Micronutrients, as opposed to macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates and fat), are comprised of vitamins and minerals which are required in small quantities to ensure normal metabolism, growth and physical well‐being.
These are essential organic nutrients, most of which are not made in the body, or only in insufficient amounts, and usually must be obtained through food. When dietary intake of a vitamin is inadequate, deficiency disorders result. Although vitamins are only present and required in minute quantities, compared to the macronutrients, they are just as vital to health and need to be considered in the context of nutrition quality.
Minerals
These are inorganic nutrients that also play a key role in ensuring health and well‐ being. They include the trace elements copper, iodine, iron, manganese, selenium, and zinc together with the macro elements calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium. As with vitamins, minerals are found in small quantities within the body and they are obtained from a wide variety of foods.
No single food contains all of the vitamins and minerals we need and, therefore, a balanced and varied diet is necessary for an adequate intake of all micronutrients.
EXTRACELLULAR MICRONUTRIENTS
Micronutrients that are free floating in your blood and exist outside the cells, determined in serum are called extracellular micronutrients.
These extracellular micronutrients are a static measure of what is in your blood at any given time. These are dependent on your short-term intake of supplements or diet and give a direct assessment of your baseline micronutrient levels.
Extracellular nutrient tests reflect a person’s diet over a relatively narrow time frame.
INTRACELLULAR MICRONUTRIENTS
Intracellular micronutrients are the micronutrients absorbed by your circulating white blood cells and red blood cells.
Cellular micronutrient absorption is an important step in maintaining and promoting optimal functioning of all our cells.
It is important to understand that, even though you may be consuming an adequate or healthy diet or supplements, your cellular intake levels of those nutrients may not be sufficient and may still provide risks for deficiencies and the disorders associated with them.
Your genetics, aging, lifestyle, chronic illness, and medications all affect your cellular nutrient absorption. The intracellular portion of Vibrant’s micronutrient test takes all the above factors into consideration to identify your cellular nutrient absorption status. This test can reveal a person’s functional nutritional status over a much longer time (4-6 months) than extracellular testing.
Role of Micronutrients
Almost every physiological function in your body requires micronutrients to function optimally. Vitamin, minerals and anti-oxidants play a key role in:
Producing and releasing energy.
Strengthening the immune system.
Reducing systemic inflammation.
Protecting against free radical damage.
Maintaining a healthy hormonal balance (i.e. thyroid, sex hormones, adrenal hormones, neurotransmitters/brain hormones, etc.).
Maintaining insulin sensitivity.
Slowing down cellular aging.
Promoting the health of all tissues: skin, bone, brain, breast, gut, prostate, heart, muscle, organs, etc.
Protecting against the development, progression, and recurrence of cancer.
The benefits of extracellular testing include:
Identifying baseline nutritional deficiencies.
Detecting higher than normal levels of vitamins and minerals in your blood.
Identifying excesses of nutrients caused by uncontrolled supplementation, to prevent the increased risk of certain chronic diseases or nutrient toxicity side effects.
Avoiding unnecessary spending on costly supplements.
Providing a short-term nutritional status of the last few days.
Extracellular micronutrients have been well studied and deficiencies have correlated to multiple chronic diseases including cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Testing extracellular micronutrients also play a role in patient management for such chronic diseases.
Identifying essential micronutrient absorption deficiencies which cause or increase the risk of chronic diseases.
Providing a long-term nutritional status of the previous 4-6 months.
Intracellular micronutrients have been studied scientifically and have long been considered a more sensitive tissue measure of micronutrient absorption. For example, vitamin C levels in lymphocytes have been found to be deficient in Type 2 diabetes patients as compared to plasma levels. RBC folate and magnesium are clinically more significant than whole blood measures of these nutrients. RBC omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid levels have been found to be markers of accelerated structural and cognitive aging.
Knowing both your extracellular and intracellular micronutrient levels are key to a thorough understanding of your nutritional requirements at a foundational level, which may contribute to your risk for disease, while simultaneously and positively impacting your overall health and well-being.
Chronic diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and/or arthritis.
Skin problems.
Numbness/tingling in your hands or feet.
Weakened Immune system.
Digestive issues/disorders like celiac, wheat sensitivity, IBS, IBD, and SIBO.
B. Are experiencing
Advanced aging.
Stress, feeling tired, or chronic fatigue.
Depression.
C. Have a history of
Long-term use of prescription medications.
Poor diet.
Obesity.
D. Are Someone who is a
Athletic competitor/exercise regularly.
Vegan or Vegetarian.
About Test
About Micronutrients Test
Key Details
Sample collection must be performed by a phlebotomist any day Monday-Friday.
More information on scheduling a blood draw can be found HERE.
You may need to pay an additional fee for phlebotomy.
Review your kit - When you receive the test kit in the mail, review its contents, and read through the information provided with the kit.
Place frozen ice packs (if included with the kit) in the freezer for at least 24 hours prior to your appointment.
Scheduling your blood draw any day Monday-Friday.
Search for a "mobile phlebotomist" who will come to your home, or:
Locate a blood draw site HERE. Please note: Quest and LabCorp only draw for their own tests, not for Vibrant America tests.
If you are in a rural location, consider asking your doctor's office to draw for the kit, or, call your local hospital and ask if they offer this service.
You may need to pay an additional fee for phlebotomy.
Your test kit may come with more tubes than needed. Please have the phlebotomist check the collection instructions and your test requisition form to determine the correct tubes to draw. Your phlebotomist will know what to do with the tubes and instructions provided.
After the blood draw is collected, you are all done! Your phlebotomist will process, package and ship your completed kit for you.
What to bring to your appointment:
Frozen ice packs
Full test kit with all contents and forms
Fasting is required. Please schedule blood draw first thing in the morning, and do not eat after 10PM the previous night.
Verify the kit contents, which typically includes:
Requisition form: lab orders needed for the phlebotomist to draw your samples. Confirm your information is correct on this form.
Since your kit has been prepaid, you do not need to fill in the payment information on any of these forms.
Tubes: these are specific to the samples the test requires and some may have extra reagents in the tubes (this is not condensation!)
Ice pack: if present, place in the freezer (you must bring these to the phlebotomy appointment)
Shipping materials: a biohazard bag for your samples & return shipping label
For return shipment tracking, take a picture of the shipping label if you'd like to track status of the kit; most labs can't provide this information once the kit is shipped
Draw instructions: for the phlebotomist to confirm the test specific instructions.
Preparation & Timing
Sample collection must be performed Monday-Friday only by a phlebotomist.
More information on scheduling a blood draw can be found HERE.
You can find a Vibrant America-partnered blood draw locationHERE.
If you are currently taking (or have recently taken) any of the following medications, consult your healthcare provider regarding the timing of collection.
Steroids
Immunosuppressive medications
Biologic agents
Other immunomodulating medications
Hydrate the day prior to the test.
Freeze the provided ice packs for at least 24 hours prior to your blood draw.
Requisition & Payment
Your kit has been prepaid. You may need to pay an additional fee for phlebotomy.
Instructions on how to fill out your requisition can be found HERE.
Since you pre-paid for your tests, you do not need to fill in the payment information on any of these forms.
The Vibrant Experience
Vibrant America is a leading science and technology company delivering life-transforming laboratory services using an integrated microarray platform that enables multiplex testing at an affordable cost.
Vibrant’s relationship with its patients and providers is special. We go out of our way to provide the value and resources our providers need to accurately interpret test results and give patients the most accurate health information.
The Most Accurate In the Industry
All tests run on Vibrant’s proprietary 3Dense microchip technology platform boast an unrivaled specificity and sensitivity – which translates to the highest standard of accuracy of results in the lab industry.
Our Lab Technology
Vibrant America is at the forefront of modern medicine. Our technology was developed out of passion for better medicine, and we believe that automation is the key to high-quality and accurate test results. Multiplexing tests on a single sample enable a fast turnaround time.
Our Mission
Dedicated to bring clinically relevant test at a rapid pace to enable affordable high-quality diagnostics to every individual.
High-quality lab service
Fully automated systems
Low cost
Fast Turn Around Time
Quality and Security
All of our laboratory testings is done in a CLIA and CAP-certified laboratory in California.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
*Regulatory Statement*
Vibrant testing does not demonstrate absolute positive and negative predictive values for any disease state or condition. Its clinical utility has not been fully established. Vibrant validates the accuracy and precision of the testing but not of its clinical or diagnostic value. So these tests are for wellness and informational purpose only. Vibrant is actively doing clinical research on these samples, de-identified from patients under an IRB and will make research publications towards the same as and when the clinical utility is well established. These tests have been laboratory developed and their performance characteristics determined by Vibrant America LLC, a CLIA-certified laboratory performing the test CLIA#:05D2078809. The test has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Although FDA does not currently clear or approve laboratory-developed tests in the U.S., certification of the laboratory is required under CLIA to ensure the quality and validity of the tests. The general wellness test intended uses relate to sustaining or offering general improvement to functions associated with a general state of health while making reference to diseases or conditions. Content provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Content provided to help you make a healthy lifestyle, dietary, and treatment choices in consultation with your healthcare provider. It is intended to be used as a tool to encourage a general state of health and well-being. Please consult with your healthcare practitioner for diagnosis and treatment considerations. The Vibrant Wellness platform provides tools for you to track and analyze your general wellness profile.
