Fat-Soluble Vitamins Profile - Serum

Vitamins: A Snapshot of Overall Nutrition

The Fat-Soluble Vitamins Profile is a great tool to gain an overall perspective of a patient’s health, nutrient processing, and dietary insufficiencies. Serum levels of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, K plus beta-carotene and coenzyme Q10 are measured to evaluate total body status of these antioxidant nutrients.

What are the benefits of measuring all fat-soluble vitamins together?

Testing these nutrients together in one panel is important because nutrient functionality is dependent on the adequate supply of each nutrient. For bone health, taking vitamin D without adequate levels of vitamins A, E, and K may be detrimental since all are needed for proper bone calcification. Antioxidants, such as Vitamin E, CoQ10, and beta-carotene, help ensure proper oxidation-reduction chain reactions.

Vitamins measured include:

• Vitamin A specific maintenance roles have been reported for vision, bone growth, skin and mucosal integrity, spermatogenesis, as well as protection against cataracts, atherosclerosis, macular degeneration and cancer.
• Vitamin D, "the sunshine vitamin", is necessary for maintaining blood levels of calcium and phosphorus for healthy teeth and bones. Vitamin D also plays a vital role in immune functions and is essential for reducing cancer risk and health maintenance.
• Vitamin E is an important free radical scavenger and protective antioxidant for membrane tissues, helping to stop damage to healthy cells. Both gamma and alpha tocopherol are reported to better assess oxidative stress and inflammation.
• Vitamin K is important in the deposition of ionic calcium needed for proper blood coagulation and bone formation. Research finds Vitamin K to be a potential protector against osteoporosis, atherosclerosis, and possibly cancer.
• Beta-carotene serves as an important antioxidant in keeping cells healthy, and also serving as a pool that is converted to vitamin A when needed. Beta-carotene also helps to identify a healthy diet.
• Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) allows food energy to be converted into cellular energy. Organs with the highest need for energy, such as the heart, lungs, and liver, require high levels of CoQ10. CoQ10 also protects cells from free radicals, helps with proper mitochondrial function, and is associated with cardiovascular health.

The Fat-Soluble Vitamins Profile tests for levels of:

Test name:	0036 - Fat-Soluble Vitamins Profile - Serum
Description:	Measuring serum levels of the fat-soluble vitamins A, E, D, and K plus beta-carotene and CoQ10 gives clinicians a great tool to gain an overall perspective of a patient's health, nutrient processing, and dietary insufficiencies.
Method:	UPLC; EIA; Chemiluminescence
Turnaround time:	10-14 days
Analytes:	Alpha tocopherol Gamma tocopherol* Beta-carotene Retinol 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Undercarboxylated osteocalcin* *Not reported in New York

84590 - Vitamin A 84446 - Alpha Tocopherol 82491 - Gamma Tocopherol* 82380 - Beta-carotene 82491 - HPLC, NES: Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone) 83937 - Osteocalcin* 82306 - Vitamin D *Not reported in New York

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	References Fat-Soluble Vitamins
	Higher baseline serum concentrations of vitamin E are associated with lower total and cause-specific mortality in the Alpha-Tocopherol. Wright ME, Lawson KA, Weinstein SJ, Pietinen P, Taylor PR, Virtamo J, Albanes D. Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006 Nov;84(5):959-60.  Serum vitamin A concentrations in asthmatic children in Japan. Mizuno Y, Furusho T, Yoshida A, Nakamura H, Matsuura T, Eto Y. Pediatr Int. 2006 Jun;48(3):261-4. Supplementation with vitamins C and E improves arterial stiffness and endothelial function in essential hypertensive patients. Plantinga Y, Ghiadoni L, Magagna A, Giannarelli C, Franzoni F, Taddei S, Salvetti A. Am J Hypertens. 2007 Apr;20(4):392-7. Associations between body mass index and the prevalence of low micronutrient levels among US adults. Kimmons JE, Blanck HM, Tohill BC, Zhang J, Khan LK. MedGenMed. 2006 Dec 19;8(4):59. Vitamin and trace mineral levels after laparoscopic gastric bypass. Madan AK, Orth WS, Tichansky DS, Ternovits CA. Obes Surg. 2006 May;16(5):603-6. Antioxidants and other nutrients do not interfere with chemotherapy or radiation therapy and can increase kill and increase survival, Part 2. Simone CB, Simone NL, Simone V, Simone CB. Altern Ther Health Med. 2007 Mar-Apr;13(2):40-7. Vitamin A, retinol, and carotenoids and the risk of gastric cancer: a prospective cohort study. Larsson SC, Bergkvist L, Näslund I, Rutegård J, Wolk A. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Feb;85(2):497-503. Beta-Carotene: The Controversy Continues. Patrick L. Alternative Medicine Review, Volume 5 Number 6, 2000. High dietary menaquinone intake is associated with reduced coronary calcification. Beulens JW, Bots ML, Atsma F, et al. Atherosclerosis. Jul 19 2008. Vitamin K intake and atherosclerosis. Erkkila AT, Booth SL. Curr Opin Lipidol. Feb 2008;19(1):39-42. Estimation of optimal serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D for multiple health outcomes. Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Giovannucci E, Willett WC, Dietrich T, Dawson-Hughes B. Am J Clin Nutr. Jul 2006;84(1):18-28. Assessment of vitamin D status and definition of a normal circulating range of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Hollis BW. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2008 Dec;15(6):489-94.