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.
What would genuinely help is knowing which deficiencies actually show up when intake drops this far, and which are worth testing rather than supplementing blind.
If the honest answer is that nobody knows, that is a useful answer and I would rather have it.
MikeFit_NJ 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 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.
Dr.SurgeonPGH said:Vitamin D levels and micronutrients: an often-overlooked connection.
Blood count monitoring for micronutrients: my doctor noticed my MCV (mean corpuscular volume) trending up at month 6: 88 → 96 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.
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View ResultsMikeFit_NJ 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.
Same pattern here, and in the same order. The detail I would add is minor and it is already implied above.
Clinical perspective, offered as context rather than as advice.
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 67 to 24. Supplementing.
- Vitamin D: Was already low (18 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!