Six months of eating roughly 1,100 calories a day and my ferritin has halved, which I did not connect to the intake until somebody pointed it out.
The question I want answered is which deficiencies actually show up when intake drops this far, and which are worth testing rather than supplementing blind.
If the honest answer is that nobody knows, that is a useful answer and I would rather have it.
mike.trainer_LA said:Six months of eating roughly 1,100 calories a day and my ferritin has halved, which I did not connect to the intake until somebody pointed it out.
Vitamin and mineral labs to check while on micronutrients — my doctor orders these quarterly:
- B12: Can drop due to reduced GI absorption. Mine went from 650 to 380 — now supplementing.
- Iron/Ferritin: Reduced food intake = reduced iron. Ferritin dropped from 59 to 26. Supplementing.
- Vitamin D: Was already low (18 ng/mL), now taking 5000 IU daily.
- Folate: Stable, no issues.
- Zinc: Slightly low, added a multivitamin with zinc.
Nutritional deficiencies are a real risk when you're eating significantly less. Don't skip your labs!
InsuranceTom said:Vitamin and mineral labs to check while on micronutrients — my doctor orders these quarterly: B12: Can drop due to reduced GI absorption.
Iron studies on micronutrients — important especially for women:
| Marker | Baseline | Month 6 | After Supplementation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferritin | 74 | 27 | 49 |
| Iron | 104 | 54 | 87 |
| TIBC | 329 | 399 | 339 |
| Transferrin Sat | 33% | 19% | 26% |
My ferritin cratered at month 6 from reduced dietary intake. Iron bisglycinate 36mg with vitamin C brought it back up. Don't wait for anemia symptoms — test proactively.
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View Resultsmike.trainer_LA said:Six months of eating roughly 1,100 calories a day and my ferritin has halved, which I did not connect to the intake until somebody pointed it out.
Second this. I had assumed I was the exception until I read this.
From the other side of the consultation, briefly.
Vitamin D levels and micronutrients: an often-overlooked connection. Obese individuals store vitamin D in adipose tissue, making it less bioavailable. As you lose fat, vitamin D can actually increase WITHOUT supplementation.
My trajectory: Baseline 18 ng/mL → Month 6 (with supplement) 42 ng/mL → Month 12 48 ng/mL. Target is 40-60 ng/mL. Adequate vitamin D supports immune function, bone health, and mood — all relevant during weight loss.