out in compliance with the following preparation rules:

1. It is better to give blood for testing in the morning, on an empty stomach - preferably at 8-11 am. At least eight hours but no more than 14 hours should pass since the last meal. Drinking water (still and without additives) is allowed. Do not overeat for several days before the test.
2. If you are taking or have recently taken any medications or vitamins, be sure to tell the lab technician.
3. You should not drink alcohol 24 hours before the test, and you should not smoke an hour before blood collection.

Upon arrival at the laboratory, it is recommended to sit down for 10-15 minutes, calm down, catch your breath, and only then go to the procedure room to take the test. Physical and emotional overloads do not have the best effect on the composition of the blood.

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Technique vitamin tests

Blood for vitamin analysis is taken from a vein, observing sterile conditions. The following sequential manipulations are performed as standard:

• mark the container for tests, match the information with the patient’s data, and enter it into a special journal (regular or electronic);
• the patient sits down on a chair next to the manipulation table;
• the patient's arm is fixed on a special support with the palm facing up, while the elbow joint should be maximally extended (a special roller or hard pad is placed under it);
• the health worker applies a tourniquet to the middle 1/3 of the shoulder and treats the skin of the elbow bend with alcohol;
• the patient clenches and unclenches his fist to fill the ulnar vein to the maximum, after which he leaves the fist clenched;
• the health worker punctures the vein, takes blood for analysis, removes the needle from the vein and presses a cotton ball soaked in alcohol to the injection site;
• The patient is asked to bend his arm at the elbow for about five minutes so that a clot forms in the area of the damaged vein - this will help prevent the formation of a "bruise" at the injection site.

The health worker then places the labeled blood tube into a specially designated container and sends it for testing. It usually takes 24 hours to get the results.

Analysis of vitamins and microelements

If you have no bad habits, lead an active or even athletic lifestyle, eat right and are often outdoors, then you hardly need a vitamin and microelement analysis. But today this is rare: people often have hypodynamia, while many live in an unfavorable environmental situation and lead a not entirely healthy lifestyle. Therefore, a deficiency of all kinds of substances useful for the body occurs everywhere. Unfortunately, not all people control the content of essential vitamins and microelements in their body.

Doctors advise that everyone who lives in large populated areas, suffers from chronic pathologies, as well as children, teenagers, pregnant and lactating women, and the elderly periodically donate blood for such an analysis.

This type of analysis is especially necessary for people who are often exposed to stressful situations, as well as those who like to “sit” on strict or monotonous diets.

• Vitamin D testing is not considered a mandatory type of examination: it is prescribed only when indicated. As a rule, such testing is appropriate for monitoring the condition of small children and women during pregnancy.
• Analysis of B vitamins is especially often used to diagnose diseases in the elderly, as the absorption of these vitamins may deteriorate with age. Deficiency of B vitamins leads to carbohydrate metabolism disorders, accumulation of lactic acid, damage to the nervous system, impaired myocardial contractility, and dyspepsia.
• Analysis of vitamin B ₁₂ and folic acid can be prescribed both during pregnancy and in the presence of certain pathological symptoms, such as digestive disorders, prolonged depression, fatigue, paresis, stomatitis, frequent headaches, severe menstrual pain. These vitamins are responsible for the functioning of the reproductive system, for the condition of hair and skin, for memory and attentiveness, for the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates in the body.
• _{Vitamin B 6} analysis is performed in cases of decreased immunity, nervous disorders, skin diseases, and convulsions. This vitamin is fat-soluble. It is responsible for metabolism and the formation of protein structures. In addition, pyridoxine takes part in the synthesis of the so-called "happiness" hormone, which ensures good sleep, appetite, and mood.
• Analysis of the level of vitamin B ₉ is often carried out in the form of a comprehensive analysis of vitamins. Knowing the level of folic acid - also known as vitamin B ₉ - may be necessary during pregnancy, with frequent acute respiratory viral infections, with anemia, in the postpartum period, with delayed sexual development, at the onset of menopause. It should also be taken into account that an excess of folic acid in the body can cause a deficiency of cyanocobalamin - vitamin B ₁₂ - in the blood.
• _{Vitamin B2} analysis may be needed to diagnose skin diseases, slow-healing ulcers and wounds, diabetes, anemia and liver cirrhosis. In addition, the vitamin is destroyed by alcoholic beverages, so it is often insufficient in people suffering from alcoholism. Regular vitamin deficiency is fraught with stomatitis, alopecia, digestive disorders, deterioration of mental abilities, and growth retardation.
• Vitamin E analysis is often necessary for diagnosing the causes of infertility and other reproductive system disorders. In addition, information about tocopherol content may be useful for patients with increased thrombus formation, hormonal dysfunction, immune system failure, hypertension, and early signs of aging. The main symptoms of vitamin E deficiency are: mood instability, apathy, infertility, and the appearance of pigment spots on the body.

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Hair analysis for vitamins

Poor nutrition, stress, sedentary lifestyle - all these factors together can lead to a failure of the vitamin and microelement balance. If the body remains in this state for a long time, this often leads to a disruption of metabolic processes and the development of various chronic pathologies. It is possible and necessary to resist these consequences, but for this it is important to know what substance the body lacks.

Vitamin analysis is recommended for those with weakened immunity, mental disorders, and impaired physical activity. Hair analysis for vitamins can be done starting from the age of three, as well as for all adults - especially during the recovery period after serious illnesses or operations.

Why is hair used? It's simple: hair fully reflects the biological and chemical state of the body, and hair provides information about this state for several weeks - unlike the composition of blood, which can change in just a few hours. In addition, the chemical composition of hair does not change even during long-term transportation.

Hair accumulates all the vitamins and microelements that are present in the body, reflecting the real picture over several weeks, which makes the analysis results more accurate.

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Vitamin Analysis During Pregnancy

Blood testing during pregnancy is a necessary measure that allows you to monitor the course of the pregnancy, the health of the future baby, and even the progress of labor.

In order for the fetus to develop normally and its growth and development not to cause concerns, a woman is recommended to take all the tests that the doctor suggests. Good nutrition is of no small importance during pregnancy - any obstetrician-gynecologist can tell you about this. The diet directly affects how a woman will feel and how the child will develop.

It is especially important to pay attention to the presence of all important vitamins and microelements in the products consumed. The fact is that a lack of useful substances can cause various problems during such an important physiological period.

Often doctors do not suggest taking a vitamin test, but simply prescribe a complex multivitamin to replenish the body's necessary reserves. However, in some cases, you need to know exactly what substance is lacking: and then you have to resort to laboratory analysis.

It is especially important during pregnancy to know the level of B vitamins, vitamin D, E, A and folic acid.

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Vitamin analysis for infants

Tests that allow monitoring the level of vitamins in the body can be carried out on everyone - even infants. However, at this age, only a test for vitamin D is considered indicative - this is an important component that is necessary, first of all, for the correct development of the skeletal system, and also performs other important functions:

• participates in the synthesis of peptides that stabilize insulin balance, blood pressure levels, and the functioning of the nervous system;
• strengthens the immune system;
• prevents the development of inflammatory reactions;
• creates protection against cancerous degeneration of cells;
• prevents the development of diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.

A doctor may prescribe a vitamin D test if you have the following suspicious symptoms:

• with calcium deficiency and excess phosphorus in the blood;
• for sweating palms, feet, scalp;
• in case of increased excitability and poor appetite in a child;
• in case of hair loss on the back of the head;
• with poor sleep.

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Normal performance

Some vitamins exist as independent substances, while others exist in complexes – for example, the B vitamin group. Ascorbic acid and B vitamins are considered water-soluble, while vitamins such as A, E and D are fat-soluble.

Systematic deficiency of the listed vitamin substances can cause serious disruptions in the functioning of the body. For example, the daily requirement of the body for vitamin A is 900 mcg, and with its deficiency the well-known disease "night blindness" develops. However, an excess level of this vitamin is no less dangerous: during pregnancy, it can lead to underdevelopment of the fetus and general intoxication.

Deficiency of B vitamins often leads to dermatitis, mental disorders and metabolic disorders, deterioration of visual function and memory, alopecia, and arthralgia.

A deficiency of ascorbic acid is characterized by frequent bleeding - the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth are especially susceptible to bleeding. The most severe manifestation of a deficiency of "ascorbic acid" is scurvy.

With a lack of vitamin D, the skeletal system gradually softens and rickets develops.

A lack of tocopherol (vitamin E) disrupts the functioning of the nervous and muscular systems and causes anemia.

The most popular tests in laboratories are for vitamins D, B ₁₂ and folic acid. Normal levels of these vitamins are:

• D: 25 to 80 ng per ml;
• B ₁₂: from 187 to 883 ng per ml;
• Folic acid: from 3.1 to 20.5 ng per ml.

Vitamin tests can be performed for each vitamin separately, or as part of a comprehensive study, including the microelement composition of the blood. Such a comprehensive analysis is recommended to be performed periodically to prevent many diseases associated with a deficiency of vitamins and minerals in the body.

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The device for analysis

It is preferable to take vitamin tests in complex multidisciplinary laboratories equipped with modern, precise equipment. This equipment complies with existing international standards. In addition, large laboratories always take a responsible approach to any type of diagnostics and use high-quality reagents for testing.

If you want to make sure that the laboratory you have chosen meets modern requirements, inquire about the equipment used for the tests. It is great if the laboratory technicians use a special immunochemiluminescent analyzer, which can be used not only for vitamin tests, but also for hormone tests, blood tests for infection, cardiac and tumor markers, and even osteoporosis markers.

With good equipment, it is possible to perform medical manipulations efficiently, safely and without any discomfort for the patient. The results in this case are highly accurate and clear.

Raising and lowering of values

How to determine the results of tests for a particular vitamin? We recommend using this table of reference values:

Copper level	From 575 to 1725 mcg per liter
Vitamin A level	0.3 to 0.8 mcg per ml
Β-carotene	From 100 to 850 ng/ml
Vitamin B 1	From 45 to 103 ng per ml
Vitamin B 2	From 70 to 370 ng per ml
Vitamin B 3	From 3 to 36 ng per ml
Vitamin B 5	From 0.2 to 1.8 ng per ml
Vitamin B 6	From 7 to 52 ng/ml
Vitamin B 9	From 2.5 to 15 ng per ml
Vitamin B 12	From 187 to 833 pg per ml
Ascorbic acid	4 to 20 mcg per ml
Vitamin E	5 to 18 mcg per ml
Vitamin D	From 25 to 80 ng per ml
Vitamin K	From 0.1 to 2.2 ng/ml

Increased vitamin levels occur when various vitamin preparations are introduced into the body incorrectly or chaotically.

Low levels are typical for many diseases and conditions:

• fasting, mono-nutrition;
• diseases of the digestive system, liver;
• eating disorders;
• impaired absorption of individual vitamins or amino acids;
• presence of helminths;
• postoperative period, rehabilitation period;
• thyroid disease, tumors, chronic alcoholism;
• pregnancy and breastfeeding.

In order to maintain your own health and prevent the development of various diseases, it is very important to maintain the necessary level of vitamins and minerals in the body. High-quality, complete nutrition can fully "cover" the daily need for useful components.

Vitamins give a person beauty, good health, youth, so it is advisable to control their content in the blood. To do this, you only need to periodically take a vitamin test, which will help to accurately determine what exactly our body lacks.

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