Testing For Vitamin Levels

[Idahogirl]

I keep hearing about having your doctor test your vitamin levels, so when I went to my first dr. appt. for my pregnancy, I asked if that's something they could look at. Since I've only been gluten-free since I found out I was pregnant, I want to make sure everything is okay. They said the only blood test they could do for vitamin levels was for folate, and that's the most important one for the baby.

Is the tests I keep hearing about other than a blood test? My doctors aren't really familiar with celiac, so maybe they just don't know.

Thanks!

Lisa

[KaitiUSA]

Nope that is not it....I had my minerals and vitamins tested by a blood test ordered by my doctor.

[armoorefam]

I don't know of any lab test, but you can monitor B12 levels if my two celiacs are typical. They have both noted that when their urine goes pale that they need vitamin B12. They will monitor how long it takes to get back to the normal yellow to tell how far off their B12 they are. Once or twice my husband got very behind and it took a few days to start spilling the B12. They have also noted that when they are low on B12, they experience poor concentration, feeling down, and tiredness. Unless they are way behind on it, one dose and 5 to 20 minutes is all it takes to feel normal again.

Tammy Moore

[Ursa Major]

You might also want to get your vitamin K and ferretin (iron) levels tested. They are very often quite low in Celiacs, and are extremely important.

[darlindeb25]

Armoorefam---I dont know if you can judge B12 in this way. I have never heard this before. I take 1000mcg of B12 daily--first thing in the morning. I take sublingual B12, under my tongue, goes directly into my bloodstream. Until lunch time, my urine is dark yellow, after lunch it goes back pale until the next day when I take my B12 again. So, does that mean it goes right through me and I dont retain it? I really am not sure this is a true judge of levels. Deb