investigation

Last reviewed 01/2018

Vitamin status can be assessed in several ways:

  • plasma concentration of:
    • vitamin
    • vitamin's metabolite
  • urinary concentration of:
    • vitamin
    • vitamin's metabolite
  • cellular concentration of vitamin e.g. erythrocyte folate levels
  • in vitro activity of compound that requires vitamin for its activity e.g. trans-ketolase for thiamine

Practically, rather than determine the concentration or activity of a given vitamin, it is often easier to provide supplements and determine if there is a clinical response.