+What are micronutrients?

The principal risks of developing nutrient imbalance include:

Genetic Link
Nutrient Depletion – in soils with nutrient depletion due to over-farming practices
Climate Change – impacting growing seasons and overall nutrients in foods
Poor Diet – standard American diet, which is low in fiber and high in sugar and saturated fats
Excess Alcohol
Food Hypersensitivities – Intolerances, Sensitivities IgG and or Allergies IgE
Digestive Imbalance – Low Stomach Acid, SIBO, Leaky Bowel, Colitis, Chron’s, IBS, Celiac
Inflammation
Malabsorption
Stress-reducing the good microbiome and digestive enzymes
Medication Use – antibiotics, NSAIDs

The following are common signs and symptoms of nutrient deficiencies:

NUTRIENT SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DEFICIENCIES
Sub-Clinical Deficiency of Multiple Vitamins & Minerals Non-Specific Fatigue, Irritability, Aches, and Pains, Decreased Immunity and Heart Palpations 7,10 Vitamin A Impaired immunity, growth, skin, thyroid health, and night blindness (nyctalopia)  6,35,36

Vitamin B1 (thiamine)-Fatigue, depression, irritability, headache, nausea, abdominal discomfort, trouble digesting carbs, and if extreme a condition called beriberi. 35,36
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) – Redness and swelling of the throat, mouth; sore throat, sores or cracks at the corners of the mouth and lips; inflamed and red tongue and skin disorders.35,36
Vitamin B3 (niacin) – Reduced circulation, depression, indigestion, vomiting, canker sores, and if severe a condition called pellagra which is characterized by scaly and cracked skin, diarrhea, and dementia. 35,36
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) – Insomnia, fatigue, depression, vomiting, irritability, muscle cramps, impaired coordination, loss of antibody production burning feet, stomach pain, upper respiratory infections. 35,36
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) – Nervousness, muscle weakness, depression, irritability, short-term memory loss, and difficulty concentrating. Severe deficiency can lead to microcytic anemia.35,36
Vitamin B7 (biotin) Fatigue, reduced appetite, dry scaly skin, hair loss, magenta-colored painful and swollen tongue, cracked mouth corners, dry eyes, depression, insomnia. 35,36
Vitamin B9 (folic acid) Inflamed tongue, gingivitis, poor growth, reduced appetite, forgetfulness, mental sluggishness, diarrhea, shortness of breath, irritability and an increased need is present during pregnancy to reduce the risk of neural tube defects. Severe deficiency can lead to megaloblastic anemia. 35,36
Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) – Tingling sensation in toes and fingers, fatigue, nervousness, shortness of breath, numbness, diarrhea, and if severe pernicious anemia or neurological damage (due to impaired myelination). 10,35,36
Vitamin C – Impaired wound healing, easily bruised or bleeding (including nosebleeds), weaker immunity, gingivitis, dry hair, dry & scaly skin, and if severe scurvy.7,35,36
Vitamin D – Weaker bones, immunity, depression, insomnia, high blood pressure, cancer (breast, colon, and prostate), obesity, and if severe rickets, osteomalacia, and or osteoporosis. 9,36
Vitamin E – Loss of muscle mass, problems with vision, muscle weakness, and unsteady walking. Long-term deficiency may result in kidney and liver problems. 35
Vitamin K – Excessive bleeding and weak bones. 35
Calcium – Muscle cramps and spasms, weak bones, brittle nails, depression, memory loss, tingling and/or numbness of the face, feet, and hands, and if severe osteopenia or osteoporosis. 36
Chromium – Increased blood sugar, cholesterol and triglyceride levels. If severe heart disease and diabetes. 35
Copper – Fatigue, pallor, immune weakness, weak and brittle bones, problems with memory and learning, premature gray hair, sensitivity to cold, reduced growth, edema, and or anorexia. 35
Iodine – Enlarged thyroid gland (goiter), or hypothyroidism. Symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, dry skin, weight gain, fatigue, and temperature change sensitivity. 35
Iron – Fatigue, weakness and if extreme iron deficiency anemia. Children who have iron deficiency anemia are at risk of neurodevelopment issues. 9,36
Magnesium – Sleep disorders, restless leg syndrome, irritability, anxiety and agitation, abnormal heart rhythms, vomiting, nausea, low blood pressure, muscle cramping, hyperventilation, confusion, seizures and weak nails.35,36
Manganese – Impaired growth, skeletal abnormality, neonatal ataxia.35
Phosphorus – Fragile and painful bones and teeth, loss of appetite, stiff joints, anxiety, irregular breathing, fatigue and irritability. 35
Potassium – High blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, cramping, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, constipation, bloating, abdominal cramping, excessive urination or thirst, fainting, psychosis, depression, and delirium. Severe potassium deficiency is known as hypokalemia. 35,36
Selenium – Infertility in men, Kashin-Beck disease (a form of osteoarthritis), and can aggravate iodine deficiency.35
Sodium – Stomach cancer is linked to excess processed salt consumption. 36
Zinc – Decreased wound healing, infertility, mild anemia, decreased taste acuity, hair loss, diarrhea, growth failure, and skin changes. 35,36,37

Your Naturopath or Nurse Practitioner will help assess which test is right for you, including an analysis of the most cost efficient path of testing. We recommend a New Patient Visit with one of our Naturopathic Doctors for the most comprehensive approach to your health or a Pre-Lab Visit for a quick snapshot prior to lab testing as there are many tests available.  Lab testing alone is a one-dimensional picture of your health. The expertise of a health professional is required to create a three-dimensional picture for proper selection, and interpretation of lab testing. To complete your care we recommend booking your Post-Lab consult 2 weeks after testing to review your results and receive your tailored health plan.

Consider assessing the root cause of your nutrient and health imbalances. We recommend testing if you experience any of the following health concerns which researchers have found to be linked to nutrient deficiencies.

Health Concern Risk of Key Nutrient Deficiencies
Fatigue, Irritability, Aches and Pains, Decreased Immunity and Heart Palpations Sub-Clinical Deficiency of Multiple Vitamins & Minerals Non-Specific 7,10
Anxiety B6, B7, B12, Magnesium, Phosphorus 35
Blood Sugar Chromium 35
Bones D, K, Calcium, Copper, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus 35
Brain B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, E, Calcium, Copper, Iodine, Magnesium 35
Cardiovascular Disease B3, B9, C, D, E, K, Chromium, Magnesium, Potassium 35
Depression B1, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, D, Calcium, Copper, Iodine, Magnesium, Potassium 35
Digestion B1, B3, B5, B9, B12, Magnesium, Potassium, Zinc 35
Fatigue B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12, Copper, Iron, Iodine, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Potassium 35
Hair Loss Protein, B7, Iodine, Iron 35
Headaches and or Migraines B5, B6, B9, B12, Magnesium 35
Immunity A, B2, B5, C, D, Copper, Zinc 6,35
Insomnia B5, B6, D, Calcium, Magnesium 35
Joint Pain D, Calcium, Phosphorus, Selenium 35
Muscle Cramps B5, Calcium 35
Sensitivity to Cold Copper, Iodine 35
Skin A, B2, B7, C, Iodine, Zinc 6,35,36
Thyroid A, Iodine, Selenium 6,35,36
Tingling Sensation Feet & Toes B12, Calcium 35,36
Trouble Digesting Carbs B1, B5, B6 35
Vision A, E 6,36
Weight B5, B6, D, Iodine, Magnesium 35,36,37
Medications

Certain medications increase the risk of select nutrient deficiencies.

Examples include:

Acetaminophen – Glutathione
Insulin Glargine Injection – Magnesium
Statins – CoQ10

Traditional medical testing tends to focus on the cardiovascular system, liver, kidney, and immune function. Your medical doctor may request a few key nutrients including ferritin, vitamin B12, and vitamin D. This however is not to the extent that tailored nutrient testing covers.

The Micronutrient 2 Test also uses specialized technology that gives the highest quality of results that represent nutrient status over a longer period of time.  SpectraCell’s patented, chemically-defined control media contains the minimal amount of each essential micronutrient that is needed to support optimal lymphocyte growth or mitogenic response. The functional intracellular status of micronutrients involved in cell metabolism is evaluated by manipulation of the individual micronutrients in the media followed by mitogenic stimulation and measurement of DNA synthesis.

The same technology also provides a total antioxidant function test SPECTROX™ and an immune system IMMUNIDEX™ score. The IMMUNIDEX™ score measures a person’s cell-mediated immune system performance. Specifically, it measures T-cell lymphocyte proliferation. The immune system, comprised of both cell-mediated (Th1) and humoral (Th2) components, when balanced and performing optimally, affords us critical protection and promotes health and wellness.

Since lymphocytes are produced in the bone marrow and stored in the peripheral locations for long periods of time (the average life span of a lymphocyte is approximately four to six months), SpectraCell’s measurements provide a powerful portrait of each patients’ long-term nutrient status. This is analogous to the use of a glycosylated hemoglobin test to evaluate blood glucose levels over a one to three-month period.

This test allows for a detailed nutritional assessment for a broad variety of clinical conditions including arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular risk, diabetes, various immunological disorders, metabolic disorders, and micronutrient deficiencies. The results allow your clinician to create a comprehensive treatment plan and monitor your progress.

Your Revivelife clinician will review all findings and create a personalized plan for you based on what are the root causes of the Nutrient Imbalance. The use of tailored nutrition – increasing foods rich in the required select nutrients, probiotics, and prebiotics – to promote digestion and absorption and stress management techniques – to increase relaxation providing optimal release of digestive enzymes are often advised. Additional testing including food sensitivities, and the Organic Acid Test (a test that assesses Microbiome, detox pathways, select nutrients, and neurotransmitters may be considered to further investigate the potential causes of nutrient imbalance.

We recommend a New Patient Visit for the most comprehensive approach to your health or a Pre-Lab Visit for a quick snapshot before lab testing and a Post-Lab consult to review your results and receive your tailored health plan.

Third-party insurance companies may cover all or a portion of your consultations. At this time most often they do not cover micronutrient testing. Please check with your individual provider for details and how to submit claims.