Vitamin B Complex Profile

"Take your vitamins” is something that we all have heard and still hear from our parents. Vitamins are essential for a healthy and active body. Inside our body, thousands ofdifferent types of functions are performed regularly. These bodily functions would not have been possible without the help of vitamins. There are 13 vitamins, which are essential for our body to function properly. They are vitamins A, C, E, D, K and vitamin B complex which include vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B12, B9. These vitamins are required in a tiny amount, but they are so vital that even if we do not get the right amount, no matter how small it is, it affects our health in a negative way. Vitamin B complex plays a vital role in maintaining good health. Any deficiency of this vitamin can trigger a number of health concerns. Vitamin B complex test checks the amount of vitamin B in our body.

Vitamin B complex test is conducted to find out the vitamin B levels in our body and detect if there is any deficiency. This test is prescribed when a person suffers from several symptoms, which indicate vitamin B complex deficiency. Vitamin B complex is not one, but a combination of eight B vitamins. They are vitamins B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B7 (biotin), B9 (folic acid), B12 (cobalamin).

Vitamin B complex is essential for our overall wellbeing because it is responsible for some of the most important bodily functions, such as maintaining cellular health, promoting the growth of red blood cells, promoting good eyesight, boosting energy levels, supporting cardiovascular health, promotes good digestion, etc. Deficiency of vitamin B complex can be characterized by fatigue, weakness, anaemia, skin rashes, swollen tongue, nausea, diarrhoea, depression, etc. Hence it is very important to check the levels of vitamin B complex in our body.

Vitamin B complex test is the best way to check the levels of each of the eight B vitamins and if the results show any deficiency, appropriate treatment can be started to take things under control. Vitamin B complex test requires collecting a blood sample. First, a small area of your arm or elbow will be cleaned with an antiseptic wipe. Then an elastic band might be wrapped around the top of your arm for increasing the blood flow. And finally, with the help of a needle, a blood sample will be collected from the vein. Then the blood sample will be taken to a laboratory for further studies regarding the levels of each of the eight B vitamins of the vitamin B complex.

Thyrocare Technologies Limited, India’s first and most advanced totally automated diagnostic laboratory has introduced a great package of vitamin B complex test. This test checks the levels of all the eight B vitamins, which fall under the vitamin B complex. The package is available at a very affordable cost.

Why get Tested for Vitamin B Complex Profile

Vitamin B complex is essential for our health and overall wellbeing. Since our body cannot produce enough amount of vitamin B complex, hence it is important to get the same from our diet and other health supplements. Vitamin B complex has a direct impact on our energy levels, cell metabolism and brain function. It is responsible for proper nerve function, growth of red blood cell, good digestion, production of hormones and cholesterol, maintaining a healthy heart, etc. It alsosupports our immune system.

Deficiency of vitamin B complex results in getting sick frequently, sores around the mouth, fatigue, depression, anxiety, red itchy rash, decreased alertness, blurry vision, pale skin, paresthesias (a feeling of numbness or a tingling sensation in hands and feet), peripheral neuropathy (a nervous system condition), etc. In fact, vitamin B complex deficiency can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. Hence it is important to measure vitamin B complex levels in our body through vitamin B complex test.

It has been found that chronic alcoholics often suffer from vitamin B deficiency. This vitamin B complex test is highly recommended for them to check the deficiency of B vitamins in their body so that the doctor can provide them with appropriate treatment options as well as suggest lifestyle changes to avoid health complications caused by lack of vitamin B complex.

Anaemia is mainly caused by iron (a mineral) deficiency. However, anaemia can also be a major sign that our body has a shortage of those vitamins, which are required to produce enough healthy red blood cells. Vitamin B complex plays a vital role in the production of healthy red blood cells. Vitamin B complex test is recommended if someone has been diagnosed with anaemia. Through this test, the doctor will be able to check the levels of each of the eight B vitamins and can detect if there is any deficiency, which iscausing vitamin deficiency anaemia.

Most of the nutrients from our food are absorbed in the small intestine. Sometimes, our body faces difficulty in absorbing nutrients from the food, if the small intestine is affected by any disease, such as celiac disease. Also if a large part of the small intestine has been surgically removed or bypassed, it can also affect the absorption power of the intestine. Certain medications can also negatively impact our intestine’s power to absorb nutrients from the food. Vitamin B complex test helps to find out the absorption capacity of the intestine, which might be causing vitamin B deficiency in our body. One of the main purposes of the vitamin B complex test is to check the levels of folate or vitamin B9 andvitamin B12, because the lack of these two vitamins is often responsible for vitamin B deficiency in our body.

When to get Tested for Vitamin B Complex Profile

One can opt for vitamin B complex test if they find any symptoms of potential vitamin B deficiency, such as skin rashes, fatigue, depression, blurry vision, pale skin etc. If someone has a family history of anaemia, they should also undergo vitamin B complex test to check the levels of each of eight B vitamins and take necessary steps if the report shows any deficiency, because as we already discussed certain vitamin deficiency can also cause anaemia.

If someone suffers from chronic alcoholism, then they must opt for vitamin B complex test, because chronic alcoholism increases the risk of vitamin B deficiency. If you are taking any medication that can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb or use vitamin B, then you must get yourself checked for the levels of vitamin B through vitamin B complex test.

Preparation for Vitamin B Complex Profile

Any special preparations is not required for a Thyroid blood test. Fasting is not essential for thyroid test.

B vitamins are essential for a healthy body and active life, it is important that the right levels of vitamin B are maintained. To know whether our body has enough B vitamins or not can be checked by undergoing a vitamin B complex test. If the result shows you are vitamin B deficient, the doctor can provide with proper treatment and suggest you bring necessary changes in your diet or lifestyle to prevent the health complications triggered by vitamin B deficiency.