Symptoms of Micronutrient Deficiency

Our bodies require small amounts of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids known as micronutrients to function properly. While they’re needed in tiny quantities, these mighty nutrients play a critical role in everything from immunity to mood. Unfortunately, micronutrient deficiencies can lead to serious health issues or simply leave you feeling tired and run-down. In this article, we’ll explore some common signs of micronutrient deficiency.

Annamarie Salyer FNP-C is a functional medicine specialist at BionwoRx offering micronutrients testing.

Micronutrient deficiencies often underlie low immunity. Several key micronutrients regulate the complex immune network that protects us from pathogens. For instance, vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant that helps the body combat infections. Furthermore, a vitamin C deficiency can cause scurvy, a disease marked by fatigue, weak gums, loose teeth, and poor wound healing.

Micronutrient deficiencies can worsen inflammation. For instance, these deficiencies can cause inflammatory processes to spiral out of control. When paired with other symptoms like brain fog, poor sleep, and mood swings, this may signal gut health issues such as leaky gut syndrome or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). The good news is that adequate antioxidants can help suppress inflammation.

Fatigue and low stamina are two of the most common symptoms of micronutrient deficiency. The body’s energy levels are directly related to its ability to absorb, transport, and use nutrients from food. To be clear, if you aren’t getting enough of these nutrients in your diet, it can lead to chronic fatigue and an inability to perform physical activity for extended periods of time.

This is why many people associate fatigue with a lack of sleep or too much stress. However, there are also physiological reasons behind this phenomenon:

• Micronutrients like iron help carry oxygen throughout your body.
• Zinc supports immune function.
• Vitamin C aids collagen production (which keeps skin healthy).
• Calcium helps build strong bones.

If any one of these processes goes awry due to a lack or imbalance in certain vitamins/minerals, then you’ll start feeling tired faster than usual during everyday activities such as walking up stairs or carrying groceries home from the store.

Mood disorders are a type of mental illness that can be caused by low levels of certain nutrients. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, deficiencies in B vitamins, magnesium and zinc are linked to depression. Low serotonin levels may also contribute to depression because this neurotransmitter helps regulate moods and feelings of happiness. Further, individuals with micronutrient deficiencies often have high levels of stress hormones like cortisol which can cause them to experience anxiety or feel overwhelmed by their environment. These people are also more likely than others who don’t have these conditions to have low dopamine or norepinephrine levels–two neurotransmitters involved in regulating emotions such as happiness and pleasure.

Micronutrient deficiencies compromise hormone synthesis. If you have the micronutrients you need, hormones are more likely to be balanced and functioning well. For example, a low vitamin D level in women may lead to lowered estrogen levels, which can cause depression, hot flashes, mood swings and more. Alternatively, in men, low levels of vitamin D are independently associated with low levels of testosterone in healthy middle-aged men. Markedly, many nutrients, including vitamin D, magnesium, and zinc, are important for maintaining optimal testosterone levels

Micronutrients regulate genetic expression. Some genes may dictate that you need more (or less) of a micronutrient to perform the same cellular functions as someone with a different gene. But the ultimate effect of genetically linked micronutrient deficiencies can be overcome with targeted supplementation.

Micronutrients testing is a comprehensive nutrient analysis. It measures functional deficiencies at the cellular level of a person’s nutritional status. The test is used to assess how efficiently the body utilizes 31 vitamins, minerals, amino/fatty acids, antioxidants and metabolites. A simple blood / lab draw, it measures vitamins, antioxidants, fatty acids, minerals, metabolites on a more specific level.

If you’re struggling with any of the symptoms mentioned above, it might be worth getting your micronutrient levels checked. It can help determine what kind of supplements might be right for you and whether there are any underlying health conditions that need attention. If you want to find out if you’re micronutrient deficient, we encourage you to schedule a consultation.