The Blood Test That Reveals What Your Body Is Really Missing
Standard blood work checks for diseases. Micronutrient screening checks for optimal function. There is a significant difference – and it matters because subclinical deficiencies cause real symptoms long before they trigger clinical disease. At our practice in Zürich Seefeld, comprehensive micronutrient screening is a cornerstone of our preventive and functional medicine approach.
Why Standard Tests Miss Deficiencies
Standard health checks typically include a basic blood count, glucose, and perhaps a lipid panel. They rarely assess vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, selenium, omega-3 fatty acids, or active B12 – nutrients that directly influence energy, immunity, mood, hormones, and cognitive function. Even when individual nutrients are tested, results are compared against broad reference ranges designed to detect severe deficiency, not optimal health.
Our Comprehensive Micronutrient Panel
Vitamin D (25-OH): Tested in virtually every patient. Optimal: 40-60 ng/mL. Critical for immunity, mood, bones, hormones, and cancer prevention.
Iron studies: Ferritin, transferrin saturation, serum iron, TIBC. Ferritin is the earliest marker of depletion – I flag levels below 50 ng/mL, not just below the lab’s reference of 15.
Vitamin B12: Serum B12 plus holotranscobalamin (active B12) for accurate assessment. Deficiency affects nerves, cognition, mood, and energy.
Folate: Essential for methylation, DNA repair, and pregnancy health.
Magnesium: Red blood cell magnesium (not serum, which is a poor indicator). Involved in 300+ enzymatic reactions.
Zinc: Immune function, wound healing, taste, hormones, and skin health.
Selenium: Thyroid function, antioxidant defence, and immune regulation.
Omega-3 index: The percentage of EPA and DHA in red blood cell membranes. Optimal: 8-12%. Most people are 3-5%.
Vitamin A: Important for immune function, vision, and skin health.
Copper: Assessed in relation to zinc – the copper:zinc ratio influences inflammation and immune function.
Iodine: Essential for thyroid hormone production. Assessed when thyroid issues are present.
Who Benefits From Micronutrient Screening?
Virtually everyone – but particularly those with chronic fatigue, recurrent infections, mood disturbances, hormonal issues, autoimmune conditions, digestive problems (malabsorption risk), vegetarian/vegan diets, athletes with high nutrient demands, and anyone seeking health optimisation.
What We Do With Results
Targeted repletion: Specific supplements in the right form, dose, and combination to correct identified deficiencies.
Dietary guidance: Foods that specifically address your deficiencies and support long-term nutrient adequacy.
Absorption investigation: If deficiencies persist despite supplementation, I investigate gut health and absorption capacity.
IV therapy when indicated: For severe deficiencies or malabsorption, intravenous nutrient delivery provides rapid, reliable correction.
Follow-up testing: Rechecking levels after repletion to confirm adequacy and adjust maintenance protocols.
Conclusion
You cannot optimise what you do not measure. Comprehensive micronutrient screening provides the data to make targeted, effective interventions for your health. Book your screening at our practice in Zürich Seefeld.
