"Should I just test everything?" It is an understandable question. Tiredness, a restricted diet, a busy training block or simply curiosity can all lead people to wonder whether they are short of something. A vitamins and minerals blood test panel answers part of that question in one sample, which is often simpler than ordering tests one by one.
This guide explains what the panels in the BPR catalogue include, what each marker tells you and when a panel tends to be a sensible choice.
Why look at vitamins and minerals at all?
The NHS describes vitamins and minerals as nutrients the body needs in small amounts to work properly, and says most people should get what they need from a varied, balanced diet, although some people may need supplements. Reviews of mineral nutrition stress that both too little and too much can cause problems (Razzaque and Wimalawansa, 2025). A blood test does not replace a good diet, but it can show whether a few key nutrients are within the laboratory's reference range.
The Vitamins & Minerals Profile
LML describes the Vitamins & Minerals Profile as a blood test that measures several vitamins and minerals to help show whether there are deficiencies or excesses. It includes nine markers, grouped here by theme:
Iron and iron stores
- Iron: the amount of iron circulating in the blood at the time of the sample.
- Ferritin: a protein that stores iron, used as a guide to the body's iron reserves.
- Transferrin saturation, total iron-binding capacity and unsaturated iron-binding capacity: measures of how much iron the blood is carrying and how much more it could carry.
Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional problems in the world (Pasricha et al., 2021). Looking at stores and transport together gives a fuller picture than iron alone. LML also points out that ferritin rises with inflammation, so it is always read alongside the other markers.
Vitamins
- Vitamin D (25-OH): the standard marker of vitamin D status, particularly relevant in the UK after winter (Amrein et al., 2020).
- Vitamin B12 and folate: two B vitamins needed to make healthy red blood cells.
Magnesium
LML describes magnesium as an essential mineral that helps maintain normal nerve and muscle function, a steady heart rhythm and strong bones. A review of magnesium testing notes that blood contains only a small fraction of the body's total magnesium, which is worth remembering when reading the result (Fiorentini et al., 2021).
The Vitamin Profile: a shorter option
The Vitamin Profile focuses on three markers: vitamin D, vitamin B12 and folate. LML highlights B12 as particularly important for people on a plant-based diet and vitamin D as important for anyone living in the UK. If iron and magnesium are not part of your question, this smaller profile may be enough.
A broader vitamin panel
For people who want a wider look at vitamins, the catalogue also lists a larger panel shown as VITAMIN PRF. 2. Its markers include vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, C, D, E and B12, beta-carotene and red cell folate. Some of these need special handling: LML asks for protection from light and, in some cases, for the sample to be separated and frozen. Because of that, this panel is better suited to a collection point or a home phlebotomist than to a home kit. It is a more specialised test and worth discussing with a professional first.
Panel or single tests?
A panel makes sense when you want several answers at once, for example if you follow a restricted diet, have been feeling run down without an obvious reason or want a yearly baseline. Single tests are often better when the question is narrow, such as checking vitamin D after a winter of supplements or following up one marker that was outside the range before.
A quick way to think about it:
- Broad question, such as "how are my main nutrients?": a panel.
- Specific question, such as "has my vitamin D improved?": the single test.
- Not sure: ask a professional before ordering.
