When hormone imbalance symptoms and micronutrient deficiency symptoms MEET… Ask your doctor to run a micronutrient deficiency panel so you can test-not-guess the root cause of your symptoms. What’s a micronutrient deficiency panel? Basically, a test that measures the levels of essential vitamins and minerals in your body.
This panel includes tests for various micronutrients such as vitamins (like vitamin D and vitamin B12) and minerals (like iron, zinc, and magnesium). The results from this panel can help your healthcare provider identify any deficiencies or imbalances. Then, you can determine the best plan of action to take moving forward (maybe you need to supplement?). Below is a quick hit-list of common micronutrient deficiencies. All supplements are currently available from my dispensary button in my StanStore.
A Common Micronutrient Deficiency – B-9 & B-12
This one is personal! I spent YEARS bouncing between doctors – everyone said “You’re fine.” And then I started working with a functional medicine practitioner. After getting diagnosed with Adrenal Dysfunction and Excess Estrogen my doctor made specific lifestyle and dietary modifications (along with the glorious supplementation of DIM, TMG NAC, Methyl-B12 & Reishi) and I slowly regained my health.
B9 and B12 popular micronutrient deficiencies. They can occur due to factors like:
- Inadequate dietary intake of folate-rich foods (common in vegans and vegetarians)
- Malabsorption issues (such as pernicious anemia or gastrointestinal surgeries)
- Certain medications that interfere with B12 absorption
- Conditions affecting the stomach or intestines
- Pregnancy-related increased folate demands
- Certain medications like anticonvulsants that deplete folate levels
If this is you, supplement with Seeking Health Methyl B12 with L-methylfolate, Active B12, or L-methylfolate.
Iron
Iron is also a popular micronutrient deficiency. This can occur for a lot of reasons, too including:
- Inadequate dietary intake of iron-rich foods like red meat, poultry, fish, and leafy green vegetables
- Conditions that affect iron absorption like celiac disease or gastrointestinal surgeries
- Increased iron requirements during pregnancy or growth periods
- Chronic blood loss from conditions like ulcers or heavy menstrual bleeding
- Certain chronic illnesses that interfere with iron metabolism
If this is you, try to supplement with Thorne Iron Bisglycinate. All in all, genetically, my body vibes really well with a diet that includes animal protein like grassfed beef, but I completely understand the cultural predicament this presents for people who follow a vegan diet for philosophical reasons. Heme-iron from beef and organ meat is highly absorbable and helps us fight fatigue by building new red blood cells (critical during our menstrual cycle, gals).
Magnesium
Women over 30 are (likely) not meeting their daily requirement for Magnesium and Vitamin D no matter what they eat or how much time is spent outdoors. Consistent supplementation with Mag and D are game changers for so many women over thirty who are struggling to balance their hormones. This is because magnesium is a co-factor for the production of hormones and Vitamin D is a hormone in and of itself. Ortho Molecular Reacted Mag + Seeking Health D3K2 are the ones that I personally take and recommend to my patients.
Vit-D
More on Vitamin D. It is actually a hormone the kidneys produce that controls blood calcium concentration and impacts the immune system. Vit D is also known as calcitriol, ergocalciferol, calcidiol and cholecalciferol. Vitamin D is also mostly produced in the skin in response to sunlight. It is also absorbed from the food you eat.
Truthfully, in a sunny state like Louisiana my patient’s diagnosis of Vitamin D deficiency baffled her since she spends a majority of her time outdoors. Underlying gastrointestinal (hello, leaky-gut!) and liver dysfunction greatly impact Vitamin D’s upregulation, integration and assimilation making it VERY POSSIBLE to be Vitamin D deficient while residing in a sunny state. Adequate Vitamin D slows the activity of the H-P-A axis, thereby reducing cortisol and decreasing your stress response. I’m huge proponent of getting OUTSIDE but I’m also realistic and check my own Vit-D levels when the seasons change to ensure I’m getting enough. I have to continually support my adrenal glands to keep my own stress response in check.
Zinc
Zinc is required for the conversion of Thyroid Hormone T4 to T3. Zinc acts as an adaptogen by assisting the adrenals in managing excess Cortisol. Zinc assists in maintaining balance between estrogen and progesterone. You can supplement with either a high quality multivitamin that has around 10mg of Zinc in it or get more Zinc-rich foods like: meat, shellfish, chickpeas, pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds.
Also, thanks to a 2021 study we now know you can boost testosterone levels (and sexual function! holla!) with zinc supplementation. Have your doctor test your serum zinc and go from there! I’ve had patients supplement from 50 – 200mg depending on their needs. Everyone is different. Try Ortho Molecular Reacted Zinc.
Don’t forget to explore more of my blog posts and reach out if you have any questions.
The information provided in this blog post is for informational purposes only. The information is a result of years of practice and experience by Dr. Francesca LeBlanc. However, this information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician. Do not use the information provided in this post for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing medication or other treatment. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. Please, do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read on this website.
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