Micronutrients: the hidden keys to optimal health

In our fast-paced world of convenience foods and busy lifestyles, we often overlook micronutrients, which are the tiny but mighty components that keep our bodies functioning optimally. A recent article published in the New England Journal of Medicine (March 2025) has highlighted just how crucial these elements are for our wellbeing, with findings that are relevant to health concerns here in the UK, too.

What are micronutrients?

Micronutrients are essential vitamins and minerals that our bodies need in small amounts, which is typically less than 100 milligrams per day. Despite these trace quantities, they’re vital for our health and survival. They include water-soluble vitamins, such as B vitamins and vitamin C, fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K), and various trace elements.

The hidden epidemic of deficiency in the UK

Recent global survey data revealed alarming statistics about micronutrient status in here in the UK:

• One in two women in the UK have at least one micronutrient deficiency
• Iron deficiency affects 20% of British women

While the American research published in the NEJM offers additional insights, these UK statistics highlight that micronutrient deficiencies aren’t just an issue overseas.

Vitamin D deficiency is particularly prevalent in the UK due to our northern latitude and limited sunshine, and many Britons follow modern diets, which lack adequate levels of essential nutrients, such as choline, B vitamins, and vitamin K.

Why deficiencies occur

At Breakspear Medical, our environmental naturopath, Jean Monro has identified several key factors that contribute to micronutrient deficiencies beyond a poor diet:

• malabsorption issues in the digestive tract
• history of intestinal surgery
• alcoholism
• interactions with certain medications
• anorexia and other eating disorders
• pernicious anaemia (an autoimmune disorder)
• dietary restrictions, such as vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free diets
• British weather patterns contributing to vitamin D deficiency

These factors can dramatically increase your risk of developing deficiencies that can impact your health.

The Breakspear Medical approach to micronutrient health

Our Clinical Team takes a personalised approach to micronutrient assessment and treatment that aligns with both European Food Safety Authority guidelines and individual needs, including:

1. Comprehensive assessment: conducting detailed micronutrient testing to identify specific deficiencies unique to you.
2. Dietary analysis: carefully evaluating your day-to-day eating patterns to spot potential nutrient gaps in your diet.
3. Root cause investigation: unlike standard approaches that may simply supplement deficiencies, investigating why these deficiencies are occurring, whether from malabsorption, increased metabolic demands, liver function issues or other health concerns.
4. Personalised treatment: designing custom treatment plans that may include targeted oral supplementation and/or our premium intravenous vitamin therapy to restore optimal levels rapidly.
5. Long-term solutions: addressing the underlying causes of deficiencies to prevent recurrence and promote lasting health.

Now available to all: premium IV vitamin therapy

We’re excited to announce that we are now offering a new service of intravenous (IV) vitamin therapy to the general public without requiring you to be an existing patient.

For years, we have utilised IV vitamin therapy as a powerful tool for addressing micronutrient deficiencies. IV vitamin therapy delivers essential vitamins and minerals directly into your bloodstream. This approach bypasses the digestive system, allowing for faster absorption and more immediate results, which is particularly beneficial for those with absorption issues or who need rapid replenishment.

Our IV vitamin therapy options

In addition to our customised drips for existing patients, we now offer six different types of premium IV vitamin therapy drips, each formulated to address specific health concerns and micronutrient deficiencies. Dr Michael Cannell oversees this service, ensuring each treatment is tailored to your unique biochemical needs.

The direct-to-bloodstream delivery method means you’ll experience:

• faster absorption than oral supplements
• higher concentration of nutrients reaching your cells
• more immediate results and relief
• complete bypass of digestive system issues that might impair nutrient absorption

We are committed to addressing micronutrient deficiencies with the most effective methods available.

Who can benefit from micronutrient assessment?

You might benefit from our assessment services if you:

• follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, which are becoming increasingly common in the UK
• avoid dairy products, which means you may need alternative sources of riboflavin, calcium, and vitamin D
• have digestive disorders or a history of gastrointestinal surgery
• take medications known to deplete nutrients
• experience unexplained fatigue, brain fog, or other mysterious symptoms
• are pregnant or planning pregnancy, when specific nutrients are crucial
• live in the UK where vitamin D deficiency is common due to limited sunlight
• want to optimise your health and wellbeing

Take the first step to optimal health

We offer the expertise and personalised approach needed to identify and correct these imbalances so that you can take a significant step toward optimising your health from the inside out.

Contact us today to schedule your comprehensive micronutrient assessment or to book your premium IV vitamin therapy session. Important note: for safety and optimal care, first-time IV vitamin therapy visitors will need a short consultation with one of our doctors and must present recent haematology and biochemistry (H&B) blood test results or have the H&B done at our clinic prior to your appointment.)