Veggi — Vegetarian/Vegan Nutrition Panel

Targeted nutritional assessment for vegetarians and vegans covering the micronutrients most commonly deficient in plant-based diets: vitamin B12, iron/ferritin, vitamin D, zinc, selenium, folate, and calcium. Includes a complete blood count for anaemia classification.

The Veggi panel addresses the specific nutritional risks associated with vegetarian and vegan diets through targeted biomarker assessment. While well-planned plant-based diets can meet most nutritional requirements, several critical nutrients are either absent from plant foods or present in poorly bioavailable forms. Regular monitoring prevents the gradual development of deficiencies that may take months to years to become symptomatic. Vitamin B12 is the highest-priority marker for vegans and the primary motivation for this panel. B12 is found exclusively in animal products — strict vegans have a near-100% probability of developing deficiency within 2-5 years without supplementation, as hepatic B12 stores are eventually depleted. Neurological damage from B12 deficiency (peripheral neuropathy, cognitive decline, subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord) can be irreversible even after repletion, making early detection critical. Serum B12 below 200 pg/mL indicates likely deficiency; the 200-300 pg/mL grey zone warrants functional testing with methylmalonic acid. Iron status is assessed through ferritin, which reflects total body iron stores. Plant-based (non-heme) iron has 5-12% bioavailability compared to 15-35% for heme iron from meat. While total dietary iron intake in vegetarians is often adequate, absorption is lower and more susceptible to inhibition by phytates, polyphenols, and calcium. Ferritin below 30 ng/mL indicates depleted stores even before anaemia develops. Zinc and selenium are trace elements with reduced bioavailability from plant sources. Zinc is essential for immune function, wound healing, and taste perception — phytates in whole grains and legumes chelate zinc and reduce absorption by up to 50%. Selenium intake varies dramatically by geography due to soil selenium content, and plant-based diets may not provide adequate amounts in selenium-poor regions of Central Europe. Vitamin D assessment is relevant for all populations at northern latitudes but particularly for vegans, as the few dietary sources (fatty fish, egg yolks, fortified dairy) are excluded. Plant-based vitamin D3 supplements from lichen are available but not universally used. Folate is typically adequate in well-planned plant-based diets due to high vegetable and legume intake, but is included to complete the B-vitamin picture and to distinguish B12 deficiency (low B12, normal folate) from combined deficiency. The complete blood count screens for anaemia and enables classification: microcytic (iron deficiency), macrocytic (B12/folate deficiency), or mixed pattern.