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.
The question I want answered 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.
Dr.Martinez 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.
Blood count monitoring for micronutrients: my doctor noticed my MCV (mean corpuscular volume) trending up at month 6: 91 → 97 fL. This flagged potential B12 or folate deficiency.
Sure enough, B12 had dropped from 620 to 340 pg/mL. Started B12 injections monthly and MCV normalized within 2 months. GLP-1 agonists can impair B12 absorption — this is a real clinical concern that deserves routine monitoring.
LarryQC_SD said:Blood count monitoring for micronutrients: my doctor noticed my MCV (mean corpuscular volume) trending up at month 6: 91 → 97 fL.
Iron studies on micronutrients — important especially for women:
| Marker | Baseline | Month 6 | After Supplementation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferritin | 75 | 23 | 50 |
| Iron | 105 | 55 | 93 |
| TIBC | 315 | 385 | 345 |
| Transferrin Sat | 31% | 15% | 30% |
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 ResultsDr.Martinez 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. Nothing to add that would improve it.
Clinical perspective, offered as context rather than as advice.
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.