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Our bodies require a number of vitamins and minerals to properly function, and most of these are provided through maintaining a varied and balanced diet that’s rich in nutrients.
Besides vitamin D, we can’t naturally produce vitamins and minerals, so it’s essential we get them from our diet. Becoming deficient in vitamins or minerals can have a wide range of side effects, with Healthline listing fatigue, hair loss, vision problems and even restless leg syndrome as just a few of the unassuming symptoms you might experience.
While I haven’t experienced any of these myself, I decided to test my vitamin levels using an at-home testing kit provided by MyHealthChecked, especially as our diets can vary with the change in season.
How I got tested for vitamin deficiencies
The UK-based lab provides a range of DNA, blood and rapid tests that can help you make informed decisions to feel better and identify your risk of developing more serious health conditions.
I took the Vitamins & Minerals DNA Test, and while it doesn’t act as an official diagnosis, it provides an insight into any genes you carry that might make it difficult for your body to absorb essential vitamins and minerals, and I was surprised to see one result.
The test was also incredibly easy to do, and just requires taking a swab from the inside of your mouth, but it’s essential to return samples on the same day that you do the test, and they can be dropped off at any Royal Mail post box between Monday to Thursday.
The test results
Thanks to the climate, most of the UK population are vitamin D deficient, with the NHS advising everyone to take a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D during the autumn and winter.
So I wasn’t shocked to see that I was at a high risk of being deficient in vitamin D, but I was surprised to see my genetic profile showed a medium risk of developing a folate deficiency. Also known as vitamin B9, folate helps with cell growth, and keeps our brain and nervous system healthy.
It also is essential in producing healthy red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body, which is why a deficiency can lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.
However, the NHS website states that it’s more common for older people over the age of 65 to develop a deficiency, which is why I was so surprised to see this result, given I’m a long way off this.
Folate deficiency can cause a number of symptoms, including extreme tiredness, lack of energy, pins and needles and muscle weakness, and while the test simply shows what you might be predisposed to simply based on your genes, this could prove invaluable.
The next steps
Knowing what to look out for based on my results, MyHealthChecked also provides an in-depth report that advises you on how to get more vitamins and minerals into your diet.
As I’m at a medium risk of developing a folate deficiency, I’m definitely going to be making more of an effort to add more lentils, asparagus and edamame to my meals.
However, it’s not guaranteed that having a genetic predisposition means you will develop a health condition, so you should still seek professional medical advice if you notice any symptoms.
MyHealthChecked is currently stocked at Boots and the Vitamins & Minerals DNA Test is available for £54.
