Nutrition & Health

Catalog information reviewed: August 24, 2026 by the Sunridge Medical clinical team.

What this laboratory test evaluates

Boston Heart offers a curated profile for the assessment of nutrition and health. This profile is excellent for monitoring risk factors for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, vitamin deficiencies and other metabolic dysfunctions.

These conditions are widespread and very common among patients, but they are largely treatable, reversible, and/or preventable. The right combination of blood tests is needed to unmask risk factors and optimize health. Healthy lifestyle choices, including optimal nutrition, can make a tremendous difference in overall health and disease prevention.

Advanced Lipid Testing and InflammationRoutine lipid testing is insufficient to identify and monitor patients’ cardiometabolic risk adequately. Small Dense LDL-C, Lp(a), and fatty acids are all important for uncovering and treating hidden risk. Inflammation in the arteries is an important cause of cardiovascular risk. Basal levels of the inflammation marker, CRP, are good measures of CVD risk after ruling out other causes of inflammation.

Fatty AcidsFatty acids are essential to heart health. Balancing fatty acids can improve cholesterol and triglyceride levels, improve immune system function as well as reduce inflammation and rate of heart disease. The Boston Heart Fatty Acid Balance™ test measures the major fatty acids (FA) for the purposes of cardiovascular disease characterization and management.

MetabolicsMonitoring glucose and HbA1c is critical for the prevention, early identification, treatment, and reversal of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk.

Vitamins and NutritionFolate, vitamin B12, homocysteine, uric acid, vitamin D, and CoQ10 are each associated with nutrition and CVD risk, and can be improved with healthy lifestyle choices. When deficiencies are detected, it is important to understand the underlying cause to determine whether supplementation is appropriate to normalize levels.

Other ChemistriesThyroid function, electrolytes, kidney function, liver function and other measures of normal metabolic activity are valuable tools for health assessment and patient management.

Additional test information

This panel screens for lipids, chemistries, fatty acid imbalances, blood sugar, thyroid, and vitamins D, Folate, and B12 deficiencies to help identify leading causes of fatigue and weakness.

Collection and processing

• Sample type: Plasma, Serum, Whole blood
• Fasting: Yes
• Estimated laboratory processing: Results should arrive 14 business days after the lab receives samples.

How Sunridge uses laboratory information

Sunridge considers the medical question, symptoms, history, medications, prior results, and whether the finding could change care before recommending testing. A laboratory result is not interpreted in isolation and does not establish a diagnosis by itself.

Before requesting this test

Availability, collection requirements, eligibility, and processing estimates can change. Sunridge reviews each request and, when appropriate, creates the order through Fullscript. Follow the current instructions supplied with the approved order.