A deficiency or toxicity of vitamin D may be affecting your health. Too much vitamin D can cause a problem known as hypercalcemia, which can be dangerous. Too little vitamin D can affect the health of your cardiovascular and skeletal systems. If you feel as if you may not have a healthy level of vitamin D, there is a simple way to find out how much is in your blood stream.
Active Form
The body cannot use vitamin D until it becomes active. When vitamin D enters the blood, it first is directed into the liver. The liver converts dietary or sun sources of vitamin D into 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Next, the kidney converts 25-hydroxyvitamin D into the active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. This is also known as calcitriol.
Test
A blood test that analyzes the content of 25-hydroxyvitamin D is the best way to tell the amount of vitamin D in your body, according to the website Medline Plus. Blood is drawn from a vein after four hours of fasting. Normal levels indicating you are sufficient in vitamin D must be between 30 to 74 nanograms per milliliter of blood.
Significance
Having an adequate amount of vitamin D can help prevent many chronic disorders. A lack of vitamin D can cause havoc to your skeletal system, increasing the odds of developing osteoporosis as you age. Vitamin D is also beneficial to your cardiovascular system, according to a study conducted by Emory/Georgia Tech Predictive Health Institute in 2011. The blood vitamin D levels of 447 individuals were tested, and the health of their blood vessels was analyzed. In subjects with deficient amounts of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, blood vessels were unhealthiest. Researchers determined that vitamin D plays an integral role in keeping the blood vessels healthy and functioning properly, which may help reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure and heart disease.
Sources and Recommendations
Obtaining an adequate amount of vitamin D is essential. The Office of Dietary Supplements suggests taking in 600 IU per day for adults under 70. For those 70 years and over, adequate intake increases to 800 IU per day. Dietary sources of vitamin D do not provide the necessary means to get enough vitamin D, though vitamin D is found in eggs, fish and fortified grains and juice. The best way to obtain vitamin D is from the sun. Sunrays trigger the production of vitamin D inside your body. Expose yourself to sunlight between five and 30 minutes in the late morning and afternoon for optimal vitamin D absorption.
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