Traditionally, vitamin testing has been based on clinical observation and measurements of static levels in serum, saliva, skin, urine or hair, along with certain enzyme or protein markers. Unfortunately, because each person differs in his/her ability to absorb, metabolize and utilize vitamins and other essential nutrients, such tests often mask intracellular deficiencies. They simply do not assess the many complicated metabolic pathways in which these compounds participate as enzymatic cofactors — thus frequently reporting inaccurate and clinically useless results.

iVitamin Science™ utilizes the patented Functional Intracellular Analysis (FIA™) blood test which can assess intracellular vitamin deficiencies and total antioxidant functions. Whereas it was once impossible to determine how vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidant systems are actually functioning within our white blood cells (lymphocytes), deficiencies can now be precisely detected before they contribute to clinical problems.

The only blood test of its kind, FIA measures the DNA synthesis in an individual's lymphocytes using a chemically defined culture media, free of serum or protein. The control media contains the minimal amount of each essential nutrient needed to support optimal lymphocyte growth, or mitogenic response. The functional status of 28 different vitamins, minerals and amino acids involved in cell metabolism is directly determined by making lymphocyte growth dependent on the manipulation of individual nutrients in the media and measuring the resulting DNA synthesis. The same EMA technology also provides a total antioxidant function test which assesses the overall ability of cells to resist damage caused by free radicals and other forms of oxidative stress.

In recent years, there has been a great number of published scientific studies which illustrate the medical relationship between health and vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids. One such study related to homocysteine and coronary artery disease in French Canadian subjects¹ revealed that elevated homocysteine is a risk factor for coronary artery disease, and reduced levels of pyridoxal phosphate, folate and vitamin B12 may contribute to the elevated homocysteine. Another important study analyzed altered antioxidant status and increased lipid peroxidation in children with cystic fibrosis². The results favored supplementing with antioxidants to reverse deficiencies of beta carotene and selenium, and to limit the intensity of oxidative stress in this condition. Lastly, a third study examined antioxidants in advanced cancers³. Evidence suggests that there is an alteration of the oxidant-antioxidant status in cancer. Preliminary analysis of this transversal study confirms the association of low peroxidation products/high antioxidants with tumor aggressiveness and/or progression.

Overall it has been established by the scientific community that approximately 70 percent of the U.S. population is at risk for long-term vitamin and mineral deficiencies, deficiencies that can adversely affect the body's efficient functioning and its ability to resist disease.