Vitamin D is an important vitamin that helps your body absorb and store calcium, keeping bones and teeth strong. Having an inadequate vitamin D intake or problems with absorption may cause your vitamin D levels to drop. If you are concerned about your vitamin D status, you can take an at-home test or visit your doctor to have your blood carefully screened. Having low vitamin D levels may require you to take an over-the-counter supplement.
Function
Vitamin D is unique in that it is the only vitamin made in your body when skin is exposed to ultraviolet-B, or UVB, rays from sunlight. You can also get some vitamin D from a few foods such as salmon, sardines and egg yolk, as well as fortified milk, orange juice and breakfast cereal. Vitamin D is inactive and must undergo certain biochemical reactions to activate. Your liver and kidneys work hard to transform inactive vitamin D into the active form calcidiol, or 25-hydroxyvitamin D, which is the most abundant active form in your body. Once activated, vitamin D not only helps keep bones and teeth strong, it helps regulate your immune system, aids in insulin secretion and plays a role in cell differentiation, allowing cells to determine which type of cell they will become.
25-Hydroxy Vitamin D Test
Your doctor can run a routine blood test and check 25-hydroxy vitamin D in your blood. According to MedlinePlus, this test is the most accurate form of vitamin D testing. For the most accurate results, fast for approximately four hours prior to your scheduled blood draw. Vitamin D blood levels between 30.0 and 74.0 ng/mL are considered normal; however, normal ranges may vary slightly based on the laboratory where your sample is sent.
At Home Testing
The Vitamin D Council offers an at home kit to test vitamin D in your blood, which may suffice if you don't have insurance or if your insurance won't cover testing through your doctor. This test allows you to prick your fingers to draw a blood sample and send it out to a lab on your own. When your sample is analyzed, the lab also measures 25-hydroxy vitamin D, but the ideal ranges vary slightly, at 50 to 80 ng/mL. Although this type of testing analyzes the same form of vitamin D, it may not be as accurate since your sample may not be collected in a sanitary manner and it may not be handled properly during shipping.
Vitamin D Deficiency
If your vitamin D levels fall short, your doctor may want to you take a vitamin D supplement. A vitamin D deficiency prevents your body from absorbing enough calcium to maintain calcium blood levels. Consequently, calcium is pulled from bones to keep adequate amounts in your bloodstream. Eventually this can lead to osteoporosis, causing bone loss and brittle bones.
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