Kolkata dietician lists nine health tests missed by routine check-ups

Routine health panels often miss underlying hormonal, metabolic, and nutritional concerns even when standard blood tests appear normal.

Blood Tests

Kolkata-based dietician Nikita Bardia, who has ten years of experience as a health and fitness coach, shared nine lesser-known blood tests via an Instagram video on September 8. She recommends these tests for people dealing with persistent fatigue, low mood, PCOS, acne, hair loss, or struggling with fat loss. The first test is for ferritin, which measures stored iron. Nikita notes that a person can be iron deficient even with normal haemoglobin levels, and the ideal ferritin range is 40 to 100 ng/mL for women. The second test checks for markers that can indicate early ageing, cognitive issues, inflammation, and low vitamin B12 or folate levels. The third test measures inflammation directly and can help people experiencing bloating, fatigue, or autoimmune symptoms. For thyroid health, the fourth recommendation is checking reverse T3 levels if TSH is normal, to see if cells are using the hormones properly. The fifth test combines vitamin D3 checks to see if the vitamin is actually absorbed and utilised, noting that many Indians, especially women and vegetarians, struggle with poor utilisation. The sixth and seventh tests look at advanced lipid markers like ApoB and Lp(a) for clearer heart risk pictures, and gut permeability or microbiome imbalances for those with skin issues, IBS, or mood swings. The eighth test measures fasting insulin to spot insulin resistance before diabetes develops, with an ideal range of 2 to 8 uIU/mL. The ninth test checks for magnesium deficiency, which is common in high-stress or vegetarian diets and affects sleep, muscle function, cramps, cravings, PMS, and anxiety.

Context

Standard annual health check-ups provided by employers or routine clinics usually focus on basic panels like complete blood counts and simple lipid profiles, which are designed to catch broad baseline issues rather than specific nutrient levels. Many wellness experts increasingly suggest targeted functional testing when individuals experience chronic symptoms despite getting all-clear results on standard reports.