I asked my doctor for a b12 blood test a few months back after hearing that metformin depletes b1. He said no, and to ask him again at my annual checkup. I'm also going to ask for magnesium. Any other recommendations for nutrient-type tests? I'm 62 now and wondering how my absorption is.

I would ask for vitamin D. It was routine for a while but no longer (at least with my doc). It affects so many things.

He does Vitamin D now. I had my first check last year, surprise, I was low!

I did think of something else though...insulin. I'm diabetic.

Not nutrients per se, but lab this lists the panels recommended by three well known functional medicine doctors. You can then look up what is included in each of the "packages", decide if the tests might be useful for you. Maybe a full thyroid panel? (see Blood Code list). http://www.saveonlabs.com/default.asp

Thanks for the list Jey. My Dr gives me the lab requisition to take to the lab. I am always tempted to add a check mark here or there for tests I want to see. Now I have a list I can choose from.

In Canada, with the long winters, Vit D levels are uniformly low. One friend had a 0 reading.

Just FYI, magnesium pretty much acts an an electrolyte in the body, and the blood test is used for kidney function, etc. It doesn't really reflect dietary sufficiency or insufficiency.

Wow, Jey this is interesting because you get your blood drawn at a real lab. Much better than the place I found where you have to go to their location for draws. Last time I went there the girl was afraid to put the needle in far enough to inject B-12 and it just went under the skin and it's supposed to go into the muscle so it was pretty much wasted plus it made me feel strange that time. I can't even imagine her trying to draw my blood.
Good to know that we can go to the same place that the Dr. would send us.
I am bookmarking this one. Thanks for the info!

I found these lab packages after hearing an interview with the Blood Code doctor, but I personally use DirectLabs, https://www.directlabs.com which contracts with LabCorp for all blood draws and lab analysis. So I go to a regular LabCorp office near a local hospital, have the blood drawn by a true pro (same nurse for three years now, what an expert she is at getting blood out painlessly, not even a little bruise, on the first try!) and the results are in my on-line account by the end of the next day. Direct Labs also has "packages" and monthly specials (Jan is Thyroid). I had bookmarked that lab because it listed each test used by those three doctors, And e.g., compare their thyroid choices to DL's. DL is cheaper for me full pay than Duke Healthcare with my insurance. Faster results, can print my own copies, love the service. There are a number of these on-line, direct to consumer labs now across the U.S. only prohibited in four states. Compare prices and lab locations if you are looking for one of these services. Another big one contracts with Quest which may have more or less locations where needed.

I didn't know local labs would be willing to draw blood and send it to a lab of your choice. I thought they needed a doctors requisition or they would not draw blood. And that they were only interested in their own labs. Interesting!

A quick look at direct labs...Here's a list I may ask for. Whatever he doesn't ok, I might pay for myself.

C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
CALCIUM
HOMOCYST.
INSULIN
VIT D 25 HY
MAGNESIUM
POTASSIUM

Here's a list of tests used by Ancestral RD and why:
http://www.ancestralizeme.com/lab-t...order-yourself/

Thanks JEY!