A simple check of your so-important Vitamin D levels. Note, you can now
get a
fingerprick
test but I have kept this here
for those who need the same test they've had before for
comparison.
This is included in the
Nutrient
Level Test.
Vitamin D has a hormone-like effect and there is a high prevalence of
deficiency and it being insufficient even in normal populations. There
is growing evidence that vitamin D is involved in an increasing number
of chronic diseases including bone disease, cancer, autoimmune disease,
chronic fatigue and mental health problems.
Vitamin D is widely known to regulate calcium and phosphorus
utilisation in the maintenance of bone
health, but more and more research is showing that it is a potent
therapeutic tool that is currently
under-utilised in many other conditions. Furthermore, prevalence of a
vitamin D deficiency is thought
to be increasing, and the recommended daily allowance is thought to be
largely inaccurate.
Vitamin D is made in the skin on exposure to a
‘pinking’ dosage of sunlight. How much
is made will depend on age, the size of the area that is exposed to
sunlight, and skin
tone. Those living in the northern hemisphere are likely to only gain
enough sunlight
from May to October, however covering skin to prevent sunburn, and the
use sunblock
with SPF15 or above completely blocks vitamin D production in the skin.
Dietary
sources of vitamin D are unable to maintain optimal levels throughout
the year.
Why
measure 25(OH) Vitamin D?
Although 1,25(OH)2D3 is the most biologically active metabolite, levels
of this hormone
decline only once vitamin D levels are virtually depleted. 25(OH)
Vitamin D is regarded
as the most accurate assessment of vitamin D status, whereas testing
unconverted
vitamin D only gives transient information about recent nutritional
intake or sun
exposure.
Most tissues express receptors for this hormone-like vitamin, including
immune cells
and neurological tissues. Patients with or at risk of the following
should all be routinely
tested:
• Cancer of the breast, prostate, colon, and ovary •
Schizophrenia
• Low immunity or frequent infections • Diabetes
mellitus
• Cardiovascular disease • Fibromyalgia
• Hypertension • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
• Depression • Migraine
• Osteoporosis / osteopenia • Epilepsy
• Osteoarthritis • Autoimmune conditions
It should also be considered for patients with symptoms of
musculoskeletal pain and
low back pain, muscle weakness, loss of balance, and systemic
inflammation.
Once supplementation is implemented, regular blood tests should be
conducted to
ensure levels remain within the optimal range, as it is possible,
although rare, to reach
vitamin D toxicity.
.
Analytes:
Total 25(OH) Vitamin D
D2
D3