Nutritional Status Markers
Blood markers measuring vitamin levels, mineral status, and nutritional indicators including iron, vitamin D, B12, and folate.
About Nutritional Status Markers
Nutritional status markers assess your body's levels of essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Key markers include iron studies (ferritin, serum iron, TIBC, transferrin saturation), vitamin D, vitamin B12, folate, magnesium, zinc, and calcium.
Deficiencies in these nutrients can cause a wide range of symptoms including fatigue, weakness, cognitive issues, immune dysfunction, and mood disturbances. Many deficiencies are common even with adequate diet, particularly vitamin D, B12, and iron. Regular testing helps identify and correct deficiencies before they cause significant health problems.
All Nutritional Status Markers
Active B12
pmol/L
The biologically active form of vitamin B12.
Learn moreCalcium
mmol/L
An essential mineral for bone health, muscle function, and nerve signaling.
Learn moreCopper
μmol/L
A trace mineral essential for red blood cell formation and nerve function.
Learn moreFolate (Vitamin B9)
nmol/L
A B vitamin essential for cell division and DNA synthesis.
Learn moreIron (Serum Iron)
μmol/L
Serum iron measures the amount of iron currently circulating in the bloodstream, bound to transferrin. It is a single snapshot in time and varies significantly by time of day (highest in the morning, lowest at night) and by recent meals. Serum iron is one of four results on the standard Australian iron studies panel — alongside ferritin (iron stores), transferrin / TIBC, and transferrin saturation — and is most useful when interpreted as part of the full panel rather than in isolation.
Learn moreMagnesium
mmol/L
A mineral essential for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body.
Learn morePhosphate
mmol/L
An essential mineral that works with calcium for bone health.
Learn moreTIBC (Total Iron Binding Capacity)
μmol/L
TIBC (Total Iron Binding Capacity) measures how much iron your blood could potentially carry if every transferrin binding site were saturated. Because transferrin is the main iron-transport protein, TIBC is an indirect measurement of transferrin levels and is reported as part of standard iron studies alongside serum iron, ferritin and transferrin saturation.
Learn moreTransferrin Saturation
%
Transferrin saturation is the percentage of iron-binding sites on transferrin that are currently carrying iron. It is calculated as (serum iron ÷ TIBC) × 100 and is reported as part of standard iron studies in Australia. Of the four iron-studies markers, transferrin saturation is the most sensitive single test for haemochromatosis screening.
Learn moreVitamin B12
ng/L
An essential vitamin for nerve function and blood cell formation.
Learn moreVitamin D (25-OH Vitamin D)
nmol/L
Vitamin D blood tests measure 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OH D), the main circulating form of vitamin D and the best indicator of overall vitamin D status. It reflects both sun exposure and dietary/supplement intake. Australian pathology labs report 25-OH vitamin D in nmol/L. Despite the name, vitamin D acts more like a hormone — it regulates calcium absorption, bone metabolism, immune function and roughly 200 genes throughout the body.
Learn moreZinc
μmol/L
A trace element essential for immune function and cell division.
Learn moreRelated Lab Panels
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
A comprehensive test that evaluates red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets to assess overall health and detect various conditions.
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
A panel of tests that measure glucose, electrolytes, kidney function, and liver function to assess metabolic health.
Related Health Conditions
- Vitamin D Deficiency
Insufficient levels of vitamin D, which affects bone health, immune function, mood, and many body systems.
- Iron Deficiency
Insufficient iron stores in the body, which can lead to anemia and various symptoms affecting energy and cognition.
- Anemia
A condition characterized by insufficient healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin to carry adequate oxygen to tissues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common nutritional deficiencies?
What vitamin D level is optimal?
How is iron deficiency different from anemia?
Which B12 test is most accurate?
Track Your Nutritional Status Markers
Upload your blood test results to BloodTrack and monitor all 12 nutritional status markers over time. Get personalized insights and spot trends early.