Vitamin D Test
About Vitamin D Test
Vitamin D test – also called 25-hydroxy [25(OH)D] test – measures the level of vitamin D in your blood. Vitamin D is both a nutrient we eat and a hormone our bodies make, which is important for healthy bones and teeth. Healthcare providers use this test to screen the level of vitamin D in your blood and detect any disease.
Functions of Vitamin D
· Boosts immune health
· Maintains heart function
· Reduces inflammation
· Prevents certain types of cancer
· Promotes bone growth and mineralization
· Maintains normal cellular growth and function
· Regulates normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus
A Vitamin D test is done to determine the levels of vitamin D in your blood. Inadequate levels of vitamin D may lead to abnormal bone development, bone weakness, and pain. Excess levels of vitamin D can cause nausea and vomiting, and frequent urination, which might progress to bone pain and kidney problems. Thus, getting your vitamin D test is recommended to prevent bone-related diseases.
What is a vitamin D test used for?
Vitamin D test is used to determine:
Deformed bones
Low bone density(osteoporosis or osteopenia)
Abnormal bone development
Dental abnormality
Muscle weakness or cramps
Rickets, a problem with bone growth in children
Chronic (long-term) medical conditions
Who should get tested?
Vitamin D test is recommended for individuals at increased risk of deficiencies. The following factors can increase the risk of developing a vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency:
Age over 65 years
Being overweight or obese
History of weight loss surgery
Osteoporosis (low bone density)
Kidney disease
Digestive diseases
Vitamin D toxicity
Test Preparation
Special preparation and fasting are not required for this test. During this blood test, a healthcare professional will take a small amount of blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle, which is collected into a test tube or vial. This usually takes less than a few minutes.
Interpretation of results
The test result depends upon the gender, age, and method used. The table below gives the Vitamin D normal range.
|
Reference Range (25(OH)D) |
Interpretation |
|
<20 ng/mL / (<50 nmol/L) |
Deficient |
|
20 – <30 ng/mL / (50 – <75 nmol/L) |
Insufficient |
|
30 –100 ng/mL / (75 – 250 nmol/L)
|
Sufficient |
|
> 100 ng/mL / (> 250 nmol/L) |
Potential Toxicity |
Deviation from normal levels indicates the following:
Lower levels of total vitamin D may be due to vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency, which means you are:
· Not getting enough vitamin D from your diet and/or exposure to sunlight.
· Having trouble absorbing vitamin D from your food, which may be a sign of a malabsorption disorder.
· Having trouble changing vitamin D into a form your body can use, which may be a sign of kidney or liver disease.
Higher levels of total vitamin D may be due to excess vitamin D, a condition called “Hypervitaminosis D”, which means you are getting too much from supplements. Excess levels of vitamin D can cause serious damage to your organs and blood vessels. If you take vitamin D supplements, ask your provider what dose is right for you.
FAQs
What is vitamin D and why does the body need it?
Vitamin D is a pro-hormone, which means that your body converts it into a hormone. It is also a fat-soluble vitamin, which means you need fats in your body for proper absorption of vitamin D. Since vitamin D maintains calcium and phosphorous levels in our bodies, it is an essential vitamin for good bone, muscle, and teeth health.
What happens when vitamin D is low?
Vitamin D deficiency can cause several problems like low bone density, anxiety disorders, low blood calcium (hypocalcemia), low blood phosphate (hypophosphatemia), rickets (soft and deformed bones) in children, and osteomalacia (soft and deformed bones) in adults.
What are the symptoms of low vitamin D?
Symptoms related to low levels of vitamin D are fatigue, not sleeping well, bone pain or achiness, feelings of sadness, hair loss, muscle weakness, loss of appetite, and getting sick more easily.
Is excess Vitamin D harmful?
If the levels of Vitamin D increase too much you may have symptoms such as:
· Loss of appetite
· Fatigue (weakness)
· Increased frequency of urination
Higher levels of vitamin D increase calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia) which in turn causes severe health problems like the formation of kidney stones.
What are the good sources of vitamin D?
Two forms of vitamin D are essential for us. They are:
· Vitamin D2 (Ergocalciferol) – Vitamin D2 is naturally present in mushrooms that receive sufficient sunlight. Therefore, it is one of the best Vitamin D2 sources for vegetarians.
· Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) – your body converts cholesterol present in the skin to make Vitamin D3 when exposed to sunlight. Vitamin D3 is present in animal food products like:
· Fish that are rich in oil, such as mackerel, sardines and salmon
· Fat spreads that are fortified
· Powdered milk
· Eggs
· Breakfast cereals that are fortified
What are the different treatment methods suggested for treating Vitamin D deficiency?
The various treatment options available for Vitamin D deficiency are as follows:
- If the deficiency is in mild or moderate form, then regular lifestyle changes like eating Vitamin D-rich foods and getting exposed to sunlight are recommended.
- For some patients, doctors may suggest an intake of Vitamin D supplements.
- In patients with severe deficiencies such as low bone density and growth, Vitamin D injections are recommended.
Your healthcare provider will tell you which treatment will be beneficial in your case based on the results obtained from the vitamin D test.
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