Red Blood Cell Elements – Blood Test
Summary
Analysis of red blood cells (RBC) provides the best diagnostic tool for assessing the status of elements that have important functions inside cells or on blood cell membranes. Blood cell element levels are useful for assessing cardiac influences, anti-inflammatory processes, anemia, immunological function, glucose tolerance and other disorders that are associated specifically with zinc deficiency.
What Does It Measure
This test measures toxic and functional intracellular elements.
Results Can Assist in Determination of Proper Supplementation
RBC element levels are very useful for assessing: cardiovascular influences (magnesium, potassium); anti-inflammatory processes (selenium, copper, zinc); anemia (copper, iron); immunological function (zinc, copper, magnesium), and glucose tolerance (chromium, manganese, and possibly vanadium). Disorders specifically associated with zinc deficiency also are addressed by this analysis. These disorders include loss of visual acuity, dysgeusia (loss of taste), skin problems and poor wound healing, alopecia (hair loss), amino acid malabsorption, sexual impotence, decreased production of testosterone, depressed immune function, and growth retardation.
Accurate assessment of essential element status is highly recommended for the determination of appropriate supplementation. The absorption, transport and metabolism of essential elements is highly integrated and regulated. Inappropriate supplementation or dietary imbalance of elements can have significant adverse health effects. For example, excess intake of zinc or molybdenum can result in copper deficiency and, although essential, excess retention of manganese can have serious neurotoxic effects. RBC element analysis is also useful for the assessment of ongoing or very recent EXPOSURE to specific toxic elements that accumulate preferentially in red blood cells. These toxic elements include arsenic, cadmium, lead, methylmercury and thallium. It is important to keep in mind that elevated levels of the toxic elements in these cells reflect only recent or ongoing exposure and do not provide information about the net retention of the metals in the body.
Talk to your health care provider about having a Red Blood Cell Elements test today!
**Description courtesy of Doctor’s Data Inc