Meet Dr. Kieu, one of B12 LOVE’s highly experienced functional medicine providers. She specializes in women’s hormone health, metabolic health, and gastrointestinal wellness, bringing a comprehensive approach to every patient interaction. Since joining B12 LOVE in 2021, Dr. Kieu has partnered one-on-one with clients across all nine of our locations.
Driven by her deep interest in biology and biochemistry, Dr. Kieu pursued her medical degree and discovered her passion for functional medicine—an approach that thoughtfully integrates modern science with traditional practices.
Her care philosophy is rooted in evidence-based medicine and measurable outcomes. Dr. Kieu is committed to helping each patient achieve a balanced, vibrant lifestyle—one that supports both their health goals and the things they LOVE most. She is known for her compassionate, judgment-free approach, creating a supportive environment where patients feel empowered to make sustainable, personalized changes.
Dr. Kieu is currently accepting new patients and supports individuals on their journey to optimal health. She offers in-person visits at B12 LOVE Embarcadero and B12 LOVE Montclair, as well as convenient virtual consultations.
What is functional medicine, and how is it different from conventional medicine?
“Functional medicine is rooted in treating every person individually and holistically. Holistically, meaning instead of an organ-systems approach, like when you see different specialists for different organ systems (endocrine, cardiac, GI), we’ll look at labs and treat integratively, combining nutrition, herbs, hormones, and prescription medications when needed. Functional medicine aims to ensure the foundations of health are solid (sleep, nutrition, environment, metabolic health) alongside supporting and addressing the symptoms patients experience that affect their day-to-day quality of life. It’s awesome that we’re able to spend a lot more time educating patients about what their labs mean, which empowers them to understand why we recommend our targeted treatment plans. I find the extra one-on-one time is impactful (a functional medicine consultation is longer than the typical conventional medicine appointment) when it comes to patient compliance and positive outcomes because I see a lightbulb click when we connect the WHY before they agree to make the lifestyle changes. We respect and acknowledge all forms of medicine when it comes to making sure patients have all the education and tools they need before deciding if higher force interventions are necessary.”
Why do you think personalized lab testing is so important for understanding someone’s health?
“Comprehensive lab testing is so critical in understanding the whole picture. For example, if someone is seeing me because they have difficulty with sleep or losing weight, I’ll need to evaluate different lab values to understand where the resistance is coming from.”
Who is a good candidate for functional medicine testing and consultations?
“The best candidates are people who are ready to take a proactive role in approaching their health. The patients who are actually successful are the ones who are committed to making nutrition and lifestyle changes, and who are ready to be compliant with taking some supplements for a short period of time.”
We just launched our new at-home test kits, one being our Comprehensive Women’s Hormone’s At-Home Test Kit. What are some signs that a woman might benefit from hormone testing?
“All women can benefit from hormone testing, at any stage of life—especially women who have difficult menstrual cycles such as heavy and painful periods, irregular periods, or women who have a history of being on birth control. Also, women who are perimenopausal, menopausal, or have difficulty conceiving.”
When should women start paying closer attention to their hormones?
“All women should be tracking their menstrual cycles. I started doing this when I discontinued birth control at age 22. I was on birth control from a young age because I was having heavy and painful periods. While they were very helpful at that stage of life, in retrospect, I could have managed those heavy and painful periods with nutrition and supplements, but as a 15-year-old I did not know any of this! But, back to the question—women who are menstruating should begin tracking their cycles through an app; women who are noticing changes and irregularities in menses should be working with a licensed provider to make sure their hormones are balanced so that they can live their best and most vitalistic lives.”
In your opinion, what is the Comprehensive Longevity Test and what makes it different from a standard lab panel?
“Standard labs are your routine labs, typically a CBC, metabolic panel, lipids, A1c, and if you’re lucky, a TSH. There are standard lab reference ranges and then there are functional/optimal lab ranges which are ranges that functional medicine aims for where you will actually FEEL good. The B12 LOVE Comprehensive Longevity Test looks at all those markers and beyond, which we use to guide us toward more specific and individual blood tests that we might order if your Comprehensive Longevity Test markers aren’t in that functional range.”
Who should consider a longevity-focused test? Is it only for older adults?
“I recently did a longevity-focused test at B12 LOVE and I found the results to be useful in validating my current lifestyle, nutrition, and targeted supplement routine. It’s not only for older adults. Anyone who is serious about prioritizing their overall well-being to live their best quality of life should be considering these labs.”
What are the benefits of reviewing these tests with a functional medicine provider instead of trying to interpret them alone?
“There is so much info online, it’s overwhelming. I suppose if someone has a background and solid understanding of biology and physiology, they can piece it together. The information online can be conflicting and usually isn’t personalized, so that’s where people who are proactive and try to do this solo begin to feel a sense of overwhelm and begin taking over 10 supplements a day, which is not ever my goal. These tests are tools, and working with a licensed functional medicine specialist will get you to your goals more efficiently and without the health anxiety many experience when doing it solo. I’m all about collaborating with my patients to find a plan that they will actually be compliant with.”
If someone is interested in learning more about their hormones or longevity markers, what’s the first step they should take?
“They should schedule a complimentary call with a B12 LOVE provider. It’s a quick, 10-minute call to help you get started!”
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