Vitamin & Micronutrient Check

A five-marker nutritional deficiency screen covering the vitamins and minerals most commonly deficient in Central European adults — Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, folate, ferritin, and magnesium. At PKBH Olomouc, Vitamin D and B12 are measured by immunochemistry on the DPC Immulite 2000XPi or Abbott Alinity ii, folate by chemiluminescence, and ferritin on the Mindray BS-800 M2 biochemistry line. Vitamin D was added to the PKBH test menu in May 2023 following patient demand. Walk-in access, no referral required.

Nutritional deficiencies are among the most under-recognised causes of fatigue, cognitive difficulty, mood disturbance, musculoskeletal pain, and immune vulnerability in adults. Unlike dietary questionnaires, blood-based quantification provides objective values that guide precise supplementation and track response over time. Five markers and their clinical significance: - **Vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D)** — the primary circulating form of vitamin D, measured to determine deficiency (< 50 nmol/L), insufficiency (50–75 nmol/L), or adequacy (> 75 nmol/L). Vitamin D regulates calcium absorption, immune T-cell differentiation, muscle function, and has been associated with reduced risk of respiratory infections, autoimmune conditions, and depression. At Central European latitudes, inadequate sun exposure from October to April means that > 50% of Czech adults have insufficient levels in winter. PKBH added this test in May 2023 at a self-pay price of 502 Kč (assay only) or 560 Kč all-inclusive (draw + separation included). Measured on the DPC Immulite 2000XPi. - **Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)** — essential for myelin synthesis (nerve insulation), red cell maturation, and one-carbon metabolism. Deficiency causes peripheral neuropathy, macrocytic anaemia, cognitive decline, and elevated homocysteine. High-risk groups include vegans, vegetarians, older adults, those on metformin or proton pump inhibitors, and individuals with autoimmune gastritis. Serum B12 is an initial screen; active B12 (holotranscobalamin) or methylmalonic acid may be needed to confirm functional deficiency. Measured on Abbott Alinity ii. - **Folate (folic acid)** — works in parallel with B12 in one-carbon metabolism. Deficiency causes macrocytic anaemia, elevated homocysteine, and neural tube defects in early pregnancy. Folate deficiency is common in populations with low vegetable intake, high alcohol use, or malabsorptive conditions. Measured by chemiluminescence at PKBH. - **Ferritin** — the storage form of iron and the most sensitive marker of iron depletion, falling well before haemoglobin drops (iron-deficiency anaemia). Low ferritin causes fatigue, brain fog, and exercise intolerance even in the absence of anaemia — particularly common in menstruating women, endurance athletes, and vegetarians. Very high ferritin can indicate chronic inflammation or haemochromatosis. Measured on the Mindray BS-800 M2 at 249 Kč. - **Magnesium** — a cofactor in over 300 enzymatic reactions, including ATP synthesis, muscle contraction, nerve conduction, and insulin signalling. Deficiency is associated with muscle cramps, poor sleep, anxiety, headaches, and cardiac arrhythmias. Serum magnesium is a blunt tool (intracellular levels may be low while serum is normal), but it detects overt deficiency and is available at just 23 Kč — making it a cost-effective screen worth including. All five tests draw from one venous EDTA or serum tube collected at a PKBH Olomouc site. Results are issued electronically and in print on the same day or the next morning. **Who benefits:** Adults with persistent fatigue not explained by thyroid or blood count findings; vegans and vegetarians; people with osteopenia or osteoporosis wanting to assess nutritional drivers; women with heavy periods or at reproductive age; endurance athletes; adults over 60; anyone who has not been tested for Vitamin D in over 12 months. **Preparation:** No fasting required. Walk in from 07:00 — no appointment or referral needed. Avoid biotin supplements for 12 hours before testing (high biotin interferes with some immunoassay platforms).