Vitamin deficiency test on a plant-based diet

Eating fewer or no animal products brings plenty of good things. At the same time, some nutrients, such as vitamin B12, are naturally found mostly in animal products, and your body often absorbs iron from plant sources a little less easily.

A vitamin deficiency blood test can show how these values are doing for you. Not to question your way of eating, but to help you keep it up with confidence.

This test can be interesting if you eat vegetarian, vegan or largely plant-based. For example if you recently made the switch and are curious how your body is responding, or if you have been eating this way for years and would like a check-in.

If you menstruate, your iron stores may deserve extra attention, especially in combination with a plant-based diet. And if you notice complaints such as tiredness, this panel can give you a factual starting point for a conversation with your GP.

This panel measures six values in your blood:

• Ferritin: reflects your iron stores. A low value can fit with a supply that has slowly become smaller.
• Magnesium: a mineral involved in, among other things, your muscles, nerves and energy metabolism.
• Vitamin B12: naturally found mostly in animal products, playing a role in your nervous system and the production of red blood cells.
• Vitamin D (25-OH): plays a role in your bones, among other things, is partly made through sunlight and is found in only a few plant-based foods.
• Complete Blood Count (CBC): looks at your red and white blood cells and your hemoglobin, which can add context to a lower iron or B12 value, for example.
• Zinc: a trace element that plays a role in your immune system, skin and hair, among other things. It is included in this panel, so you do not need to arrange a separate zinc test.

Your results show for each value whether it falls within the reference range. This can give insight into your iron stores, your vitamin B12 and vitamin D status, and your zinc and magnesium levels.

Good to know: a single measurement is a snapshot, not a diagnosis. A value outside the range does not automatically mean something is wrong, but it can be a reason to look into it further together with your GP.

This test requires a small blood draw at a certified lab. You can choose from 700+ sample locations across the Netherlands, so there is almost always a location near you.

After ordering, you schedule a moment that suits you. The draw itself usually takes just a few minutes, and you do not need a referral from your GP.

A blood test for vegetarians and vegans can be valuable at different moments, for example:

• when you have recently switched to a (largely) plant-based diet and want to see how your values develop
• when you have been eating vegetarian or vegan for a long time and would like a check-in
• when you notice complaints such as tiredness, tingling or getting ill more often, which can sometimes be linked to a deficiency
• when you hope to become pregnant and are curious about your nutritional status

Each value comes with a reference range and a short explanation. What counts as usual can differ per laboratory.

A lower ferritin value can fit with smaller iron stores, for example, and a lower B12 is seen somewhat more often with a plant-based eating pattern. What a result means for you depends on your personal situation. The reviewing doctor helps you place your values in the right context.

Your results are usually available online within a few working days. Each value is shown clearly with its reference range and an understandable explanation, so you know what you are looking at.

If you want to talk further about your values afterwards, these results give you a concrete starting point. Every blood test result includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.