Nutrition Blood Test
Nutrition Blood Test
Nutrition Blood Test
Nutrition Blood Test
Nutrition Blood Test
Nutrition Blood Test, from our experts to you.
Dr Natasha Fernando MBBS, MRCGP

Medical Director

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Can I get all the
nutrients I need from my diet?

A varied and balanced diet usually provides you with all the nutrients you need for optimal health. But, even with the best intentions, deficiencies can occur. 

You may eat a healthy diet but restrict specific food groups, which can lead to a deficiency in certain vitamins and minerals. For example, if you eat a vegan or plant-based diet, you may be more prone to a deficiency in vitamin B12 or iron.

What's included in
a nutrition test?

Our home Nutrition Blood Test includes checks for vitamin D and active B12, as well as ferritin and magnesium, which make up some of the most common nutrient deficiencies.

It also includes a complete cholesterol profile, with a breakdown of your HDL (good) and non-HDL (bad) cholesterol, plus a test for low-level inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein). These biomarkers can be affected by your diet and indicate your risk of cardiovascular disease. So, it’s important to check them and take steps to keep them within healthy ranges. 

What can I learn from
a nutrition test?

Our Nutrition Blood Test gives you a clear picture of potential vitamin and mineral deficiencies. It will also help you identify areas where you could make changes to your diet to prevent or manage deficiencies, and indicate whether you may benefit from a supplement. 

Regular testing can help you monitor the effect of any changes to your diet or supplementation.

What's Included?

Cholesterol status
Inflammation
Iron status
Minerals
Vitamins
Select profile for more information
Total cholesterol Cholesterol is an essential fat (lipid) in the body. Although it has a bad reputation it has some important functions, including building cell membranes and producing a number of essential hormones including testosterone and oestradiol. Cholesterol is manufactured in the liver and also comes from the food we eat. Although there are a number of different types of cholesterol, the two main components of total cholesterol are HDL (high density lipoprotein) which is protective against heart disease and LDL (low density lipoprotein) which, in high levels, can contribute to cardiovascular disease. Your total cholesterol result on its own is of limited value in understanding your risk of heart disease; high levels of HDL cholesterol can cause a raised total cholesterol result but may actually be protective against heart disease. Equally, you can have a normal total cholesterol level but have low levels of protective HDL cholesterol. The most important factors are how much HDL and LDL cholesterol you have, and what proportion of your total cholesterol is made up of protective HDL cholesterol. We give a detailed breakdown of the components of your total cholesterol in the rest of this cholesterol profile.
LDL cholesterol LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein) is a molecule made of lipids and proteins which transports cholesterol, triglycerides and other fats to various tissues throughout the body. Too much LDL cholesterol, commonly called 'bad cholesterol', can cause fatty deposits to accumulate inside artery walls, potentially leading to atherosclerosis and heart disease.
Non - HDL cholesterol Your total cholesterol is broken down into 2 main components; HDL (good) cholesterol and LDL (bad). There are more types of harmful cholesterol in your blood than just LDL - these include VLDL (very low-density lipoproteins) and other lipoproteins which are thought to be even more harmful than LDL cholesterol. Non-HDL cholesterol is calculated by subtracting your HDL cholesterol value from your total cholesterol. It therefore includes all the non-protective and potentially harmful cholesterol in your blood, not just LDL. As such, it is considered to be a better marker for cardiovascular risk than total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. The recommended level of non-HDL cholesterol is below 4 mmol/L.
HDL cholesterol HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein) is a molecule in the body which removes cholesterol from the bloodstream and transports it to the liver where it is broken down and removed from the body in bile. HDL cholesterol is commonly known as 'good cholesterol'.
Total cholesterol : HDL The cholesterol/HDL ratio is calculated by dividing your total cholesterol value by your HDL cholesterol level. It is used as a measure of cardiovascular risk because it gives a good insight into the proportion of your total cholesterol which is good (i.e. high-density lipoprotein HDL). Heart disease risk tools (such as QRisk) use the cholesterol/HDL ratio to calculate your risk of having a heart attack.
Triglycerides Triglycerides are a type of fat (lipid) that circulate in the blood. After you eat, your body converts excess calories (whether from fat or carbohydrates) into triglycerides which are then transported to cells to be stored as fat. Your body then releases triglycerides when required for energy.
hs - CRP C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is an inflammation marker used to assess whether there is inflammation in the body - it does not identify where the inflammation is located. High Sensitivity CRP (CRP-hs) is a test used to detect low-level inflammation thought to damage blood vessels which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. When you suffer a serious injury or infection you experience significant inflammation around the site of injury - such as the swelling around a twisted ankle. Any injury like this will cause your CRP-hs to rise.
Ferritin Ferritin is a protein which stores iron in your cells and tissues. Usually, the body incorporates iron into haemoglobin to be transported around the body, but when it has a surplus, it stores the remaining iron in ferritin for later use. Measuring ferritin levels gives us a good indication of the amount of iron stored in your body.
Magnesium - serum Magnesium is found in fibre-rich foods such as green leafy vegetables, avocados, bananas, wholemeal bread and brown rice as well as in fish and meat. Excess magnesium exposure can cause breathing problems, skin and eye irritation, flu-like symptoms and an upset stomach. Low magnesium can cause muscle aches and pains, fatigue, osteoporosis, an irregular heartbeat and high blood pressure. Low magnesium is associated with heart disease, artherosclerosis, stroke and diabetes.
Vitamin B12 - active Vitamin B12 is important for production of red blood cells which carry oxygen around the body. B12 is also involved in metabolism and the nervous system and prolonged lack of vitamin B12 may cause nerve damage. Although Vitamin B12 is almost entirely found in animal-based foods, many vegetarian and vegan products, especially plant milks are now fortified with Vitamin B12.
Vitamin D

Despite its name, vitamin D is actually a hormone that’s produced by your skin when it’s exposed to sunshine. Before your body can use vitamin D produced by sun exposure (known as vitamin D3), it must be converted into another form called 25 hydroxycholecalciferol (25 OH). Vitamin D (25 OH) is the major circulating form of vitamin D, and so your vitamin D (25 OH) level is considered the most accurate indicator of vitamin D supply to your body.

Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones and teeth, as it helps your body absorb calcium. It also plays a role in muscle health, immune function, and mental health.

Low vitamin D symptoms include muscle weakness, mood swings, and fatigue. Many people in the UK have low vitamin D levels, and people with dark skin and people who don’t spend much time outdoors are particularly at risk.

Small amounts of vitamin D can be obtained from food, especially oily fish, eggs, and vitamin-D fortified foods. But if you have a vitamin D deficiency, you’re unlikely to be able to improve your levels by food alone.

How to prepare
for your test

Special Instructions

Prepare for your Nutrition Blood Test by following these instructions. Take this test when any symptoms of short-term illness have settled. Avoid fatty foods for eight hours before your test, you do not need to fast. You should take this test before you take any medication or vitamin/mineral supplements. Do not take biotin supplements for two days before this test, discuss this with your doctor if it is prescribed. Do not take vitamin B12 for two weeks prior to this test. If your B12 is prescribed ask your doctor whether to stop.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between vitamins and minerals?

Vitamins and minerals are different types of micronutrients, which are both essential for your health in tiny (or micro) amounts.

Vitamins are organic compounds, which means they're made by plants and animals. Most vitamins are easily absorbed as they dissolve in water. Some vitamins, like vitamin D, dissolve in fats, and are better absorbed with high-fat foods. Many vitamins are heat-sensitive, so they may be broken down during cooking.

Minerals, on the other hand, are inorganic substances found in the earth and rocks. They're also found in food, but they’re not produced by living things and aren’t broken down as easily as vitamins.
What are the symptoms of vitamin and mineral deficiencies?

When your body is not getting enough micronutrients, you may start to experience vitamin or mineral deficiency symptoms such as brain fog and fatigue.

Low levels of iron, vitamin D, or vitamin B12 can make you feel tired all the time. But each micronutrient deficiency also has its own specific symptoms. For instance, a vitamin B12 deficiency can cause pins and needles, mouth ulcers, and blurred vision, whilst an iron deficiency can leave you feeling dizzy and short of breath.

As many of these symptoms are common to several conditions, a blood test can help you pinpoint the cause.
What causes vitamin and mineral deficiencies?
A varied and balanced diet usually provides you with enough vitamins and minerals for optimal health, but deficiencies can still occur for several reasons. These include poor absorption of nutrients (for example, if you have coeliac or Crohn’s disease), drinking lots of alcohol, taking certain medications like proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), and being pregnant.
Am I more at risk of a vitamin or mineral deficiency if I follow a plant-based diet?

No, you’re perfectly capable of getting enough nutrients from a plant-based diet, with the right planning. For instance, it can be more difficult to maintain healthy iron levels if you follow a plant-based diet, as plant-based sources of iron are harder for your body to absorb. But there are plenty of plant-based foods that contain a good amount of iron, including lentils, chickpeas, beans, tofu, and kale.

If you follow a plant-based diet, you may need to check you’re getting adequate levels of several essential vitamins and minerals including:
Can I take a Nutrition Blood Test at home?
Yes, you can take a nutrition home test with our finger-prick blood test kit. We’ll send you everything you need, including clear instructions and a pre-paid return envelope for your sample.