Fat-soluble vitamin D primarily aids in calcium absorption, which promotes bone mineralization, growth and remodeling. Your body synthesizes vitamin D from sunlight, but you can also obtain the vitamin from fortified sources, including milk, and small amounts from eggs, fish and fish liver oils. You may not get enough of this nutrient from sunlight or food. Consult your doctor to determine if you have a low vitamin D level.
Defining the Ds
Your body utilizes two forms of vitamin D: D3 and D2. The body creates vitamin D3 from sunlight's ultraviolet B radiation. Plants synthesize vitamin D2; food products, including fish and eggs, contain this form of vitamin D. You can get both D2 and D3 from vitamin-fortified foods and from supplements. The liver and kidneys convert vitamin D2 and D3 into their active form, which circulates through the blood, so that your body can utilize the vitamin for biological process.
Deficiency
The Office of Dietary Supplements states that Research has yet to suggest specific cut-off values for vitamin D levels, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. Based on the ODS's review of data, you are at risk of vitamin D deficiency if your serum level is lower than 12 ng/ml. Your health care provider may use a different figure. If a blood test shows a vitamin D deficiency, address the issue with your doctor right away since a prolonged deficiency can lead to softening of the bones.
Inadequate Level
According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, if you have a serum Vitamin D level between 12 ng/ml and 20 ng/ml, you have an insufficient, or inadequate, amount of the vitamin. MayoClinic.com presents findings that suggest association between inadequate vitamin D levels and a number of conditions, including osteoporosis, muscle weakness and hyperparathyroidism. The Office of Dietary Supplements suggests that serum vitamin D levels greater than 20 ng/ml are adequate for bone and overall health. Your health care provider may encourage you to take a vitamin D supplement if your level is less than 30 ng/ml.
Restoring Levels
Your doctor will likely prescribe a high-dose treatment if she has diagnosed a vitamin D deficiency. Dr. Michael Holick of Boston University Medical Center recommends 50,000 IU vitamin D once a week for eight weeks, followed by the same treatment for eight more weeks if the blood level remains low. Ask your doctor what she recommends in terms of high-dose treatment. If you do not have a deficiency, but you do present with inadequate levels of vitamin D, your doctor will likely recommend either the high-dose treatment or an over-the-counter supplement depending on factors such as your age, how much sun exposure you get and your consumption of fortified foods. Too much vitamin D can lead to toxicity, so discuss the use of this supplement with your doctor prior to beginning a daily regimen.
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