Vitamins Tests: Types, Names & Benefits

Vitamins are micronutrients that control overall body functioning. These micronutrients fight against bacterial and viral infections, strengthen bones, regulate blood flow, and enhance overall health. 

The body functions with all 13 vitamins, which are significant in maintaining health and bodily function. Around 20 to 50% of vitamins are absorbed orally through sources like food. 

Your body needs each vitamin to stay healthy; a deficiency can severely impact your health. A vitamin test can help with early detection, diagnosis, and effective treatment. 

This blog will provide detailed insight into vitamin tests. 

About Vitamin Tests 

Vitamin tests are regular screening tests that measure vitamin levels in the body and diagnose vitamin deficiencies. 

A doctor may recommend vitamin screening tests every three to six months or annually to check your vitamin levels and help in early management. 

Studies have found that most of India’s population has vitamin deficiencies, with vitamin D as the most common micronutrient deficiency. This number of vitamin deficiencies indicates the need for a vitamin test.

4 Signs That You Need A Vitamin Test

Vitamins regulate your body, and any deficiency may lead to serious adverse effects. Your body gives several signs of vitamin deficiency. 

• Brittle Hair and Nails

Biotin, or vitamin B7, deficiency causes brittle hair and nails. Although vitamin B7 helps your body convert food into energy, it is rare. However, vitamin B7 deficiency can cause noticeable signs, such as hair split ends and brittle nails. The body requires 30 micrograms of biotin per day. 

If you see these signs, add foods like meats, fish, meat, nuts, seeds, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, whole grains, and sweet potatoes to fulfill your biotin content. 

• Bleeding Gums

Bleeding gums can occur due to vitamin C deficiency. Although many people see this sign, they often neglect it. Vitamin C is vital for boosting immunity and healing wounds. Its antioxidants can also help prevent cell damage.

Your body doesn’t directly produce vitamin C, so add food sources like citrus fruits to curb vitamin C deficiency. Some signs of vitamin C deficiency are easy bruising, slow wound healing, dry skin, gum bleeding, and frequent nose bleeding. 

• Poor Night Vision

Vitamin A deficiency may lead to poor night vision and white eye growth. Vitamin A is necessary to produce rhodopsin, a pigment in the eye's retina that helps you see at night. If you find it difficult to see at night, you should eat a vitamin A-rich diet to prevent the risk of cornea damage or xerophthalmia. 

Meat, dairy, eggs, fish, and green leafy vegetables are great sources of vitamin A, so add them to your diet. 

• Hair Loss

Hair loss is a common sign of vitamin deficiency. Around 50% of male adults experience hair loss after age 50. 

Nutrients like iron, vitamin B groups, linoleic acid (LA), and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) are important for preventing hair loss. Eat green leafy vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and vegetable oils to prevent hair loss. 

Also, read https://redcliffelabs.com/myhealth/vitamin/vitamin-deficiencies-diseases-causes-symptoms-and-more/ 

How Many Vitamin Tests Are There?

The healthcare system has advanced with the ongoing technological advancement. Diagnostic laboratories provide vitamin tests, which help diagnose deficiencies and prepare an effective management plan. Doctors recommend taking a vitamin blood test from a renowned laboratory like Redcliffe Labs. 

Redcliffe Labs is a leading diagnostic laboratory in India. It offers 3,600+ tests at an affordable price and a home sample collection service to make quality diagnostics accessible. 

They provide a plethora of vitamin tests, such as 

1. Vitamin D Test 
2. Vitamin B9 or Folic Test 
3. Vitamin B12 Test 
4. Vitamin C Test 
5. Vitamin B6 test 
6. Vitamin B1 Test
7. Vitamin B2 Test 
8. Vitamin E Test 

Let’s look at each vitamin test. 

Vitamin D Test

Did you know that 80% of Indians are Vitamin D deficient, highlighting the need for better immunity development?

A vitamin D test measures the vitamin D level in your blood and ensures that your body is functioning properly. 

Vitamin D is essential for maintaining healthy bones, teeth, muscles, nerves, and immune systems. 

It measures the level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in your blood, which your kidney uses to create an active vitamin D that provides your body with calcium content and builds bone. 

Signs that your body has vitamin D deficiency

1. Muscle pain 
2. Fatigue 
3. Depression 
4. Hair loss 
5. Bone pain 
6. Frequent infection 
7. Impaired wound healing 

Redcliffe Labs provides a vitamin D test price, which measures levels crucial for bone health and muscle function. You can book the test from their website or mobile app. 

Vitamin B12 Test 

This vitamin is important in alleviating anemia and nervous system issues. Nearly 47% of Indians have Vitamin B12 deficiency. A doctor can recommend the vitamin B12 test to measure the vitamin B12 levels in the blood. 

The test can also help diagnose deficiency and recommend an effective treatment plan. Certain medications, older age, and inadequate diet can make it difficult for your body to absorb vitamin B12. 

A vitamin B12 test is a routine blood test can help diagnose vitamin B12 deficiency and provide an effective treatment plan. 

Signs that your body has vitamin B12 deficiency

1. Physical symptoms
1. Fatigue 
2. Weakness 
3. Nausea 
4. Vomiting 
5. Diarrhea 
6. Weight loss 
7. Headaches 
8. Sore or red tongue 
9. Pale skin 
2. Neurological Symptoms 
1. Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
2. Trouble walking 
3. Vision problem 
4. Memory loss 
5. Confusion 
6. Forgetfulness 
7. Irritability 

Redcliffe Labs offers a Vitamin B12 test with a home sample collection service. Book the test to check vitamin B12 deficiency and diagnose certain types of anemia. 

Vitamin B9 Test 

Vitamin B9, or folic acid test, is a blood test that checks for folic acid levels and helps detect B9 or folic acid deficiency. 

Vitamin B9 is necessary for DNA production, nervous functioning, and red blood cell synthesis. A vitamin B9 deficiency can lead to health conditions such as anemia, cardiovascular disease, and nerve damage. 

Doctors usually recommend the test to people with anemia and pregnant women. 

Symptoms of Vitamin B9 Deficiency

1. Rapid heartbeat 
2. Shortness of breath 
3. Swollen, tender, or smooth tongue 
4. Mouth ulcers 
5. Irritability
6. Dizziness 
7. Muscle weakness 
8. Weight loss 
9. Diarrhea 
10. Memory loss or confusion 
11. Extreme fatigue 
12. Pale skin 
13. Heart palpitations 

If you experience these signs, book a vitamin B9 blood test from Redcliffe Labs. The test can help you understand the cause of anemia, malnutrition, and folic acid absorption difficulties.

Vitamin C Test 

Vitamin C is necessary to boost your immune system, fight off diseases, and deal with cardiovascular disease. The vitamin C test can measure the levels of vitamin C present in your blood. 

Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, helps repair tissue, promotes collagen production, and aids in iron absorption. Ascorbic acid is a water-soluble acid whose deficiency can upset the stomach or damage the liver. 

Symptoms of Vitamin C Deficiency

A severe vitamin C deficiency, called scurvy, develops after 8 to 12 weeks. 

Other symptoms of vitamin C include: 

1. Chronic fatigue 
2. Depression 
3. Bleeding gums 
4. Swollen gums 
5. Tooth loss 
6. Anemia 
7. Infections 
8. Weight loss 
9. Dry, rough, and scaly skin 
10. Dry and brittle hair 
11. Weakness 
12. Lethargic 
13. Irritability 
14. Low-grade fever 
15. Severe joint pain 

Redcliffe Labs offers a vitamin C test to detect scurvy caused by vitamin C deficiency. 

Also, read https://redcliffelabs.com/myhealth/food-and-nutrition/20-healthy-vitamin-b6-foods-benefits-side-effects-and-recommended-dose/ 

Vitamin B6 Test 

Vitamin B6 supports brain health, boosts the immune system, and builds metabolism. A vitamin B6 test or pyridoxine test measures the vitamin B6 levels in your blood. 

The test helps detect early B6 deficiency and, based on your present health condition, allocate an effective treatment plan. 

This vitamin test helps locate the reason for various health issues. 

Symptoms of vitamin B6 deficiency

1. Mood swings 
2. Depression 
3. Anxiety
4. Weak immune system 
5. Chronic fatigue 
6. Anemia 
7. Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
8. Swollen tongue 
9. Sore or red tongue 
10. Seizures 

You can book the vitamin B6 test, which measures the levels of vitamin B6 in your blood and locate the causes of the deficiency. 

Vitamin B1 Test 

A vitamin B1 test checks for thiamine deficiency, which can help prevent health conditions like Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and beriberi. 

Vitamin B1 helps food convert into energy, supports healthy skin and proper nervous function, promotes digestion, and prevents Alzheimer’s disease and heart disease. 

Symptoms of Vitamin B1 Deficiency 

1. Fatigue 
2. Nerve damage 
3. Rapid heartbeat 
4. Headache 
5. Abdominal discomfort or pain 
6. Dizziness or weakness 
7. Confusion 
8. Leg cramps 
9. Burning sensations in the feet, especially during the night 
10. Nausea and vomiting 

Redcliffe Labs offers a Vitamin B1 screening test that detects vitamin B1 levels in the blood. Low levels show the possibility of Beri Beri disease. 

Vitamin E Test 

A vitamin E test measures the amount of vitamin E in your blood. The test primarily focuses on alpha-tocopherol, an active vitamin E form. 

Doctors might recommend that people with malabsorption issues, premature babies, and those who take high doses of vitamin E supplements take the vitamin E or tocopherol test. 

If your test results indicate a vitamin E deficiency, add vitamin E supplements or foods rich in vitamin E. 

Symptoms of Vitamin E Deficiency

1. Unsteady walking
2. Muscle weakness
3. Loss of position sense 
4. Neuropathy or nerve pain 
5. Abnormal eye movement 
6. Loss of muscle mass
7. Vision problems 
8. Slow reflexes 
9. Loss of coordination 

Get an affordable vitamin E blood test from Redcliffe Labs. The test checks for vitamin E levels and diagnoses the risk of cystic fibrosis and celiac disease. 

Vitamin B2 Test

Vitamin B2 is an essential part of the vitamin B group. It helps convert food into glucose and produces energy. A B2 deficiency may lead to health complications. 

Doctors can recommend the vitamin B2 test as a part of regular screening tests to determine nutritious deficiencies and nutritional status. Also, the test can detect deficient diseases like pellagra. 

Symptoms of Vitamin B2 deficiency 

1. Cracks and sores in the corners of the mouth
2. Swollen and magenta-colored tongue 
3. Blurry vision 
4. Eye fatigue 
5. Weakness 
6. Digestive problems 
7. Slowed growth 
8. Red, scaly, and greasy areas on the ear, scrotum, eyelids, and nasolabial folds 
9. Swollen and dry lips 

Take the vitamin B2 test from Redcliffe Labs, check your vitamin B2 levels, and avoid serious health issues. 

Key Takeaways 

Vitamins are essential for healthy overall growth, and vitamin deficiency may lead to severe health complications. Monitoring your signs and adding vitamin tests to your routine tests is important. These tests provide insights into your health. 

Redcliffe Labs provides a Vitamin Profile that helps identify deficiencies that may contribute to health issues like chronic back pain. Take control of your health by taking the Vitamin Profile to create a tailored plan to improve overall health.