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Thread: Blood testing for vitamin deficiency

  1. #1
    xcoresince'84! veganavenger's Avatar
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    Default Blood testing for vitamin deficiency

    I've been vegan for four years, and never really thought to take supplements. My diet is pretty limited most days, due to general laziness in the kitchen, but I always eat a selection of veg every day, depending on what I can find on my shelf in the communal kitchen. I never really have too much energy, my mind is a lot slower and not quite as good as it used to be at remembering things and working things out. Unfortunately, I'm a heavy drinker and smoker, which, according to some of the articles Korn has posted up here, can actually deplete B12 in the body. So of course I attributed the loss of energy and mental retardeness to the booze. I'm not completely naiive - I do think that plays a role - but I'm starting to wonder if I should get tested for vitamin deficiencies, particularly B12.

    I just wanted to know what the general procedure is - is it just a blood sample? And how do you go about getting one? Do you just go to your GP and ask him/her for one, will (s)he take a sample there and then, or do you have to be refered to a specialist? Can they refuse to do a test/do you have to have symptoms of something going wrong?

    Thanks =)
    "Do not adjust your mind: it is reality that is malfunctioning"

  2. #2
    Cookie Monster RachelJune's Avatar
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    Default Re: Blood testing for vitamin deficiency

    Hi VeganAvenger, I was actually just thinking of opening up a thread like this.

    I had a food sensitivity and vitamin test done today at my local health food store. It cost 45 pounds and was done using a machine called a Mora RM 10S. Instead of a blood test (I hate needles!!) it's a non-invasive method of testing which basically measures your body's energetic responses. Or something like that Anyway, it was very thorough and took about 1 and a half hours, including a detailed consultation and advice. I feel it was worth the money especially for the vitamin level info - the test revealed I am deficient in vitamins B2, B6 and B12 and also zinc. I was also found to be lactose intolerant and sensitive to both wheat and yeast. On the whole, I would recommend this method.
    "Born on the same planet, Covered by the same skies..."

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    Cake Fairy Cherry's Avatar
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    Default Re: Blood testing for vitamin deficiency

    Ah. I went to a homeopath when I was a child cos my mum isn't keen on doctors. I had an allergy test like that one and it was amazingly accurate. The person doing the test didn't know my allergies, but the machine picked them all up. When it came to horses the needle went off the scale! (V Accurate).

    However, I saw a TV programme where they decided to test out how accurate the food sensitivity tests were in health food shops and had loads of tests done in different places. They all gave completely different results! It would be really interesting to see how your test compared with a medical blood test Rachel. Hypothetically I mean, I know you hate needles

    EDIT: found the TV prog

    Wonder if a vega machine is different to a mora

  4. #4
    Rentaghost Marrers's Avatar
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    Default Re: Blood testing for vitamin deficiency

    Hmn, interesting. I'm thinking of looking into this - esp since recently I was quite voilently ill after eating a meal and my friend who ordered the same was fine. I'm wondering if I've become intolerant to somethihng.

    Just found this - not much detail included on how it is done. http://www.drgillianmckeith.com/shopping-food.php
    Last edited by Marrers; Apr 13th, 2007 at 03:52 PM. Reason: to add last paragraph

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    Default Re: Blood testing for vitamin deficiency

    Veganavenger, I see you live in the UK, so you could go to your GP and your GP could do a full blood count, this is just one tube of blood but it shows up a lot of things, for example anemia due to iron deficiency and vitamin B12 deficiency, and it shows up altered immune system functioning. It also has the advantage that your GP will probably be willing to do it without any argument.
    If the result comes back with any abnormalities he or she will know what else to test for specifically.
    See my local diary ... http://herbwormwood.blogspot.com/

  6. #6
    Cookie Monster RachelJune's Avatar
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    Default Re: Blood testing for vitamin deficiency

    After some of the comments on this thread, I think I ought to work up the courage to see my doctor about having (yet another) blood test. Has anyone else asked their doctor for this - how easy is it to convince them to do it? Also, my doctor has confessed on several occasions to having virtually no knowledge regarding nutrition, so what specifically should I ask her to test for? [Sorry if that sounds like a stupid question - I'd just rather not miss anything out and have to go back a second time! ]
    "Born on the same planet, Covered by the same skies..."

  7. #7

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    Default Re: Blood testing for vitamin deficiency

    RachelJune, if you eat a balanced diet and foods fortified with vitamin B12 there is no need for blood tests unless you have beeen unwell for some time.
    A balanced vegan diet should give you all the vitamins and mierals you need.
    I see you had a test done at a health food store.
    I am not sure how a test which does not sample blood could reliably show vitamin deficiencies. They may be trying to sell supplements.
    If you feel unwell at all go and discuss it with your GP.
    Or take a vegan multivitamin and mineral supplement if you don't feel unwell but are worried about vitamins and minerals.
    See my local diary ... http://herbwormwood.blogspot.com/

  8. #8
    Ex-admin Korn's Avatar
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    Default Re: Blood testing for vitamin deficiency

    Quote herbwormwood View Post
    RachelJune, if you eat a balanced diet and foods fortified with vitamin B12 there is no need for blood tests unless you have beeen unwell for some time.
    According to various sources, there are some deficiencies that may come creeping without any symptoms...

    A balanced vegan diet should give you all the vitamins and mierals you need.
    I'd say that this is a truth with modifications... eg. people (vegans and others) may get too little vitamin D due to lack of sunlight, they may also consume enough vitamins but at the same time be exposed to 'vitamin-killers' (or have trouble absorbing the nutrients they consume, eg. due to lack of so called intrinsic factor), or the vitamins that should have been in the food are reduced due to eg. environmental reasons (eg. B12/chlorinated water). Plus, they may eat balanced, but accidentally avoid that special food which is rich in a certain nutrient they need. It's also known that there are certain nutrients that non-vegans may need to monitor, and other nutrients vegans need to pay extra attention to.


    Quote RachelJune
    Also, my doctor has confessed on several occasions to having virtually no knowledge regarding nutrition, so what specifically should I ask her to test for?
    After a dark winter, you could check vitamin D levels.
    It's also recommended that vegans check vitamin B12 and homocysteine/MMA (Methyl-Malonic Acid).
    Depending on where you live (and how much of your food that is grown locally), you may want to check iodine. Low levels of iodine in the soil may effect the animals and humans who eat plants from this soil.

    The Vegan Society has also added selenium to their allround 'semi'-multivitamin.


    Depending on your diet, you could also check calcium, Omega-3 and iron levels.

    So much about the nutrients vegans normally focus on... non-vegan readers would probably be more interested in this list of what omnivores normally become deficient in...
    I will not eat anything that walks, swims, flies, runs, skips, hops or crawls.

  9. #9
    Prawnil
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    Default Re: Blood testing for vitamin deficiency

    In the UK is it reasonable to use a GP appointment to ask for blood work & other checks? I wondered if anyone has made an appointment in the UK purely for blood pressure, cholesterol, iron etc. testing without actually being ill first. I wondered if this, on the NHS, would be seen as timewasting or an unreasonable use of G.P.s' time.
    Seems that way to me a bit, but I'm very curious about my levels and blood pressure.

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