Vitamins & Minerals Blood Work Flashcards
What is Calcium
Calcium is a vital mineral essential for bone health, nerve
transmission, muscle function, and blood clotting. Blood calcium levels are tightly regulated to ensure the proper functioning of various physiological processes.
What is low value Calcium
Low calcium levels, or hypocalcemia, may indicate conditions such as vitamin D deficiency, hypoparathyroidism, kidney disease, or malabsorption disorders, and can lead to symptoms like muscle cramps, tingling, or severe cases of cardiac arrhythmias and seizures
What is high value Calcium
High calcium levels, or hypercalcemia, may indicate conditions such as hyperparathyroidism, malignancies, excessive vitamin D intake, or certain medications,
and can lead to symptoms like fatigue, kidney stones, bone pain, and abnormal heart rhythms
What is low value Magnesium
Low magnesium levels, or hypomagnesemia, can indicate inadequate dietary intake, poor absorption due to gastrointestinal disorders, excessive excretion
through the kidneys or urine, or chronic conditions, leading to symptoms such as muscle cramps, fatigue, arrhythmias, and increased risk of osteoporosis
What is Magnesium
Magnesium is a mineral involved in numerous biochemical reactions in the body. It plays a crucial role in muscle and nerve function, blood glucose
control, and bone health. Monitoring magnesium levels is important for overall health and well-being
What is high value Magnesium
High magnesium levels, or hypermagnesemia, may indicate excessive intake through supplements or medical treatments, reduced kidney function, or certain
endocrine disorders, potentially leading to symptoms like muscle weakness, irregular heartbeat, or impaired nerve function
What is MMA (Methylmalonic Acid)
MMA is a marker used to assess vitamin B12 status. MMA
testing helps identify early signs of B12 deficiency, particularly in individuals at risk
What is low value MMA
Low MMA (Methylmalonic Acid) levels generally indicate sufficient vitamin B12 levels, as MMA typically only elevates when there is a deficiency in this vitamin,
suggesting that vitamin B12 metabolism is functioning normally
What is high value MMA
High methylmalonic acid (MMA) levels indicate a vitamin B12 deficiency or impaired vitamin B12 metabolism, which can lead to neurological symptoms, anemia,
and other metabolic complications
What is Selenium
Selenium is a trace element with antioxidant properties. It
plays a role in thyroid function and immune system health. Selenium levels are essential for preventing oxidative stress and supporting overall well-being
What is low value Selenium
Low selenium levels may indicate a deficiency that can impair immune function, reduce antioxidant protection, and affect thyroid hormone metabolism,
potentially increasing the risk of conditions like heart disease, immune dysfunction, and
thyroid disorders. This can be a result of inadequate dietary intake or absorption issues in the digestive tract (e.g., Crohn Disease, SIBO, Ulcerative Colitis, Celiac Disease etc.)
What is high value Selenium
High selenium levels may indicate excessive intake, often from over- supplementation or a diet overly rich in selenium, which can lead to toxicity (selenosis)
and symptoms such as gastrointestinal upset, hair loss, nail brittleness, and in severe
cases, neurological damage.
What is Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is essential for the production of red blood cells, neurological function, and DNA synthesis. Deficiencies can lead to anemia and neurological
disorders. B12 testing is crucial, especially for individuals with dietary restrictions or
absorption issues
What is low value Vit B12
Low vitamin B12 levels indicate a potential deficiency, which can lead to neurological symptoms, such as numbness or cognitive difficulties, as well as anemia
and fatigue, often due to inadequate dietary intake, malabsorption, or certain medical
conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract
What is high value Vit B12
High vitamin B12 levels may indicate an underlying health issue such as liver disease, kidney dysfunction, or certain types of leukemia, or it could result from
excessive supplementation, requiring further investigation to determine the exact cause
What is Vitamin D, 25-OH, Total
Vitamin D levels are crucial for bone health, immune
function, and overall cellular health, highlighting the importance of maintaining optimal
levels through supplementation or sun exposure. Vitamin D is also essential for maintaining calcium homeostasis by increasing calcium absorption in the intestines
What is low value Vitamin D, 25-OH, Total
Low vitamin D levels indicate a deficiency that can affect bone health, immune function, and increase the risk of conditions such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and certain autoimmune disorders. This often occurs due to inadequate dietary intake, inadequate sun exposure or absorption issue in the intestines
What is high value Vit D, 25-OH, Total
High vitamin D levels may indicate excessive supplementation or, less commonly, conditions like hyperparathyroidism, which can lead to elevated calcium
levels in the blood, leading to increased levels of the active form of Vitamin D. This can potentially cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, weakness, and kidney problems
What is Zinc
Zinc is an essential mineral involved in immune function,
wound healing, and DNA synthesis. Monitoring zinc levels is crucial for overall health, as deficiency can impact various physiological processes
What is low value Zinc
Low zinc levels can indicate a deficiency, which may impair immune function, wound healing, and taste perception, and can result from inadequate dietary
intake, malabsorption disorders, or increased zinc loss due to conditions like chronic diarrhea or excessive sweating
What is high value Zinc
High zinc levels may indicate excessive supplementation or intake, which can lead to toxicity and cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, immune dysfunction, and disruptions in the balance of other essential minerals like copper and iron
List of Iron Panel (Anemia Panel)
Serum Iron, Ferritin, Transferrin Saturation, Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC)
What is Serum Iron
Serum iron measures the amount of iron circulating in the bloodstream. It reflects the iron available for immediate use in the body. Adequate serum
iron levels are essential for various physiological processes, including oxygen transport and energy production
What is low value Serum Iron
Low serum iron levels may indicate iron deficiency anemia, chronic blood loss, malabsorption disorders, or chronic illnesses, leading to reduced oxygen
transport in the blood and symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath
What is high value Serum Iron
High serum iron levels may indicate conditions such as
hemochromatosis, excessive iron supplementation, chronic infections, or liver disease, and can lead to iron overload, potentially causing damage to organs like the
liver, heart, and pancreas
What is Ferritin
Ferritin is a protein that stores iron. Measuring ferritin levels provides insights into the body’s iron stores. Maintaining appropriate ferritin levels is crucial
for preventing iron deficiency or iron overload
What is low value Ferritin
Low serum ferritin levels indicate depleted iron stores in the body, commonly associated with iron deficiency anemia, and can result from insufficient dietary iron
intake, chronic blood loss, or malabsorption disorders
What is high value Ferritin
High serum ferritin levels may indicate excess iron storage in the body, which can be due to conditions such as hemochromatosis, chronic inflammation, liver
disease, or repeated blood transfusions, potentially leading to iron overload and associated complications like organ damage
What is Transferrin Saturation
Transferrin saturation represents the percentage of
transferrin that is saturated with iron. It provides insights into how effectively transferrin is transporting iron in the blood. Monitoring transferrin saturation helps evaluate iron status and its potential impact on overall health
What is low value Transferrin Saturation
Low transferrin saturation levels often indicate iron deficiency anemia, where insufficient iron is available to bind to transferrin, leading to reduced iron
transport and utilization in the body
What is high value Transferrin Saturation
High transferrin saturation levels may indicate excess iron in the body, potentially due to conditions such as hemochromatosis, excessive iron supplementation, or chronic inflammation, which can lead to iron overload and related complications like organ damage
What is Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC)
TIBC measures the total capacity of transferrin, a protein that transports iron in the blood, to bind with iron. It helps assess the body’s ability to transport and bind iron. Abnormal TIBC levels may indicate iron deficiency or excess
What is low value Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC)
Low Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC) levels may indicate conditions such as anemia of chronic disease or iron overload disorders, where the body’s ability to bind
and transport iron is reduced due to increased iron stores or inflammatory processes
What is high value Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC)
High total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) levels typically indicate an iron deficiency, as the body increases the production of transferrin, the protein that transports
iron, to maximize iron absorption and availability for red blood cell production
