Published on June 16, 2021
Monday June 14th was Carole’s birthday! Share the abundant gifts that you have helped create.
It’s GrassrootsHealth’s founder Carole Baggerly’s BIRTHDAY week!
June 14th was a very special day in honoring everyone’s work to Move Research into Practice with vitamin D and other nutrients! We are creating a special scholarship fund for anyone to donate to that will go towards helping others gain access to participation in the D*action projects.
Donate Today!
Text-to-give: Text Daction to 44321 to add to our Scholarship Fund.
News!
Last week, we shared an announcement of the joint recognition of Kaiser Permanente and Roswell Park Cancer Institute that vitamin D has a significant, positive effect on breast cancer outcomes. As Carole’s primary motivation in beginning GrassrootsHealth was with her own breast cancer experience (and ‘treatment’), and her discovery of the unknown research on the role of vitamin D, this announcement was an ENORMOUS gift to everyone that you helped create! Learn More
It Began with Vitamin D
GrassrootsHealth has been running the world’s largest population field trial on vitamin D since 2007, and was created to provide a set of tools for solving the vitamin D deficiency epidemic. Through the launch of the D*action project, GrassrootsHealth began to spread the word about vitamin D and its many benefits to our health, and to get information about the research from the scientists out to the public — all while providing an easily accessible way for anyone to measure their vitamin D level (which was hard to do at the time!) and learn what actions to take for themselves on an individual level.
Over the years, the realization of the influence that other nutrients have on both vitamin D levels as well as overall health outcomes has led to the addition of several other tests to be included with the vitamin D test. Below is a summary of what is now available to all participants as additional measurements with their vitamin D level. Including these tests along with the rest of your data can help everyone answer even more questions about these other nutrients and measurements, how they relate to each other, and to our overall health – build your Custom Test Kit today!
More Healthy Insights with Additional Measurements
All of the following are additional finger-prick blood spot tests, available as options to include with your vitamin D test.
Omega-3 Index Test
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are two very important omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish and other marine sources, which are essential to our health. The Omega-3 Index is a measure of the amount of EPA and DHA in red blood cell membranes. The result is expressed as a percent of total RBC fatty acids, and is a long-term and stable marker of omega-3 status throughout the blood and tissues.
A higher Omega-3 Index has been associated with improved cognitive function and cardiovascular health, lower risk of dementia, lower risk of cancer, longer life, and a reduced relative risk for death from any cause, including COVID-19. Omega-3s are beneficial for normal vision, anti-aging, skin health, maternal health, immune function, brain health, heart health, normal liver function, joints and muscles, and more.
Experts recommend an Omega-3 Index of at least 8%; while individual levels of omega-3s vary across the globe, most countries and regions have levels that are considered low to very low. An analysis of the GrassrootsHealth cohort showed that 82% of participants had an Omega-3 Index below 8%, however, among those who completed two or more tests, 71% of those with an Omega-3 Index less than 8% increased their index after their first test. Take advantage of this opportunity to improve your Omega-3 Index!
Learn more about the importance of measuring your Omega-3 Index and research involving the Omega-3 Index.
AA:EPA with Omega-6:Omega-3 Ratio Test
(available only as an add-on to the Omega-3 Index test)
The AA:EPA Ratio test measures the ratio of the amount of the omega-6 fatty acid arachidonic acid (AA) and the omega-3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in the cells. This test is a measurement of the amount of bad fats to good fats in the cells, and it can be an indication of the amount of cellular inflammation in the body, since AA is pro-inflammatory and EPA is anti-inflammatory.
The Omega-6:Omega-3 Ratio test is another way to measure the amount of bad fats to healthy fats in the body. Both tests can provide guidance to specific dietary changes that could support improvements in chronic inflammation and disease.
Learn more about the importance of measuring these ratios and how the AA:EPA Ratio test specifically is an important predictor of our future health.
Magnesium Test (Only) or Magnesium PLUS Essential and Toxic Elements
It is important for essential elements to be within their normal or optimal range in order to fulfill their roles in maintaining health. When an essential element is out of range, it can lead to disease or sub-optimal functioning. Some essential elements, such as selenium, copper and zinc, can become toxic when they are too high.
You can choose to measure your magnesium status with or without other essential and toxic minerals.
Magnesium
Magnesium is needed for hundreds of enzymatic reactions in the body and plays a significant role in cellular metabolism and protein synthesis. Deficiency can lead to problems with muscle, bone, nerve, and heart health with symptoms including muscle weakness and cramping, confusion, seizures, and cardiac arrhythmias.
Up to 60% of the US population is estimated to be deficient in magnesium. Deficient magnesium levels can be due to insufficient magnesium in the diet, as well as problems with kidney function, alcoholism, and the use of diuretics and proton pump inhibitors.
The dried blood spot magnesium test measures the amount of magnesium within whole blood (which includes magnesium within the red blood cells (RBC) as well as the serum), and is a better indicator of magnesium status than the serum magnesium test.
Learn more about the importance of magnesium and research involving magnesium.
The following are included in the Full Elements Panel along with magnesium:
Copper
Copper is an essential micronutrient, important for normal development of connective tissues, nerve sheath, and bone; it is needed in very small quantities, but when found in greater concentrations than necessary, will become toxic and can lead to liver dysfunction. Symptoms of copper deficiency can include neurological dysfunction and connective tissue abnormalities.
Too much zinc in the diet can lead to a copper deficiency, so it is important to also look at the zinc to copper ratio (Zn:Cu) to get a better picture of copper status.
The dried blood spot test for copper measures the amount of copper within the red blood cells as well as within the serum, and for this reason, can be more accurate and detect deficiencies earlier than a typical copper test of the serum alone.
Learn more about research involving copper.
Selenium
Selenium plays an important role in thyroid health, free radical scavenging, DNA synthesis, and cancer prevention. The optimal therapeutic range for selenium is narrow. Excess selenium can be toxic. A severe deficiency of selenium may lead to impairment of anti-oxidant actions and thyroid functions, whereas an excess of selenium may lead to death.
The dried blood spot selenium test reflects the level of free selenium in the blood as well as selenoproteins. Heavy metals, especially mercury, may impair selenium’s function by binding to it and preventing its bioavailability. The dried blood spot test can be useful for determining if enough selenium is present to counteract that interference.
Learn more about research involving selenium.
Zinc
Zinc is an essential micronutrient which is important for immune health; it is needed in very small quantities, but when found in greater concentrations than necessary, can become toxic. Deficiency in zinc can lead to compromised immune function and wound healing, and can also affect taste and smell. Zinc in excess of 15 mg/day can lead to copper deficiency, impaired immune function, and can also have negative effects on the LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio.
The dried blood spot test for zinc measures the amount of zinc within the red blood cells as well as within the serum, and for this reason, can be more accurate and detect deficiencies earlier than a typical zinc test of the serum alone.
Learn more about research involving zinc.
Zinc/Copper Ratio
This test shows the ratio of the essential elements zinc to copper in the blood. These elements are considered antagonistic; excess of one can cause an imbalance of the other. For example, too much copper in relation to zinc can lead to toxicity and cause zinc deficiency, leading to dysfunction. An imbalance of these two essential elements has been correlated with oxidative stress and inflammation.
Learn more about the zinc to copper ratio.
Toxic elements have no known nutritional benefit and are known to interfere with proper functioning of proteins, lipids, and DNA within the cells. They can also interfere with essential elements by blocking their availability within the body. The three toxic elements tested with this panel, cadmium, lead and mercury, are in the top four of what the CDC considers the most toxic heavy metals, according to their priority list of hazardous substances.
Cadmium
Cadmium, classified as a group 1 carcinogen, can be found in certain industrial environments and in soil. Certain plants and foods, such as tobacco, green leafy vegetables, potatoes and grains, peanuts, soybeans, sunflower seeds, and shellfish can contain high levels of cadmium. While the primary source of cadmium for most individuals is from food, smokers tend to have about twice the toxic burden of cadmium than non-smokers. Individuals who work in the smelting, battery manufacturing, colored glass manufacturing, and waste incinerating industries tend to have higher exposure to cadmium.
Cadmium accumulates in the kidneys and thyroid gland, and can contribute to thyroid issues, infertility, uterine fibroids, and other reproductive tract diseases.
The dried blood spot test for cadmium is a reflection of short-term cadmium exposure.
Learn more about cadmium levels.
Lead
Lead is absorbed and taken up by the red blood cells where it binds to hemoglobin. Children are most susceptible to its negative effects. High levels of lead in the body have been associated with neurological defects in developing children, low levels of vitamin D, and reduced hemoglobin synthesis.
While the use of lead in certain industries and products has been discontinued, it can still be found in older plumbing systems, paint, and soil.
Learn more about lead levels.
Mercury
Mercury is a highly toxic heavy metal that can collect in the body’s tissues, especially the brain, where it can cause damage to the nervous system. High levels of mercury are associated with paresthesia, mood changes, sensory disturbances, renal toxicity, respiratory failure, and even death. Since mercury has a high affinity to selenium, it can also bind to it and reduce its biological availability, leading to diseases caused by selenium deficiency, such as thyroid disease.
While some are exposed to mercury as an occupational hazard, most mercury exposure is due to consumption of fish and shellfish that contain methylmercury. The dried blood spot test for mercury is a good indicator of recent exposure to methylmercury. Other types of mercury include elemental mercury (found in batteries, thermometers, and dental amalgams), and inorganic mercury (found in mercuric chloride and skin-lightening creams).
Learn more about mercury levels.
Measurements for Inflammation and Blood Sugar Regulation
High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP) Test
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker of the amount of inflammation in the body. This CRP test uses a high sensitivity assay, hs-CRP where “hs” means high sensitivity, to detect small elevations in CRP. High levels are seen in acute inflammation and have been correlated with high cardiovascular disease risk, while smaller elevations are indicative of chronic inflammation and chronic diseases, such as metabolic syndrome and diabetes.
Learn more about the importance of measuring your CRP level along with your nutrient levels and review additional research involving CRP.
Hemoglobin A1c Test (HbA1c)
HbA1c is a measure of how healthy average blood sugar levels have been in the recent few months, and is a better representation of blood sugar health than a single glucose measurement, since glucose levels vary throughout the day. HbA1c is the compound formed in the blood when a hemoglobin molecule in a red blood cell binds with a glucose molecule in the blood; the resulting molecule is also known as glycated hemoglobin. It can be a good indicator of glucose intolerance even in the absence of abnormal fasting glucose levels, and higher levels of HbA1c are associated with inflammation.
Learn more about the importance of measuring your HbA1c level and research involving HbA1c.
Create your Custom Kit with your participation today!
Order Now
Choose What to Measure While Participating as a Citizen Scientist!
Becoming a participant of GrassrootsHealth means that anyone is joining thousands of people in collaborating on nutrient research – we call it “citizen science.” Citizen science welcomes everyone’s participation in the discovery and sharing of scientific knowledge. As a citizen scientist, you’ll help everyone gain a better understanding of the role of nutrients in health and disease, and use the results to help inform public health officials to create change. Additionally, you can use your results to make informed decisions about nutrients that affect your health.
Help everyone Move Research into Practice with vitamin D and other nutrients! As a special birthday gift to everyone, in honor of the science, we have created a special scholarship fund for anyone to donate to that will go towards helping others participate. Your donation will allow anyone to get help with funding their participation when they need it.
Text-to-give: Text Daction to 44321 to add to our Scholarship Fund.
What Are Your Levels?
Take steps to improve the status of each of these measurements to benefit your overall health. You can also track your own intakes, symptoms and results to see what works best for YOU.
Enroll and test your levels today, learn what steps to take to improve your status of vitamin D (see below) and other nutrients and blood markers, and take action! By enrolling in the GrassrootsHealth projects, you are not only contributing valuable information to everyone, you are also gaining knowledge about how you could improve your own health through measuring and tracking your nutrient status, and educating yourself on how to improve it.
How Can You Use this Information for YOUR Health?
Having and maintaining healthy vitamin D and other nutrient levels can help improve your health now and for your future. Measuring is the only way to make sure you are getting enough!
STEP 1 Order your at-home blood spot test kit to measure vitamin D and other nutrients of concern to you, such as omega-3s, magnesium, essential and toxic elements (zinc, copper, selenium, lead, cadmium, mercury); include hsCRP as a marker of inflammation or HbA1c for blood sugar health
STEP 2 Answer the online questionnaire as part of the GrassrootsHealth study
STEP 3 Using our educational materials and tools (such as our dose calculators), assess your results to determine if you are in your desired target range or if actions should be taken to get there
STEP 4 After 3-6 months of implementing your changes, re-test to see if you have achieved your target level(s)
