A reference post rather than a discussion. Corrections are the point; I would rather this be right than mine. It is about micronutrient cover, and it is deliberately narrow — everything I am not confident about is marked as such.
What is actually established
A sustained drop to 1,100 or 1,200 calories reliably under-delivers a predictable set: B12, vitamin D, iron, folate, zinc and magnesium. Two of those are worth testing rather than guessing because the tests are cheap and the symptoms overlap with everything else — ferritin and B12. The rest a decent multivitamin covers, and there is no benefit in megadosing any of them.
The condition it depends on
The caveat that iron should be tested before supplementing, not after. Supplementing iron into normal stores is unpleasant at best and harmful in haemochromatosis.
The practical version
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 am not sure about
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. Not looking for reassurance. Looking for the part I have got wrong.
kim_atl_prep said:A sustained drop to 1,100 or 1,200 calories reliably under-delivers a predictable set: B12, vitamin D, iron, folate, zinc and magnesium.
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.
kim_atl_prep said:A sustained drop to 1,100 or 1,200 calories reliably under-delivers a predictable set: B12, vitamin D, iron, folate, zinc and magnesium.
Iron studies on micronutrients — important especially for women:
| Marker | Baseline | Month 6 | After Supplementation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferritin | 62 | 25 | 57 |
| Iron | 92 | 62 | 95 |
| TIBC | 337 | 407 | 347 |
| Transferrin Sat | 29% | 17% | 28% |
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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Shop Reference StandardsDr.RenalNash said:Iron studies on micronutrients — important especially for women: Marker Baseline Month 6 After Supplementation Ferritin 62 25 57 Iron 92 62 95 TIBC…
Blood count monitoring for micronutrients: my doctor noticed my MCV (mean corpuscular volume) trending up at month 6: 90 → 98 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.
SarahChen_PharmD said:Vitamin D levels and micronutrients: an often-overlooked connection.
Same experience, arrived at from the opposite direction.