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| We talk a lot about eating a nutrient-rich diet in this newsletter. But how do you know if you’re getting enough of all the nutrients you need? Is there some kind of test that can answer this question? |
| Today, Kirsten Seele, a registered dietitian at Healthline, is here to answer that and more. |
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Hope this helps!
Ginger Wojcik
Newsletter Editor, Healthline |
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Written by Ginger Wojcik
August 28, 2025 • 3.5 min read |
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| Q: |
What blood tests are recommended for finding out if you’re nutritionally deficient? |
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| A: |
If you’re relatively healthy and eating a balanced diet, you probably don’t need to worry too much about nutrient deficiencies. If you’re experiencing symptoms — fatigue, rashes, hair and nail changes, muscle weakness, mood changes — I recommend talking with your doctor or a registered dietitian to determine specific tests that you may benefit from.
The challenging part about nutrient deficiencies is that blood tests cannot test for all of them. Hair, urine, or physical signs and symptoms might sometimes be better indicators.
If a nutrient level is either high or low on a blood test, it may not be due to nutrient intake. Certain medications, diarrhea, or diseases like liver disease or hypothyroidism can cause low sodium levels, for example.
Some populations are especially at risk for nutrient deficiencies, including children, older adults, and those:
- following a vegan diet
- who had bariatric surgery
- with fat malabsorption disorders or other GI issues
- with alcohol abuse disorders
- who are pregnant or nursing
I do not recommend using at-home nutrient tests. First, if you are collecting your own blood (or urine), human error can affect the results. Second, many of the at-home nutrient tests are not FDA-approved, so I always recommend researching the website thoroughly before purchasing. If a nutrient testing company also sells supplements, this should be a big red flag.
If you are concerned about your nutritional health, I recommend working closely with a registered dietitian and your primary care doctor. They can discuss any symptoms you have, your risk factors, your medications, your current health status, and more to determine specific tests that you may benefit from. They can explain results and come up with a clear treatment plan that works best for you.
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| Kirsten Seele, Registered Dietitian
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| Want to learn more about food, diets, cooking, or some other nutrition subject? Let us know at nutritionedition@healthline.com and we'll look into it for you! (Heads up, we may use your response in an upcoming newsletter.)
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| What we’re digesting |
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