Planning to eat right for healthier bones? Calcium is probably the nutrient you think of first. But vitamin D is just as important for keeping bones strong and preventing the bone disease osteoporosis. Vitamin D helps your intestines absorb calcium from the food you eat. Getting enough of both nutrients is an important part of making sure your bones are dense and strong. Unlike calcium, which you only get through food, your body makes vitamin D when sunlight hits your skin. Active people who live in sunny regions can get at least some of what they need from spending time outdoors every day. But in less temperate areas such as Minnesota, Michigan, and New York, the skin makes less vitamin D in the winter months, especially for older adults. The amount your skin makes depends on where you live, how light or dark your skin is, and the time of day you’re outside. It could be about 15 minutes for a very fair-skinned person and an hour or two for someone with darker skin. But you have to be careful -- too much time in the sun raises your chance of having skin cancer.
Even though sunlight is a key part of your body’s vitamin D production, it’s best to protect your skin with clothing and sunscreen if you’ll be outside for more than a few minutes. How else can you get vitamin D? A few foods have it, such as: But it’s hard to get the amount you need from food alone. Experts recommend 600 international units (IU) of vitamin D per day for adults up to age 70, and 800 IU for people 71 and older. If you’re not getting enough from sunlight and food, you may need to take a supplement. You can get vitamin D in multivitamins and also in combination with a calcium supplement, as well as on its own. Keep in mind, though, that many diet supplements have vitamin D, so before you take another one, check the labels and let your doctor know what you’re taking. Getting too much vitamin D, especially above 4,000 IU per day, can be dangerous. If you already have osteoporosis, keep in mind that vitamin D and calcium alone are not enough to treat the disease.
You’ll need to take them along with other medications your doctor prescribes.You are hereHome > Prevention > Vitamin D Vitamin D helps the body maintain strong bones. The 25-hydroxy vitamin D test is used to detect bone weakness or other bone malfunctions or disorders that occur as a result of a vitamin D deficiency. The results of a 25-hydroxy vitamin D test can help your doctor recommend an appropriate treatment to make sure your body is getting enough vitamin D. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium and maintain strong bones throughout your entire life. Your body produces vitamin D when the sun’s UV rays contact your skin. Other good sources of the vitamin include fish, eggs, and fortified dairy products. It’s also available as a dietary Vitamin D must go through several processes in your body before your body can use it. The first transformation occurs in the liver. body converts vitamin D to a chemical known as 25-hydroxyvitamin D, also called
The 25-hydroxy vitamin D test is the best way to monitor vitaminThe amount of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in your blood is a good indication of how much vitamin D your body has. The test can determine if your vitamin D levels are too high or too low. The test is also known as the 25-OH vitamin D test and theIt can be an important indicator weakness) and rickets (bone Your doctor may request a 25-hydroxy vitamin D test for severalIt can help them figure out whether too much or too little vitamin D is causing bone weakness or other abnormalities. It can also monitor people who are at risk for having a vitamin D deficiency. Those who are at high risk of having low levels of vitamin D people who don’t get much exposure to the sunolder adultspeople with obesitybabies who are breastfed only (formula is usually fortified with vitamin D)people who have had gastric bypass surgerypeople who have a disease that affects the intestines, such as Crohn’s disease.
(This condition makes it difficult for your body to absorb nutrients.) Your doctor may also want you to do a 25-hydroxy vitamin D test if they’ve already diagnosed you with a vitamin D deficiency and they want to check if treatment is working. Your doctor will tell you not to eat anything for four to eight hours before the test. The 25-hydroxy vitamin D test requires a common blood test. doctor or a lab technician will draw blood from a vein in your arm using aA quick finger prick will more than likely provide enough for a blood sample in children and infants. No specific number range indicates vitamin D deficiency. depend on your age, gender, and the testing methods used. Results can also slightly vary from lab to lab. Low blood levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D usually mean one (or more) of the following: you aren’t eating a balanced, complete dietyour intestines aren’t absorbing the vitamin properlyyou’re not spending enough time outside to
absorb adequate vitamin D levels through sun exposure Some evidence links vitamin D deficiency to a higher risk of certain cancers, immune diseases, and cardiovascular disease. High vitamin D blood levels generally result from taking too many vitamin pills andHigh doses of vitamin D can result in a D. Hypervitaminosis is a rare but serious condition that could put you at risk for liver or kidney problems. High levels are rarely due to consuming too much of the vitamin through foods or sun exposure. Your doctor will help explain the results of your test and determine if you have a vitamin D deficiency. As with any routine blood test, risks of the 25-hydroxy vitamin test are minimal and include: excessive bleedinglightheadednessa slight chance of infection where the needle Vitamin D is vital to the body. Deficiencies at any age can causeYour doctor may recommend supplements or other treatment options ifEating foods that contain vitamin D in addition to