Vitamin Deficiencies.

[rueyn]

Does anyone know of any OTC-type tests that can done for vitamin deficiencies, or are those types of tests only available through doctors? How about nutritionists?

Thanks in advance

[Roda]

You can order a test through the vitamin D council. I don't know how reputable they are though. Maybe someone else knows.

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[BRUMI1968]

Does anyone know of any OTC-type tests that can done for vitamin deficiencies, or are those types of tests only available through doctors? How about nutritionists?

Thanks in advance

I was recently seeking a Vitamin B12 test and did some research on how to make it happen most cheaply. I did find out that many hospitals/clinics will offer cholesterol testing and glucose testing at low cost, but other than that, tests have to be ordered by doctors (or online, though these are not typically blood tests). I ended up contacting a naturopath and asking for a sliding scale for the referral to the lab, and to only visit him AFTER I'd been to the lab. It's usually a hidden expense to have to go to the doc to be seen in order to get the tests ordered, then come back for a second visit to review the labs. I had a good idea of what I wanted (iron, B12, Vit D, etc.), and he agreed, though he admitted he does not normally do that.

Also, check for folks that use hospital associated labs, especially Catholic or other religiously affiliated hospitals. My lab bill is more than $700.00 (B12, MMA [better B12 test than the B12], iron deficiency panel, celiac gluten panel [to see if I'm getting hidden gluten], Vit D...there must've been something else...homosystein levels [also determins Vit B12 problems], thyroid testing). THEY WILL WRITE OFF THE WHOLE BILL based on my income. Private labs will also do this on ocassion, but I was surprised to find on the back of my hospital bill a sliding scale based on income, and that I fall in the 100% write-off column (lucky me). I don't know if your reasoning for wanting OTC was partly cost, but this is something to consider.

So in the end I ended up spending $150 dollars on the doctor, some acidophilous stuff, and some fish oil.

Good luck!

[rueyn]

I was recently seeking a Vitamin B12 test and did some research on how to make it happen most cheaply. I did find out that many hospitals/clinics will offer cholesterol testing and glucose testing at low cost, but other than that, tests have to be ordered by doctors (or online, though these are not typically blood tests). I ended up contacting a naturopath and asking for a sliding scale for the referral to the lab, and to only visit him AFTER I'd been to the lab. It's usually a hidden expense to have to go to the doc to be seen in order to get the tests ordered, then come back for a second visit to review the labs. I had a good idea of what I wanted (iron, B12, Vit D, etc.), and he agreed, though he admitted he does not normally do that.

Also, check for folks that use hospital associated labs, especially Catholic or other religiously affiliated hospitals. My lab bill is more than $700.00 (B12, MMA [better B12 test than the B12], iron deficiency panel, celiac gluten panel [to see if I'm getting hidden gluten], Vit D...there must've been something else...homosystein levels [also determins Vit B12 problems], thyroid testing). THEY WILL WRITE OFF THE WHOLE BILL based on my income. Private labs will also do this on ocassion, but I was surprised to find on the back of my hospital bill a sliding scale based on income, and that I fall in the 100% write-off column (lucky me). I don't know if your reasoning for wanting OTC was partly cost, but this is something to consider.

So in the end I ended up spending $150 dollars on the doctor, some acidophilous stuff, and some fish oil.

Good luck!

So you basically just asked for the tests you wanted from a naturopath? I might have to look one up and see who we have in town.

My issue is that I was never formally diagnosed with Celiac because I'd already been off gluten for three weeks when I finally saw the GI doctor (didn't know at the time you're supposed to wait to go gluten-free).

Being that all my problems went away after going gluten-free *I* know I have a problem with gluten, but my GI specifically said he "doesn't believe in gluten intolerance, just Celiac", which I tested negative for (I'd been gluten-free three weeks). Long story short - he said he wouldn't do vitamin testing, because the blood tests for Celiac tests were negative.

Anyway...I've been concerned about getting enough vitamins, especially magnesium (had some symptoms of deficiency that went away when I started supplementing). I'd like to know exactly what I'm deficient in. I was hoping there'd be an easier way than trying to back through the doc, but oh well. Maybe I can also try my GP when I go back for my yearly TSH.

Thanks for the help!