Do I need to stop taking medications or supplements before my lab appointment?

FAQ:

Do I need to stop taking medications or supplements before my lab appointment?

Answer:

Preparing for your lab appointment thoughtfully ensures you get the most accurate and actionable results. Medications and supplements can affect various biomarkers, so it’s important to know how to approach them before testing.

Note ✋ : This guidance is general and may not apply to everyone. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making changes to your medication or supplement regimen.

Medications:

• It’s essential that you do not discontinue any prescription medications without speaking with your doctor first.
• Your healthcare provider can guide you on whether to continue medications as usual or adjust them for the lab appointment.

Supplements:

• Some members choose to avoid taking vitamins, dietary, and nutritional supplements 48-72 hours before their appointment to ensure more accurate results.
• Biotin (Vitamin B7) in particular is stopped by many members 72 hours prior to testing, as it can interfere with several hormone and metabolic biomarkers.

Here’s how common supplements can impact different tests in the Levels Labs panels:

❤️ Cardiovascular Biomarkers

• Fish oil & omega-3s: Can lower triglycerides, potentially skewing cholesterol readings.
• Niacin (Vitamin B3): May lower LDL and raise HDL cholesterol, affecting lipid panels.
• CoQ10: Can influence cholesterol levels.

💧 Kidney Function Tests

• Creatine supplements: Can elevate creatinine, potentially mimicking impaired kidney function.
• High-dose Vitamin C: May falsely increase creatinine and affect certain kidney markers.
• Protein supplements: Can raise BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) levels.

🥼 Liver Function Tests

• Herbal supplements (e.g., milk thistle, kava, and green tea extract): May alter liver enzymes (ALT, AST, GGT), affecting liver panel accuracy.
• Vitamin A and high-dose iron supplements: Can impact liver enzyme readings.

⚡ Metabolic Markers

• Biotin (Vitamin B7): Can interfere with glucose and insulin biomarkers.
• Vitamin D supplements: May influence calcium and phosphate levels, impacting metabolic test results.

🩸 Blood and Inflammatory Markers

• Turmeric and fish oil: Their anti-inflammatory effects may lower hsCRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) levels.
• Iron supplements: Can raise ferritin and iron saturation, affecting iron panel accuracy.

🧠 Hormonal Biomarkers

• Biotin (Vitamin B7): Can interfere with tests for thyroid hormones, cortisol, and sex hormones (like testosterone and estradiol).
• DHEA, testosterone boosters, or estrogen supplements: Directly alter hormone levels, affecting results.
• Adaptogens (e.g., ashwagandha, rhodiola): May influence cortisol and adrenal hormone measurements.

🥦 Nutrient Biomarkers

• Zinc and magnesium supplements: Can elevate serum nutrient levels, potentially masking deficiencies.
• B vitamins (especially B12): May temporarily raise serum B12 and homocysteine levels.

Note ✋ : This guidance is general and may not apply to everyone. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making changes to your medication or supplement regimen.