Vitamin D is essential for human health. To ensure that you are getting optimal vitamin D from sun exposure and diet, your doctor might suggest that you get a vitamin D test, which typically measures the amounts of 25-hydroxy vitamin in your blood.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is produced by cells in your skin when you expose yourself to sunlight. Your body needs vitamin D to properly absorb calcium. Individuals deficient in vitamin D might have poor bone health. A 2008 report in "USA Today" explains that low vitamin D levels are also linked to a number of chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure and cancer. For this reason, doctors have started to keep a close eye on their patients' vitamin D levels. Vitamin D deficiency can occur for several reasons, such as lack of sunlight exposure, poor diet or an inability to absorb vitamin D.
Vitamin D Tests
There are multiple ways to test for vitamin D levels in the blood. Some less-common tests look for the amount of pure vitamin D in your blood or the levels of vitamin D-based hormones. MedlinePlus says the most common and most accurate vitamin D test is the aforementioned 25-hydroxy test, which seeks out a precursor to the active hormonal form of vitamin D that is eventually made in your kidneys. By knowing your 25-hydroxy vitamin D numbers, you can determine whether or not you are making adequate vitamin D from sun exposure or getting enough vitamin D from your diet.
Test Numbers
According to MedlinePlus, the normal range for a 25-hydroxy vitamin D test is between 30 and 74 ng/ml. While numbers in the range of 30 ng/ml do not indicate a true medical deficiency of vitamin D, they might not be optimal, according to the Vitamin D Council. At levels below 40 ng/ml, your body does not store vitamin D. To ensure optimal health, the Vitamin D council advises maintaining a 25-hydroxy vitamin level of at least 50 ng/ml.
Recommendations
MayoClinic.com recommends that adults get between 200 and 2,000 IU of vitamin D per day. As little as 10 minutes of exposure to the sun can supply such levels during sunny months. If you are concerned with your vitamin D levels, ask your doctor to perform a 25-hydroxy vitamin D blood test. Home test kits are also available from many drugstores and online retailers. If you are found to be vitamin D-deficient, your doctor will likely recommend that you take a vitamin D supplement and get more sun exposure. If these steps fail to bring up your vitamin D numbers, additional tests and prescription-strength vitamin D supplements might be recommended.
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