Micronutrient Testing: What Your Results Actually Mean

In today’s society, even the most health-conscious individuals often find themselves lacking key nutrients due to dietary habits and preferences. Despite our best efforts, the prevalence of processed foods and nutrient-poor soil means that many of us are deficient in essential minerals. But how do you know what you’re lacking if you don’t have the information? That’s where micronutrient testing comes in.

Blood testing is an affordable way to boost your mental and physical performance, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and increase longevity. Once you know where your nutrient gaps are, it’s often easy to feel better and round out your diet. Unfortunately, not enough people take advantage of this valuable resource to keep an eye on and improve their health proactively.

At Victory Men’s Health, our treatment plans are data-driven by these comprehensive lab tests, ensuring personalized and effective care for each patient. We utilize both extracellular and intracellular micronutrient testing to provide a comprehensive view of your body’s nutrient status.

Let’s dive in!

Do you really need micronutrient testing?

You might wonder if micronutrient testing is necessary for you. The answer depends on where you are in your health journey. This type of testing can be beneficial to anyone and is often a good first step to uncover the root cause of a problem. Micronutrient testing could be a great option if you eat well and take daily supplements but want to better fine-tune your diet, supplementation regime, and longevity.  

Many of our patients opt for this test to ensure they’re taking the correct supplements, especially if they’re spending a lot on expensive products. We also perform micronutrient testing on many athletes and individuals with intense exercise regimes as they deplete nutrients more rapidly than most. Individuals on restrictive diets (whether carnivore or vegetarian) are also great candidates. 

Other reasons why our patients might make a good candidate for micronutrient testing include those experiencing fatigue, hair loss, trouble losing weight, trouble gaining muscle, and digestive issues/symptoms of malabsorption. Alternatively, this test can be great for the person who is told “everything is normal” from basic lab testing, but continues to experience symptoms or health problems. 

Based on the results, your provider may uncover more than just a nutrient deficiency.

It’s also important to note that many prescription medications can deplete certain micronutrients, so testing and replacing the necessary micronutrients can help avoid the side effects of medications you need. If you are a candidate for micronutrient testing, we recommend doing the test annually. 

Even if you follow a healthy diet, you might not get all the nutrients you need due to absorption issues, metabolism, and individual genetic variations. Micronutrient testing gives you a detailed picture of what’s happening inside your cells. This helps you make informed decisions about your diet, lifestyle, and supplements. Genetic mutations, such as in the MTHFR gene, can affect the body’s ability to process certain nutrients and increase the risk of some health conditions. 

What will a micronutrient test tell us?

Micronutrient testing measures the nutrient status inside your white blood cells, providing a more accurate reflection of what your body is absorbing and utilizing. This type of testing can reveal deficiencies in key vitamins and minerals that extracellular (serum) tests might miss.

For example, a serum test might show normal levels of B12, but a micronutrient test could reveal a deficiency that explains symptoms like chronic fatigue. Micronutrient tests show how the body utilizes 31 different vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, amino acids, and metabolites. Even borderline deficiencies can contribute to negative health outcomes such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory processes, and diabetes. 

At Victory Men’s Health, we test micronutrients through a lab called Spectracell. 

The method of this lab test is through a patient’s white blood cell (aka lymphocyte) over the past 4-6 months, which is the lifespan of a lymphocyte. This testing is superior to other types of micronutrient testing because it measures longer-term nutrient status. Deficiencies in lymphocytes have been proven to correlate to other tissues in the body and are tied to immune function. Serum, plasma, red blood cell, urine, and hair analysis tests all have lower reliability and validity. 

What Does a Micronutrient Test Cost?

While the cost of micronutrient testing can vary, we provide competitive pricing to ensure our patients receive the best care without financial strain. Please contact our offices directly for specific pricing details. On average, a test as a part of your comprehensive treatment plan is $300-$500.

Investing in your health through comprehensive testing can save you from future health complications and costly treatments.

What is the Process of Micronutrient Testing?

1. Schedule a Consultation: The first step is typically to schedule a consultation with one of our healthcare providers, where we’ll discuss your health goals, symptoms, and medical history to determine if micronutrient testing is right for you. However, we can order this test prior to meeting with a patient (without a consultation) if you know that’s the route you want to go. We also offer this testing through Rupa Health, so we can hold the appointment via telehealth and you can get the kit to have your blood drawn near you even if you are out of state.

2. Conduct the Test: If micronutrient testing is recommended, our team will guide you through the process. The test involves a simple blood draw that will be analyzed to measure the levels of various nutrients inside your cells.

3. Receive Your Results: Once the test results are in, we’ll then schedule a follow-up appointment to review your results in detail. Our healthcare provider will explain what the results mean and identify any nutrient deficiencies or imbalances 

Based on your test results, we’ll develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. This plan may include dietary recommendations, lifestyle changes, and targeted supplementation to address your nutrient deficiencies.

For example, if your micronutrient test reveals a deficiency in B vitamins, then we might recommend increasing your intake of foods rich in these vitamins or starting a supplement regimen. With our deep knowledge of supplements, vitamins, and minerals, we can create a custom plan based on your results to ensure you receive the precise nutrients your body needs to thrive.

5. Implement and Monitor: After you begin your personalized treatment plan, we’ll schedule regular follow-ups to monitor your progress. Adjustments to your plan will be made as needed to ensure you are on the right track to optimal health.

Micronutrient vs. Serum Testing: Do You Know the Difference?

Knowing the difference between micronutrient and serum testing is key to understanding which test you’ll be receiving. At Victory Men’s Health, here’s why we offer micronutrient testing.

Serum Testing

• What It Measures: Nutrients in the liquid part of your blood at the moment of the test.
• Availability: Easily available and simple to perform, giving a quick snapshot of your current blood nutrient levels.
• Limitations: It doesn’t show what nutrients are actually being absorbed and used by your cells.

Micronutrient Testing

• What It Measures: Nutrients inside your red and white blood cells.
• Accuracy: Provides a more precise and detailed picture of your nutrient levels.
• Duration: Shows nutrient levels over several months, not just at one moment.
• Insight: Offers a better understanding of what your body is absorbing and using at the cellular level, along with measurements of your total immune function, antioxidant function, and carbohydrate metabolism.

When checking your micronutrient levels, micronutrient testing is the better choice. Why? Because it gives a more complete view of your nutrient status, helping you make better health decisions.

I’m thinking about getting a test – what’s next?

Step 1: Contact Us to Schedule Your Consultation
You can get in touch with us here.

Step 2: Initial Consultation
During your consultation, we’ll discuss your health history, current symptoms, and health goals. Our healthcare provider will determine if micronutrient testing is appropriate for you and guide you through the next steps.

Step 3: Testing and Results
We’ll conduct the micronutrient testing and analyze your results. Once your results are in, we’ll review them with you to explain what they mean and how they impact your health.

Step 4: Personalized Treatment Plan
Based on your results, we’ll create a personalized treatment plan to address any deficiencies or imbalances. This plan will include dietary recommendations, lifestyle changes, and targeted supplementation. We make custom vitamin packs based on the results and might offer a meal plan or suggest custom IV therapy.

Step 5: Ongoing Support and Monitoring
We provide continuous support and monitoring to ensure your treatment plan is effective. Regular follow-ups allow us to make any necessary adjustments and keep you on the path to optimal health.

Step 6: Take Control of Your Health
By understanding your nutrient status and addressing deficiencies, you can improve your mental and physical performance, reduce your risk of chronic diseases, and enhance your overall well-being.

Next Steps With Victory Men’s Health

At Victory Men’s Health, we are big fans of micronutrient testing. It’s one of our most popular services among men and women because it gives a complete view of your body’s nutrient levels, showing what your body is actually absorbing and using. Knowing your blood biomarkers helps you make better choices about your diet, lifestyle, exercise, and supplements.

Contact us today to schedule your consultation and start your journey to better health and well-being.