I started taking a multivitamin as insurance and then found out that two of the things I was actually short of were the two it barely contains.
Cheap and worth having: ferritin, B12, vitamin D. Everything else on the deficiency list is adequately covered by a standard multivitamin at ordinary doses.
What I actually want to know is which deficiencies actually show up when intake drops this far, and which are worth testing rather than supplementing blind.
Numbers rather than impressions, if you have them.
ZaraB_AL said:I started taking a multivitamin as insurance and then found out that two of the things I was actually short of were the two it barely contains.
Vitamin and mineral labs to check while on micronutrients — my doctor orders these quarterly:
- B12: Can drop due to reduced GI absorption. Mine went from 650 to 380 — now supplementing.
- Iron/Ferritin: Reduced food intake = reduced iron. Ferritin dropped from 58 to 25. Supplementing.
- Vitamin D: Was already low (25 ng/mL), now taking 5000 IU daily.
- Folate: Stable, no issues.
- Zinc: Slightly low, added a multivitamin with zinc.
Nutritional deficiencies are a real risk when you're eating significantly less. Don't skip your labs!
JennaRN said:Vitamin and mineral labs to check while on micronutrients — my doctor orders these quarterly: B12: Can drop due to reduced GI absorption.
Iron studies on micronutrients — important especially for women:
| Marker | Baseline | Month 6 | After Supplementation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferritin | 59 | 27 | 49 |
| Iron | 89 | 54 | 87 |
| TIBC | 329 | 399 | 339 |
| Transferrin Sat | 29% | 19% | 26% |
My ferritin cratered at month 6 from reduced dietary intake. Iron bisglycinate 36mg with vitamin C brought it back up. Don't wait for anemia symptoms — test proactively.
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View ResultsZaraB_AL said:I started taking a multivitamin as insurance and then found out that two of the things I was actually short of were the two it barely contains.
Adding a me-too, because a thread of one person's experience is not much use. I had assumed I was the exception until I read this.
Adding the clinical framing, because it changes how the question reads.
Vitamin D levels and micronutrients: an often-overlooked connection. Obese individuals store vitamin D in adipose tissue, making it less bioavailable. As you lose fat, vitamin D can actually increase WITHOUT supplementation.
My trajectory: Baseline 18 ng/mL → Month 6 (with supplement) 42 ng/mL → Month 12 48 ng/mL. Target is 40-60 ng/mL. Adequate vitamin D supports immune function, bone health, and mood — all relevant during weight loss.