Vitamin & Nutrient Testing
Written by Dr. Arik Naylous DAcCHM, L.Ac
 

Vitamin and nutrient status can influence many aspects of how the body functions, including energy production, nervous system health, blood formation, immune function, muscle function, hormone metabolism, and overall well-being. At Needles, Herbs & Labs, Dr. Naylous may use targeted vitamin and nutrient testing to look for deficiencies, insufficiencies, or patterns that may be contributing to a patient’s symptoms.

Rather than assuming that a standard diet or basic multivitamin provides everything an individual needs, testing can help provide a more personalized look at nutrient status and determine where additional attention may be appropriate.

Looking Beyond an Obvious Deficiency

Nutrient-related symptoms are not always specific. Fatigue, weakness, brain fog, hair changes, headaches, poor exercise tolerance, numbness or tingling, sleep concerns, and other symptoms may have many possible causes.

Vitamin and nutrient testing can provide another piece of information when evaluating these concerns. Dr. Naylous considers laboratory findings alongside symptoms, diet, digestive health, medications, supplements, lifestyle, and medical history rather than interpreting a single value in isolation.

What We May Evaluate

Testing is individualized based on the patient’s clinical needs and may include markers related to:

• Vitamin B12

• Folate

• Vitamin D

• Iron and ferritin

• Magnesium

• Zinc

• Copper

• Other vitamins and minerals when appropriate

• Markers that can provide additional information about nutrient metabolism or status

In some cases, additional testing may also be considered when there are questions about absorption, digestion, dietary intake, or other factors that could influence nutrient status.

Why Nutrient Levels May Become Low

A low or suboptimal nutrient level does not always mean that a person simply needs to consume more of that nutrient. Dr. Naylous may also consider factors that could influence why the level became low in the first place.

These may include:

• Inadequate dietary intake

• Digestive or absorption concerns

• Restrictive diets

• Increased nutritional demands

• Medication use

• Supplement use and interactions

• Blood loss

• Gastrointestinal health

• Lifestyle factors

Understanding the broader context can help determine whether the goal should simply be replacement or whether additional investigation may be appropriate.

Connecting Nutrients to the Bigger Picture

Nutrients work together rather than independently. For example, evaluating fatigue may involve looking beyond a single vitamin and considering iron status, B12, folate, vitamin D, thyroid markers, blood sugar regulation, and other relevant findings.

By reviewing multiple markers together, Dr. Naylous can look for patterns that may provide a more complete understanding of the patient’s health picture.

Who May Benefit From Vitamin & Nutrient Testing?

Testing may be considered for patients experiencing concerns such as:

• Persistent fatigue or low energy

• Brain fog or difficulty concentrating

• Weakness or reduced exercise tolerance

• Hair thinning or changes in hair growth

• Numbness or tingling

• Muscle cramps or tension

• Frequent headaches

• Dietary restrictions

• Digestive or absorption concerns

• Previously identified nutrient deficiencies

• Anemia or low iron concerns

• Patients taking multiple supplements who want a more individualized approach

• General health optimization

Not every patient requires extensive nutrient testing. Dr. Naylous determines which markers may be appropriate based on symptoms, history, previous laboratory findings, and individual needs.

How It Works

After your consultation, Dr. Naylous will determine which vitamin and nutrient markers may be appropriate based on your symptoms, health history, diet, medications, supplements, and previous testing.

When blood testing is indicated, Dr. Naylous places the laboratory order and you can have your blood drawn at a participating laboratory such as Quest Diagnostics or another designated laboratory location.

Once the results are available, Dr. Naylous reviews them in detail and discusses the findings with you during a follow-up consultation. Recommendations may then be individualized based on your results and overall clinical picture and may include dietary changes, targeted supplementation, lifestyle support, Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, or additional evaluation when appropriate.

A More Personalized Approach to Nutrition

The goal of vitamin and nutrient testing is not simply to create a long list of supplements. It is to better understand what your body may need, identify potential gaps, and determine whether there may be underlying reasons those gaps developed.

At Needles, Herbs & Labs, laboratory testing is used alongside your symptoms and health history to help create a more thoughtful and individualized approach to nutrition and overall health.