by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP To test or not to test – recommendations for people who choose to get vitamin D testing – and some guidance for those who don’t How do I know if I need testing? What if I decide not to get tested? What specific test should I request from my healthcare provider? Do I need to schedule my vitamin D test at a certain time, or together with other tests? What levels are optimal when I get my vitamin D tested? How much does a vitamin D test cost? Is testing worth it? What do I get in return for my investment? How do I know how much vitamin D to take to get replete? Should I be worried about vitamin D toxicity? How can I prevent vitamin D toxicity? What are the symptoms of vitamin D toxicity? Can someone be just hypersensitive to vitamin D?Do I need it? How can I maintain my vitamin D levels once I get them up to where I want to be? Today we know the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is widespread, and for this reason feel testing is easily justifiable for all people.
Everyone stands to benefit from knowing what their levels are and, if not optimal, supplementing their vitamin D3 intake. But we also recognize that for whatever reason, not everyone will choose to get tested. Still, at the very minimum, people who have or are at higher risk of the following health concerns should seriously consider getting their vitamin D levels tested: In addition, anyone who experiences symptoms of: As we explain at some length in our full article on vitamin D, “Is Vitamin D Deficiency Casting A Cloud Over Your Health?,” there is a wealth of health benefits to be enjoyed when we are vitamin D replete. One way to get there knowingly is through periodic testing and vitamin D supplementation. But if you choose not to get tested, all the benefits of the sunshine vitamin are still available to you. You have two options: Natural vitamin D production. The freest, most natural way is nature’s own: through limited exposure of your skin to the sun. Without sunblock, your skin can manufacture on average 10,000–15,000 IU vitamin D in a single “pinking” exposure.
But this route has its limitations, too. Most obviously, if your skin is very, very light, or if you are at risk of or have a history of melanoma, or if you’re fearful of sun exposure for any reason, this is not a workable option for you. (Note that sunblock with an SPF of 15 or higher will block 100% of vitamin D production.) In addition, sun exposure doesn’t work equally well for everyone. It’s a given that the darker your skin, the more melanin pigment it contains, and the more prolonged sunshine exposure you will need to produce adequate 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.