Comprehensive Mineral Panel, Blood

The Comprehensive Mineral Panel includes testing the blood for five minerals and is used to detect deficiencies or overexposure (toxicity) across the mineral spectrum.

This panel includes testing levels of the following five minerals:

• Calcium
• Copper
• Magnesium
• Manganese
• Zinc

Calcium is a mineral that plays an important role in bone health, blood clotting, muscle contraction and sending nerve signals. Normal calcium levels help to ensure proper bone and teeth formation and growth. If the body is deficient in calcium, it will start to absorb this mineral from the bones and teeth to fill its need, causing brittle bones and teeth. If the body has an overabundance of calcium, it can cause adrenal gland problems.

Copper is found in all tissues throughout the body, but is mostly found in the liver, muscles and bones. Copper plays a key role in the formation of red blood cells, bones, and connective tissue, as well as energy production and aiding antioxidants against free radicals in the body.

Magnesium is a mineral that plays an important role in many biochemical reactions including your heartbeat, nerve and muscle function, bone development, energy production, glucose and blood pressure regulation and protein synthesis.

Manganese is a mineral that plays a key role in forming connective tissue, sex hormones, making blood clotting factors, bone health, wound healing and central nervous system function. Manganese is also essential for the absorption of calcium, as well as glucose regulation, carbohydrate, fat, cholesterol and amino acid metabolism. This blood test is used to monitor manganese levels or manganese exposure.

Zinc plays an important role in a wide spectrum of aspects including, metabolism on the cellular level, the immune system, wound and/or burn healing, and DNA and protein synthesis. This mineral is also believed to exhibit antioxidant properties protecting against aging.