Wendie Trubow, MD, MBA, IFMCPPresident at Five Journeys, Functional Medicine & Wellness Provider, Best Selling Author, Passionate Champion for Health

Struggling Mentally Don’t Skip These Labs

29 Apr 2026 · 0 min

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In a brief dialogue, Speaker A asks what essential laboratory tests a person without access to a functional‑medicine practitioner should get when feeling unwell, especially in the context of depression. Speaker B responds by listing the most informative labs for depressive symptoms: vitamin D, vitamin B12, thyroid function, iron, zinc, magnesium, and an MTHFR genetic test. He emphasizes that these six tests can dramatically influence mental‑health treatment decisions, particularly for patients in low‑socioeconomic groups who may only see a psychiatrist once a year for medication refills. The exchange underscores the practical value of targeted lab work as a bridge for underserved individuals to receive more personalized, biologically‑informed care.

If somebody didn't have access to a functional medicine doctor, what would be the top 5 to 10 labs that you would recommend for somebody that doesn't feel great?
If, if we're talking about depression, let, let's go back to what we learned in medicals. Come in would be the vitamin D, B12, thyroid, iron, zinc, magnesium, and an MTHFR genetic test. I think I got 6 there, but that could literally change the face of mental health treatment, particularly for those individuals in, in low socioeconomic groups who are maybe seeing a psychiatrist once a year for medication refill.