Hello,
I'm going to ask my doctor for a new blood test. The only question is what should I ask for?
Vitamin A level
B12 vitamin levels
Vitamin D level
Magnesium level
Zinc level
Anything else in terms of mineral and vitamin that could be good to know?
Vitamin and mineral levels
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hello,
What about :
Folate /B9 : B12 needs B9 and vice versa (synergists)
Ferritin : Measures how much iron is stored in the body
TIBC /Transferrin : Iron-transporting protein, transports iron to and from cells that need iron
People with an inflamed gut often lacks iron in serum, since inflamation prevents the body from taking up iron from nutrients. Measuring the iron level in itself is not enough, you need to know the ferritin and TIBC levels.
What about :
Folate /B9 : B12 needs B9 and vice versa (synergists)
Ferritin : Measures how much iron is stored in the body
TIBC /Transferrin : Iron-transporting protein, transports iron to and from cells that need iron
People with an inflamed gut often lacks iron in serum, since inflamation prevents the body from taking up iron from nutrients. Measuring the iron level in itself is not enough, you need to know the ferritin and TIBC levels.
Collagenous Colitis diagnosis in 2010
Psoriasis in 1973, symptom free in 2014
GF, CF and SF free since April, 2013
Psoriasis in 1973, symptom free in 2014
GF, CF and SF free since April, 2013
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UkuleleLady
- Gentoo Penguin
- Posts: 383
- Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 4:45 pm
- Location: Texas
I want to do blood work soon and would test for all that and I would add CRP (C-Reactive Protein) level to get an idea of my systemic inflammation.
Also I would have my thyroid levels checked (T3, T4, TSH)
Also I would have my thyroid levels checked (T3, T4, TSH)
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. ~The Dalai Lama
Jonas,
It is good to test for magnesium, but unfortunately the blood test that doctors use to check serum magnesium levels is useless. Magnesium is so important for the proper functioning of the body that the body maintains a constant blood level of it. In order to do that, if the diet is deficient in magnesium, the body draws magnesium from the cells all over the body. Therefore, until the supply of magnesium in most of the cells of your body are critically (dangerously) low, the blood levels of magnesium will always be in the normal range. That makes it a useless test, because it will not show a low level until your magnesium level is so depleted that your body is already at a life-threatening stage.
The proper way to test for magnesium is to do a tissue test such as the "sublingual epithelial cell" magnesium test.
http://www.naturalnews.com/026775_magne ... pital.html
http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/92/8/2190.full
Tex
It is good to test for magnesium, but unfortunately the blood test that doctors use to check serum magnesium levels is useless. Magnesium is so important for the proper functioning of the body that the body maintains a constant blood level of it. In order to do that, if the diet is deficient in magnesium, the body draws magnesium from the cells all over the body. Therefore, until the supply of magnesium in most of the cells of your body are critically (dangerously) low, the blood levels of magnesium will always be in the normal range. That makes it a useless test, because it will not show a low level until your magnesium level is so depleted that your body is already at a life-threatening stage.
The proper way to test for magnesium is to do a tissue test such as the "sublingual epithelial cell" magnesium test.
http://www.naturalnews.com/026775_magne ... pital.html
http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/92/8/2190.full
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
This is a translation from a discussion forum on old traditonal food, where my nutrition physiologist has stated the following about magnesium:
"Human beings can only absorb between 4-40% of the magnesium in magnesium-rich food. If we have problems in our GI, the amount decreases.
The best magnesium sources are broth and gelatine, in addition to baths and foot baths with Epsom-salt, which are absorbed directly, as well as bathing in the sea. These are not dependent upon a good digestion.
The more magnesium we can take in, the more we are able to transform vitamin D into its own hormon-form. Consumption of vitamin D will increase the amount of magnesium accordingly, until a saturation level is obtained.
An he goes further:
The lack of energy production in the mitocondria of the cells – the main symptom of ME - ise due to the lack of magnesium".
Food for thoughts.
"Human beings can only absorb between 4-40% of the magnesium in magnesium-rich food. If we have problems in our GI, the amount decreases.
The best magnesium sources are broth and gelatine, in addition to baths and foot baths with Epsom-salt, which are absorbed directly, as well as bathing in the sea. These are not dependent upon a good digestion.
The more magnesium we can take in, the more we are able to transform vitamin D into its own hormon-form. Consumption of vitamin D will increase the amount of magnesium accordingly, until a saturation level is obtained.
An he goes further:
The lack of energy production in the mitocondria of the cells – the main symptom of ME - ise due to the lack of magnesium".
Food for thoughts.
Collagenous Colitis diagnosis in 2010
Psoriasis in 1973, symptom free in 2014
GF, CF and SF free since April, 2013
Psoriasis in 1973, symptom free in 2014
GF, CF and SF free since April, 2013
Magnesium In My Facebook Feed
DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor and don't play one on TV.
LDN July 18, 2014
Joan
LDN July 18, 2014
Joan
Lilja,
Thank you for the info about how to test iron levels.
Do you know if it is better to do foot baths with Epson salt, than ordinary baths? Maybe it is better to do a salt footbath many times a week, than salt baths few times a week.
UkuleleLady,
My CRP (C-Reactive Protein) level is normal, so is the (T3, T4, TSH). Of all the blood work I have done in the past year the only thing they found was that I have had a Yersinia bacterial infection, and that my creatinine level was somewhat elevated.
Tex,
What about the zinc levels, is it the same problem?
Is it possible for us to get too much magnesium?
What about calcium, is that something you need to supplement with if you don't drink any milk or milk replacement products?
Thank you for the info about how to test iron levels.
Do you know if it is better to do foot baths with Epson salt, than ordinary baths? Maybe it is better to do a salt footbath many times a week, than salt baths few times a week.
UkuleleLady,
My CRP (C-Reactive Protein) level is normal, so is the (T3, T4, TSH). Of all the blood work I have done in the past year the only thing they found was that I have had a Yersinia bacterial infection, and that my creatinine level was somewhat elevated.
Tex,
What about the zinc levels, is it the same problem?
Is it possible for us to get too much magnesium?
What about calcium, is that something you need to supplement with if you don't drink any milk or milk replacement products?
Jonas,
As far as I am aware, zinc deficiency is not on the same level as the magnesium deficiency problem that's so common in the general population. We do need zinc, but it isn't essential for so many vital processes, the way that magnesium is. I don't consider myself to be an authority on zinc, so I'm hoping that Gabes can shed some light on just how important zinc is, in the overall scheme of things.
Yes, it's possible to get too much magnesium. A magnesium overdose for example can cause symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, low blood pressure, muscle weakness, and fatigue. Extreme overdoses of magnesium can even be fatal (just about any salt in excessive amounts can be toxic). Too much magnesium can carry cardiovascular risks, and possibly most importantly, kidney issues. The problem is that it's the kidney's job to remove excess magnesium from the blood, but too much magnesium can cause kidney damage, and this can obviously compromise the ability of the kidneys to perform, leading to a problem that compounds itself. Here's a good reference on that:
Signs and Symptoms of Too Much Magnesium
You would probably have to have a very unusual diet for it to not contain enough calcium, provided that your vitamin D and magnesium levels are OK, because most people have way more calcium in their diet than is needed, but their body can't utilize it because of a lack of optimum vitamin D and/or magnesium. Whole foods are typically a good source for calcium. Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs are good sources of calcium and many green vegetables contain a lot of it. Remember, the paleo people didn't drink milk (except for infants), and they were a lot bigger, stronger, and healthier than we are today.
Tex
As far as I am aware, zinc deficiency is not on the same level as the magnesium deficiency problem that's so common in the general population. We do need zinc, but it isn't essential for so many vital processes, the way that magnesium is. I don't consider myself to be an authority on zinc, so I'm hoping that Gabes can shed some light on just how important zinc is, in the overall scheme of things.
Yes, it's possible to get too much magnesium. A magnesium overdose for example can cause symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, low blood pressure, muscle weakness, and fatigue. Extreme overdoses of magnesium can even be fatal (just about any salt in excessive amounts can be toxic). Too much magnesium can carry cardiovascular risks, and possibly most importantly, kidney issues. The problem is that it's the kidney's job to remove excess magnesium from the blood, but too much magnesium can cause kidney damage, and this can obviously compromise the ability of the kidneys to perform, leading to a problem that compounds itself. Here's a good reference on that:
Signs and Symptoms of Too Much Magnesium
You would probably have to have a very unusual diet for it to not contain enough calcium, provided that your vitamin D and magnesium levels are OK, because most people have way more calcium in their diet than is needed, but their body can't utilize it because of a lack of optimum vitamin D and/or magnesium. Whole foods are typically a good source for calcium. Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs are good sources of calcium and many green vegetables contain a lot of it. Remember, the paleo people didn't drink milk (except for infants), and they were a lot bigger, stronger, and healthier than we are today.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
I had the zinc test done, the levels were in 'in range' but low.
One key bit of info that you need is the copper level, in my case the copper was 2.5 times the zinc level so this is a big issue. And I have been supplementing high doses of zinc, and other supps to clear the copper.
It is key to look at the whole picture, not just a few elements.
If there is excess heavy metal, and other deficiencies in the cells, such as Vit D3, Magnesium, B6, B12, then the zinc is not utilised, it will show in the test as being in range, albeit this is not indicating if the zinc is being used properly.
Via my practitioner we looked at all my symptoms and this gave lots of indicators to issues/deficiencies. we worked on gut health, balancing histamine inflammation, fixing leaky gut. Adrenal health, immune system.
So far as magnesium, our body will tell you if you are having too much.
For D dominate use as much lotion or spray that you can apply during the day. 600mg per day is good, 800mg is better, 1000mg per day is awesome.
For those with C, take as much as you can orally. till you get loose stools, then reduce by 200mg.
I have transitioned from being C dominate to 'balanced'. So am doing about 500mg orally spread through the day and about 600mg via spray.
Hope this helps.
One key bit of info that you need is the copper level, in my case the copper was 2.5 times the zinc level so this is a big issue. And I have been supplementing high doses of zinc, and other supps to clear the copper.
It is key to look at the whole picture, not just a few elements.
If there is excess heavy metal, and other deficiencies in the cells, such as Vit D3, Magnesium, B6, B12, then the zinc is not utilised, it will show in the test as being in range, albeit this is not indicating if the zinc is being used properly.
Via my practitioner we looked at all my symptoms and this gave lots of indicators to issues/deficiencies. we worked on gut health, balancing histamine inflammation, fixing leaky gut. Adrenal health, immune system.
So far as magnesium, our body will tell you if you are having too much.
For D dominate use as much lotion or spray that you can apply during the day. 600mg per day is good, 800mg is better, 1000mg per day is awesome.
For those with C, take as much as you can orally. till you get loose stools, then reduce by 200mg.
I have transitioned from being C dominate to 'balanced'. So am doing about 500mg orally spread through the day and about 600mg via spray.
Hope this helps.
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Hej Jonas!
To have baths in a salt sea versus having baths with Epsom-salt? I would think that baths in salt sea is more effective, but now the season for bathing in salt sea here in northern Europe is over. I take foot baths with Epsom salt 4 times a week, (three tablespoons in a bucket that just covers my ancles, and I sit for 25 minutes) since I do not have a bath tub. In addition, I use magnesium-oil spray on my stomach and places with thin skin on my body, each morning after shower.
The best magnesium oil spray is - and I have no commercial interest in recommending this - http://www.ancient-minerals.com/product ... esium-oil/.
Wishing for you and all the members of this board: Good health and progress in searching for answers :-)
Best regards,
Lilja
To have baths in a salt sea versus having baths with Epsom-salt? I would think that baths in salt sea is more effective, but now the season for bathing in salt sea here in northern Europe is over. I take foot baths with Epsom salt 4 times a week, (three tablespoons in a bucket that just covers my ancles, and I sit for 25 minutes) since I do not have a bath tub. In addition, I use magnesium-oil spray on my stomach and places with thin skin on my body, each morning after shower.
The best magnesium oil spray is - and I have no commercial interest in recommending this - http://www.ancient-minerals.com/product ... esium-oil/.
Wishing for you and all the members of this board: Good health and progress in searching for answers :-)
Best regards,
Lilja
Collagenous Colitis diagnosis in 2010
Psoriasis in 1973, symptom free in 2014
GF, CF and SF free since April, 2013
Psoriasis in 1973, symptom free in 2014
GF, CF and SF free since April, 2013