Symptoms & complaints

Fatigue and your blood

Persistent fatigue often has several causes. Blood testing can reveal a number of common, treatable causes. Below you read which blood values are relevant.

4 min readBy the Bloodworks editorial team

In short

Bloedonderzoek verklaart lang niet alle vermoeidheid: slaaptekort, stress en leefstijl zijn er niet in te zien.
Wat er wel vaak uitkomt: ijzerstatus (ferritine), schildklier (TSH), vitamine B12 en D, en bloedsuiker.
Meet voordat u met supplementen begint, anders meet u vooral het supplement.
Ook normale waarden zijn een antwoord: de meest voorkomende lichamelijke oorzaken zijn dan onwaarschijnlijk.

Moeheid samen met onbedoeld gewichtsverlies, nachtzweten, gezwollen klieren of bloedverlies hoort eerst bij uw huisarts, niet bij een zelftest.

What you can measure

Not every cause is visible in blood. These are the values that most often explain something.

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Common causes you can measure

These values are among the most common measurable causes of fatigue:

iron deficiency (low ferritin)
a lack of vitamin D or vitamin B12
an underactive thyroid (TSH/Free T4)

An abnormal value does not always explain the symptom, and a normal value does not rule everything out. Always discuss the result with a doctor.

When testing is useful

For fatigue lasting more than a few weeks, without a clear explanation, targeted blood testing can provide direction. It does not replace a visit to the GP for alarm symptoms such as unintended weight loss or shortness of breath.

Frequently asked questions

Which blood values relate to fatigue?

Often relevant are iron/ferritin, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and thyroid function (TSH, Free T4). Which ones are useful for you depends on your situation.

Does blood testing solve my fatigue?

Blood testing reveals possible, treatable causes. It is a tool; you discuss the result with a doctor for the right next steps.

Do I need to fast?

For these markers fasting is usually not needed. If in doubt or combined with glucose we advise fasting; see our guide on fasting.

Sources