Nährstoffcheck: what are common causes?

A nutrient check (e.g., blood test for vitamins and minerals) can identify potential deficiencies. Common causes include: poor diet (low intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains), restrictive diets (vegan/vegetarian without supplementation → B12, iron, zinc, iodine), malabsorption due to gut diseases (celiac, Crohn's), medications (PPIs → B12/magnesium; metformin → B12), increased needs (pregnancy, intense exercise, stress), and genetic variants (e.g., MTHFR for folate, VDR for vitamin D). Age, alcohol use, and kidney/liver disease also contribute. Caveat: single blood values are snapshots; they can be affected by time of day, recent meals, and supplements. MyBody-X tests are screening tools, not medical diagnoses. If results are abnormal, a doctor should investigate underlying causes (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease, renal insufficiency). Evidence for broad nutrient screening in healthy individuals is limited – targeted testing based on symptoms or risk factors is often more appropriate. Marketing claims often overstate the predictive power of such panels.