Naehrstoffmangel-Check -- Nutrient Deficiency Panel

Comprehensive micronutrient panel measuring 11 markers including ferritin, vitamin D3, vitamin B12, folic acid, selenium, zinc, iodine, copper, vitamin B2, calcium, and a small blood count. Identifies the most clinically relevant nutritional deficiencies in a single draw. At approximately EUR 225 under GOAe 1.0x rates -- reflects the higher cost of trace element assays (iodine, selenium, B2).

The Naehrstoffmangel-Check is the most comprehensive micronutrient screening panel offered at Mein Direktlabor, targeting the nutritional deficiencies with the greatest clinical impact in the Central European population. The panel covers three tiers of testing: common deficiencies (iron, vitamin D, B12, folic acid), trace elements (selenium, zinc, iodine, copper), and the less commonly tested vitamin B2 (riboflavin). Ferritin is the most reliable marker of iron stores. Deficiency is the most prevalent nutritional disorder worldwide, affecting 10-20% of European women of reproductive age. Symptoms include fatigue, hair loss, impaired cognitive function, and reduced exercise tolerance -- often appearing well before anaemia develops. Vitamin D3 25-OH assesses total vitamin D status. At Hamburg's latitude, deficiency affects 60-80% of adults in winter. Vitamin B12 screens for a deficiency that causes megaloblastic anaemia and irreversible neurological damage. Folic acid (vitamin B9) is essential for DNA synthesis and is critically important in pregnancy for neural tube defect prevention. Deficiency causes macrocytic anaemia similar to B12 deficiency. The trace element panel provides data rarely obtained through routine testing. Selenium is essential for thyroid hormone conversion (the deiodinase enzymes are selenoproteins), antioxidant defence (glutathione peroxidase), and immune function. Northern European soils are generally selenium-poor, and population intakes are often below the recommended 55 micrograms daily. Zinc participates in over 200 enzymatic reactions and is critical for immune function, wound healing, and taste perception. Iodine is required for thyroid hormone synthesis -- Germany was historically iodine-deficient, and despite iodised salt programmes, mild deficiency persists in some population subgroups. Copper is essential for iron metabolism, connective tissue formation, and neurological function. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is a cofactor in energy metabolism and the recycling of glutathione. Deficiency causes angular cheilitis, glossitis, and dermatitis. It is rarely tested in routine practice, making this panel particularly valuable for patients with non-specific mucocutaneous symptoms. The small blood count provides baseline haematological data. The total cost of approximately EUR 225 reflects the high GOAe fees for trace element assays, which require specialised analytical methods (ICP-MS for selenium, iodine, zinc, copper).