You’ve tried therapy. You’ve adjusted your medications. But what if the real issue isn’t just in your mind… it’s in your body?
Most people don’t realize that what’s happening at the cellular level can dramatically affect how they feel emotionally. The food you eat (or don’t eat) directly influences your brain chemistry, mood regulation, and mental well-being. Yet traditional psychiatry often overlooks this connection.
That’s where the NutrEval test comes in.
This nutritional assessment goes beyond standard blood work to reveal hidden deficiencies that might be contributing to your depression, anxiety, or other mental health struggles. At Here & Now Mental Wellness, we’ve seen firsthand how identifying and addressing these gaps can transform treatment outcomes for our patients in the North Shore.
Let’s explore what the NutrEval test reveals and why it matters for your mental health.
Key Takeaways
- The NutrEval test analyzes over 125 biomarkers to reveal nutritional deficiencies that standard blood work misses, providing a complete picture of how your body supports mental health.
- Nutrient deficiencies directly impact brain function. Research shows individuals with essential nutrient deficiencies have a 30% higher risk of developing depression symptoms.
- B vitamins, vitamin D, magnesium, and omega-3s are critical for mood regulation. Deficiencies in these nutrients affect neurotransmitter production and brain chemistry.
- Your gut health matters for your mental health. The NutrEval test reveals absorption issues that might be preventing your brain from getting the nutrients it needs.
- Functional medicine meets psychiatry. At Here & Now, we integrate nutritional testing with therapy and medication management for treatment that addresses root causes, not just symptoms.
The Hidden Link Between Nutrition & Mental Health
Your brain is an incredibly demanding organ. It consumes about 20% of your body’s energy despite making up only 2% of your body weight. To function properly, it needs a steady supply of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids.
Deficiencies in nutrients such as protein, B vitamins, vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, selenium, iron, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids have a considerable impact on brain and nervous system function. This can affect the appearance of depressive symptoms.
Studies indicate that nutrient deficiencies don’t just make existing mental health conditions worse…they can actually trigger them. Individuals with essential nutrient deficiencies have a 30% higher risk of developing depression symptoms over their lifetime.
The problem? Most standard doctor visits miss these deficiencies entirely. Basic blood panels might check a handful of nutrients, but they can’t detect the subtle imbalances that affect your mood, energy, and cognition. You might fall within “normal” ranges on paper while still experiencing debilitating symptoms.
What Is the NutrEval Test?
The NutrEval FMV test from Genova Diagnostics is a comprehensive test for identifying nutritional deficiencies and insufficiencies. This test evaluates a variety of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and other biomarkers to determine dietary deficiencies and imbalances.
Unlike basic nutritional panels, this test analyzes over 125 biomarkers. It examines:
- Essential and non-essential amino acids
- Fatty acid profiles (including omega-3 and omega-6 ratios)
- Organic acids that reflect metabolic function
- Oxidative stress markers
- Vitamin and mineral levels
- Markers for gut health and malabsorption
The NutrEval FMV test is recommended for patients suffering symptoms related to nutritional imbalances and deficiencies such as mood disorders, cardiovascular disease, obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, autism, fatigue, weight issues.
The test uses both blood and urine samples to create a detailed picture of your nutritional status. What makes it particularly valuable for mental health is that it reveals functional deficiencies. These are cases where your body doesn’t have enough of a nutrient to support brain function, even if blood levels appear “adequate.”
Key Nutrients the NutrEval Test Measures (and Why They Matter for Your Mind)
B Vitamins: The Mood Regulators
B vitamins are foundational to mental health. They are essential for optimal brain functioning and the production of neurotransmitters.
Vitamin B12 is particularly critical. Deficiencies in vitamin B12 and folate are linked to symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, and depression. These nutrients are essential for producing neurotransmitters like serotonin, which regulate mood and emotional well-being.
Research shows the connection is strong: individuals with a B12 deficiency have a 50% higher risk of developing depressive symptoms.
Folate (B9) works hand-in-hand with B12. Low folate levels are linked to a poor response to antidepressants, and treatment with folic acid is shown to improve response to antidepressants. If you’ve been on antidepressants without much improvement, a folate deficiency might be part of the problem.
Vitamin B6 serves as a cofactor in creating serotonin and dopamine. When you’re deficient, your brain simply can’t produce enough of these mood-regulating chemicals. One study found that 31.9% of patients with depression had low to deficient levels of PLP (the active form of vitamin B6), about three times the figure reported in the general population.
Vitamin D: The Sunshine Vitamin for Your Mood
Low vitamin D levels are associated with increased symptoms of depression and anxiety. The connection is biological, not just correlational.
Vitamin D receptors are present throughout your brain, including in areas involved in mood regulation. Vitamin D plays a neuroprotective role, influencing serotonin synthesis and brain plasticity, relevant for mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.
The research is compelling: In adolescents with premenstrual syndrome and severe vitamin D deficiency, vitamin D supplementation reduced anxiety scores by 61% as compared with no appreciable change with placebo.
For women with prediabetes and low vitamin D, anxiety levels decreased 19% with vitamin D alone, and when combined with fish oil, levels were reduced by 30%.
Magnesium: Nature’s Relaxation Mineral
If you’re dealing with anxiety or insomnia alongside depression, magnesium might be the missing piece. Dietary deficiencies of magnesium, coupled with excess calcium and stress may cause many cases of other related symptoms including agitation, anxiety, irritability, confusion, asthenia, sleeplessness, and headache, to name just a few.
The science backs this up. Magnesium deficiency could cause numerous neuromuscular symptoms including hyperexcitability, depression, behavior disturbances, tetany, headaches, generalized tonic-clonic as well as focal seizures, ataxia, vertigo, muscular weakness, tremors, irritability, and psychotic behavior, each of which were reversible by magnesium repletion.
Case studies of magnesium supplementation reported improvements in depression, anxiety, and sleep within 1 week. That’s remarkably fast compared to most psychiatric interventions.
In a study using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, ‘Nutrient deprived’ individuals showed the highest depression severity, with magnesium being one of the least consumed nutrients.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Brain-Building Blocks
Your brain is roughly 60% fat, and omega-3 fatty acids (particularly EPA and DHA) are major structural components. 20% of the brain’s dry weight comprises polyunsaturated fatty acids as a major structural component of neuronal cell membrane phospholipids.
A meta-analysis showed an overall beneficial effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on depression symptoms. The evidence suggests that omega-3 PUFAs with EPA ≥ 60% at a dosage of ≤1 g/d would have beneficial effects on depression.
Higher serum EPA, DHA and LC omega-3 fatty acids were associated with lower relative risk of moderately severe to severe depression. For EPA: the relative risk was 0.30, meaning those with higher EPA levels had 70% lower risk of severe depression.
The effects aren’t limited to mood. Low EPA levels are found to be associated with heightened trait aggression and impetuous patients of major depression with history of substance-use disorder comorbidity.
Iron, Zinc & Other Essential Minerals
Iron deficiency is associated with cognitive issues, including concentration and memory difficulties. Symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, headaches and anxiety, all of which overlap significantly with depression symptoms.
The NutrEval test examines these minerals and more, creating a complete picture of what your brain has to work with.
The Gut-Brain Connection: What the NutrEval Reveals
One of the most valuable aspects of the NutrEval test is its assessment of digestive function. You might be eating a healthy diet, but if your gut isn’t absorbing nutrients properly, your brain still suffers.
The test measures organic acids that indicate:
- How well you’re breaking down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates
- Whether you have bacterial overgrowth or yeast issues
- If you’re producing enough neurotransmitter precursors
- Whether oxidative stress is damaging your cells
The GI360 Microbiome is an excellent test to look at gut health and dysbiosis states that may be contributing to mental health disorders like depression and anxiety.
Many patients discover that treating digestive issues is the key to unlocking better mental health. It’s not uncommon for someone to address SIBO, food sensitivities, or absorption problems and see their mood lift as a result.
Why Standard Blood Tests Miss These Issues
You might be wondering: “Doesn’t my doctor check for vitamin deficiencies?”
Probably not in a meaningful way. Standard annual physicals typically include:
- A basic metabolic panel (sodium, potassium, glucose)
- A lipid panel (cholesterol)
- Sometimes a CBC (complete blood count)
These tests aren’t designed to detect nutritional deficiencies. Even when doctors do check vitamin levels, they’re usually looking at only one or two nutrients, often just vitamin D or B12.
More importantly, reference ranges for “normal” are based on preventing severe deficiency diseases like scurvy or rickets, not on supporting mental health. You can have levels that are technically “in range” but still too low for your brain to function well.
The NutrEval test fills this gap. It provides functional ranges based on research into health outcomes, not just disease prevention.
Who Should Consider a NutrEval Test?
This test is particularly valuable if you’re experiencing:
- Treatment-resistant depression or anxiety
- Persistent fatigue alongside mood symptoms
- Cognitive issues like brain fog or poor memory
- Mood swings or emotional instability
- Sleep problems
- Digestive issues combined with mental health struggles
- Limited response to therapy or medications
- Unexplained physical symptoms
The test is also helpful for anyone who:
- Follows a restricted diet (vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free)
- Has a history of eating disorders
- Takes medications that affect nutrient absorption (like PPIs or metformin)
- Has chronic stress or a demanding lifestyle
- Wants to take a proactive approach to mental health
What Happens After You Get Your Results?
Getting tested is just the first step. The real value comes from using that information to create a targeted treatment plan.
At Here & Now Mental Wellness, we integrate NutrEval results into your overall care plan. This might include:
Targeted supplementation based on your specific deficiencies. Not everyone needs the same nutrients, and taking the wrong ones can actually cause imbalances.
Dietary modifications to address root causes and support better absorption. Sometimes it’s not about what you’re eating but how your body is processing it.
Treatment for underlying gut issues that might be preventing nutrient absorption.
Medication adjustments when appropriate. For example, if you’re low in folate, adding methylfolate might boost your antidepressant’s effectiveness.
Coordination between your psychiatrist and therapist to track how nutritional interventions affect your symptoms. This is where our integrated care model really shines; your entire team is working together on your behalf.
The beauty of this approach? You’re not just managing symptoms. You’re addressing actual physiological imbalances that contribute to how you feel.
The Science of Why This Works
Deficiencies in nutrients such as protein, B vitamins, vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, selenium, iron, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids have a major impact on the function of the brain and nervous system.
These nutrients support:
- Neurotransmitter production and regulation
- Cell membrane integrity in brain cells
- Energy production in neurons
- Protection against oxidative stress and inflammation
- Gene expression related to mood and cognition
- Myelination of nerve fibers
- Neuroplasticity and the formation of new neural connections
When you’re deficient in key nutrients, these processes break down. Your brain can’t produce enough serotonin or dopamine. Inflammation increases. Energy production falters. Neural communication suffers.
Correcting these deficiencies helps with mental health and improves your overall well-being. Patients often report better energy, clearer thinking, improved sleep, and fewer physical complaints alongside their mood improvements.
Real Results: What Our Patients Experience
We’ve seen remarkable transformations when patients address nutritional deficiencies. Someone struggling with treatment-resistant depression discovers they’re severely deficient in vitamin D and omega-3s. After three months of supplementation combined with therapy, they experience their first real relief in years.
A patient with anxiety and insomnia learns their magnesium levels are in the tank. They start supplementing and notice they’re sleeping better within a week. Their anxiety becomes more manageable.
A young woman with depression isn’t responding to antidepressants. The NutrEval test reveals low folate and B12. We add methylfolate to her regimen, and suddenly her medication starts working.
These aren’t miracle cures. They’re examples of what happens when you treat the whole person. Including addressing both psychological and physiological factors that contribute to mental health struggles.
The Limitations (Let’s Be Honest)
The NutrEval test is powerful, but it’s not a magic bullet. Here’s what it can and can’t do:
It can’t diagnose mental health conditions. Depression and anxiety are complex disorders with multiple contributing factors. Nutritional deficiencies might be part of the picture, but they’re rarely the whole story.
It can’t replace therapy or medication. For many people, nutritional support works best when combined with traditional psychiatric care. Think of it as adding another tool to your treatment toolkit.
Results take time. While some people notice improvements quickly, it can take weeks or months for nutritional interventions to show their full effect. Your body needs time to rebuild nutrient stores and restore healthy function.
It requires follow-through. The test itself is easy, but it’s the lifestyle changes afterward that take commitment. You’ll need to take supplements consistently, make dietary adjustments, and possibly address underlying gut health issues.
That said, the potential benefits make it worth exploring for most people dealing with persistent mental health challenges.
How Here & Now Integrates the NutrEval Test Into Care
What sets us apart is our integrated approach. We don’t just order the test and hand you a supplement list. We incorporate the results into a coordinated care plan that addresses your mental health from multiple angles.
Your psychiatrist reviews the results to understand how nutritional factors might be affecting your medication response and symptom profile.
Your therapist considers how physical factors like low energy or brain fog might be impacting your emotional processing and therapeutic progress.
We coordinate all your treatments (whether that’s adjusting your antidepressant to work better with nutritional support, addressing gut health that’s affecting absorption, or using neurofeedback to support brain function while you rebuild nutrient stores).
This is functional medicine meeting psychiatric care. It’s evidence-based. It’s personalized. And it works.
Taking the Next Step
If you’ve been struggling with depression, anxiety, or other mental health challenges despite treatment, it might be time to look deeper. The NutrEval test can reveal hidden nutritional factors that are holding you back from feeling your best.
At Here & Now Mental Wellness, we’re one of the only practices in the North Shore offering true integration between psychiatric care, therapy, and functional medicine approaches like nutritional testing. Your entire care team works together, communicating regularly about your progress and adjusting your treatment plan as needed.
We meet you where you are. Whether you’re just starting to explore mental health treatment or you’ve been working on it for years, we can help you understand how nutrition fits into your recovery.
Call us today at (847) 450-6393 or email us to schedule a consultation. Let’s uncover what’s really going on beneath your symptoms and create a treatment plan that addresses the whole picture: mind, body, and everything in between.
Frequently Asked Questions About the NutrEval Test
What is the NutrEval test and how does it differ from regular blood work?
The NutrEval test is a specialized nutritional assessment that analyzes over 125 biomarkers using both blood and urine samples. Unlike standard blood work, it evaluates functional nutrient status by measuring not just whether nutrients are present, but whether your body has enough to support brain function and mental health.
How much does the NutrEval test cost?
Pricing varies per different insurance coverages. For specific pricing information, please verify with your insurance company.
How long does it take to get NutrEval test results?
Typically 2-3 weeks from the time your samples reach the lab. Once we receive results, we’ll schedule a follow-up appointment to review them with you and create your treatment plan.
Can nutritional deficiencies really cause depression and anxiety?
Research shows that nutritional deficiencies can contribute substantially to mental health symptoms. While they’re rarely the only factor, addressing deficiencies often improves treatment outcomes and can sometimes be the missing piece in recovery.
Will I need to take supplements forever?
Not necessarily. Once we’ve corrected deficiencies and addressed underlying absorption issues, many people can maintain healthy levels through diet alone. We’ll monitor your progress and adjust your plan as needed.
Can I take the NutrEval test if I’m already on medications?
Yes. The test can actually help us understand how your medications might be affecting nutrient levels and vice versa. Some medications can deplete certain nutrients, so testing helps us address those issues.
What should I do to prepare for the NutrEval test?
We’ll provide specific instructions when you schedule your test. Generally, you’ll need to fast for 10-12 hours before your blood draw and collect a first-morning urine sample.
How is the NutrEval test different from basic vitamin testing?
Basic vitamin tests check only a few nutrients at a time and use reference ranges designed to prevent severe deficiency diseases. The NutrEval test examines nutrient interactions, metabolic function, and uses ranges based on research into health outcomes, giving us a much more complete picture of your nutritional status.
Will changing my diet and taking supplements really help my mental health?
For many people, yes. Studies show that addressing nutritional deficiencies can dramatically improve mental health symptoms, especially when combined with therapy and appropriate medications. The key is identifying your specific deficiencies and addressing them systematically.
Does Here & Now accept insurance for the NutrEval test?
We work with most major insurance plans and can often get coverage for nutritional testing when it’s medically necessary. We’ll help you navigate insurance questions and verify coverage before you commit to testing.
Call us today at (847) 450-6393 or email us to schedule a consultation. Taking this step doesn’t make you weak. It makes you smart enough to invest in your own health and future.
Your mental health matters. Let us help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
