What Is The Vitamin D Level Range

Your Value Is Between 100

These values are considered to be too high, but are not classified as harmful to health. Nevertheless, you should reduce your 25D value to below 100 ng/ml. To achieve this, simply stop taking vitamin D in dietary supplement form and do not sunbathe. After roughly 3 months, have your 25D level retested. After your Vitamin D value is back in the normal range, adjust your vitamin D intake accordingly.

Truly Optimal Vitamin D Levels Are Higher Than You Might Think

Vitamin D is a hot topic these daysand given the many roles it plays in the body, it’s well-deserving of the attention. The thing is, though, there’s still a bit of confusion out there about how much vitamin D we really needand what levels we should maintain in our body for truly optimal health for life.

To help you achieve vitamin D sufficiency for life ,* let’s clear up just where you want your vitamin D levels to beand stay.

Significance Of Having Vitamin D Levels Within The Normal Range

Normal vitamin D levels are markers of bone health, an indication that the body is absorbing calcium properly. Too much or too little vitamin D is bad for ones health as insufficient levels of this vitamin force the body to get calcium from the bones in an attempt to normalize the calcium level, which makes the individual more susceptible to osteoporosis. On the other hand, an overabundance of vitamin D can cause toxicity which can harm the heart, kidney and liver. Aside from bone health, a normal vitamin D level is essential for a strong immune system to help the body ward off different sorts of infection caused by fungi, virus and bacteria. It is also important for the prevention of hypertension as vitamin D helps normalize the blood pressure.

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People Who Should Be Tested

The following should be tested for vitamin D deficiency:

• Individuals who receive therapy to prevent or treat osteoporosis
• Elderly people, especially those with minimal exposure to sunlight
• Patients with signs and symptoms of hypocalcemia or hypercalcemia
• Children and adults with suspected rickets and osteomalacia, respectively
• Patients receiving vitamin D therapy who do not demonstrate clinical improvement

What Does Your Diet Have To Do With Getting Enough Vitamin D

Vitamin D doesnt occur naturally in many foods. Thats why certain foods have added vitamin D. In fact, newer food nutrition labels show the amount of vitamin D contained in a particular food item.

It may be difficult, especially for vegans or people who are lactose-intolerant, to get enough vitamin D from their diets, which is why some people may choose to take supplements. It is always important to eat a variety of healthy foods from all food groups. The vitamin content of various foods is shown in the following table.

Vitamin D content of various foods

It is important to check product labels, as the amount of added vitamin D varies when it is artificially added to products such as orange juice, yogurt and margarine.

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Can Medications Cause A Vitamin D Deficiency

Yes. Vitamin D levels can be lowered by certain medications. These include:

• Cholesterol-lowering drugs .
• Seizure-control drugs .
• A tuberculosis drug .
• A weight-loss drug .

Always tell your doctor about the drugs you take and any vitamin D supplements or other supplements or herbs/alternative health products that you take.

Your Value Is Between 50

Congratulations, your values are in the optimum range to take advantage of the numerous health benefits of vitamin D. There is currently no sufficient scientific evidence to suggest that values above 60 ng/ml offer increased health benefits. Consequently, there is no need to attempt to reach higher levels.

Take the recommended dose of vitamin D daily to maintain your vitamin D levels, as described in point 1 above. Or continue to spend the same amount of time in the sun to maintain your value.

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What Causes Vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms

These are the most common causes of vitamin D deficiency symptoms:

Based On Years Of Patient Testing And Data Analysis We Have Updated Our Laboratory Report Reference Range To Reflect That Values Between 20

This raises the issue: is normal the same thing as optimal? Not necessarily. The Vitamin D Council places the ideal level between 40 and 80 ng/mL with levels below 20 ng/mL as deficient. The Endocrine Society has a Clinical Practice Guideline on the evaluation, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency. This guideline recommends a minimum vitamin D level of 20 ng/mL, but to guarantee sufficiency they recommend between 30 and 50 ng/mL for both children and adults. In contrast, the Vitamin D Council states that even levels between 30 and 40 ng/mL are still not quite sufficient. On the other end of the spectrum, results that fall between 80 and 100 ng/mL are not achievable naturally that is, they are only reached with some form of vitamin D supplementation. So, while they are not harmful levels, they are instead reflective of supplementation and therefore not what would be detected in a “normal” patient population.

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Health Effects Of Low Vitamin D

Vitamin D deficiency does not always have obvious symptoms but without treatment there can be significant health effects. These can include bone and muscle pain, and softening of the bones such as rickets and osteomalacia .

Some people are at greater risk of vitamin D deficiency, including:

• people with naturally very dark skin this is because the pigment in dark skin doesnt absorb as much UV radiation
• people who avoid the sun due to previous skin cancers, immune suppression or sensitive skin and those people who have limited sun exposure, such as nightshift workers
• people who wear covering clothing or concealing clothing
• people who spend a long time indoors such as those who are housebound or institutionalised
• people who are obese
• people who have a disability or a disease that affects vitamin D metabolism, such as end stage liver disease, renal disease and fat malabsorption syndromes such as cystic fibrosis, coeliac disease and inflammatory bowel disease
• people who take medication that affects vitamin D metabolism
• breast-fed babies of vitamin D deficient mothers

If you think you may be at risk of vitamin D deficiency, talk to your GP for advice. Your GP may recommend taking a vitamin D supplement.

Overexposure to UV is never recommended, even for people who have vitamin D deficiency.

Optimal Vitamin D Dose With Blood Test

If you suffer from a disease that makes it absolutely necessary for your vitamin D level to be in the optimal range, or if you want to know your exact level, then you should have your vitamin D level measured. The blood test to measure your vitamin D levels is called the 25D blood test.

The result of the blood test helps determine how much vitamin D you should take in the form of vitamin D capsules or vitamin D drops, etc., or whether you should increase your exposure to the sun in order to build up an optimal vitamin D level.

Since everyone absorbs vitamin D differently, the 25D value may develop differently. This means that not ever person will achieve exactly the same 25D level in their blood even if they take the same dose of vitamin D.

The following recommendations represent guidelines on how your vitamin D blood levels could increase when taking the respective amount of vitamin D. Therefore, this information should not be regarded as a guarantee for the specified values.

About 3 months after you begin taking your dose, you should have your vitamin D level re-measured to check on things. Once you have the result, you can assess how your vitamin D level has changed during the time you’ve been taking it, as well as to what extent the dose should be adjusted.

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How To Take Vitamin D

For best results take vitamin D once a day, with a meal, because it is a fat-soluble vitamin. If you take it on an empty stomach it is unlikely to be absorbed.

You can take it in the morning or at night, but if you tend to skip breakfast, take it in the evening, just before your evening meal.

It may be best to take it early in the evening, as there is a suggestion vitamin D can interfere with the production of melatonin. However, there is no evidence to support the fact that vitamin D disrupts sleep patterns.

Make sure you drink plenty of fluids.

If you miss a dose, skip it, but take the next one on time.

Taking Daily Vitamin D Which Vitamin D Supplement

Vitamin D supplements are available as tablets, soft gels, capsules, drops and injections.

Beware that not all vitamin D products contain the same amount of vitamin D cholecalciferol. In one 2013 study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers carried out laboratory testing on various vitamin D brands and found the potency of cholecalciferol varied from 9 146% of the stated dose. Only one manufacturer supplied a product within 90 120% of the expected potency.

When choosing a vitamin D product, always look at the back of the packaging and check the product is USP verified. This means the products have been rigorously tested and the ingredients have been verified. You can find a list of USP approved vitamins here.

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Genetic Polymorphisms And Environmental Modulators Of Serum 25ohd Levels

The serum concentration of 25OHD is under marked genetic influence as demonstrated in twin studies.- Two genomewide studies confirmed results from the candidate gene approach and identified polymorphisms in key genes of the vitamin D pathway., These include: 25-hydroxylase 1-hydroxylase 24-hydroxylase and 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase the D binding protein and the vitamin D receptor . Variants near genes involved in cholesterol synthesis, vitamin D hydroxylation, and transport were the most influential however, even when combined only explain less than 5% of variations in 25OHD levels.

Conversely, environmental and lifestyle factors account for more substantial variations in vitamin D status or serum 25OHD levels, amounting to 3 to 15âng/mL. Consistent predictors of low 25OHD levels are extremes of age, gender, pregnancy, UVB/sun exposure, season, pollution, clothing style, high BMI, lower socioeconomic status, skin pigmentation, race, and ethnicity, as detailed in Supporting Information, Appendix I., , , ,

Why And When You Should Get Tested For Vitamin D

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Vitamin D: The Sunshine Vitamin

Vitamin D helps our body absorb calcium and phosphorus from the diet. That is why it is essential for the development and functioning of bones and teeth. It is available in two forms: vitamin D2 and vitamin D3. Vitamin D2 is mainly found in plant-based food and whereas vitamin D3 is made by your own body when it is exposed to sunlight. It is also found in animal-based foods.

Both forms of vitamin D are changed to an active form which is 25 hydroxyvitamin D, also known as 25D.

What is the importance of Vitamin D test in India?

According to a study published in the Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, approximately 70-90% of the healthy Indian population is vitamin D deficient. Low level of vitamin D occurs commonly in India across the different age, sex, gender, urban or rural settings.

How do you know if your vitamin D levels are sufficient?

If you have low levels of vitamin D, your body might give some signs such as pain in joints and limbs, fatigue, etc. However, it is not uncommon to have vitamin D deficiency and have no signs altogether.A Vitamin D test is the best way to know if you have sufficient levels of vitamin D in your body. This test is done to measure the level of 25 hydroxyvitamin D in your blood to check whether it is low or higher than normal.

When should you get a Vitamin D test?

You need to undergo vitamin D test if you fall into any one of the following categories:

What happens in a Vitamin D test?

Range:

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Too Little And Too Much Vitamin D

We are conditioned to think about vitamins in terms of deficiency. If you don’t have enough vitamin D, you will have problems with bones and teeth, immunity, and chronic pain. Fortunately, it’s easy to correct vitamin D deficiency. Just take up to 5,000 IU of supplemental vitamin D on a regular basis .

There is such a thing as too much vitamin D. Too much vitamin D can cause calcium to flow out of your bones and into your bloodstream. This condition, called hypercalcemia, can trigger loss of appetite, nausea, increased urination, and bone pain. Extremely high vitamin D levels are associated with kidney failure. But if you have extremely high D levels, you probably have overdosed on supplemental vitamin D.

Your Value Is Between 0

This value indicates severe vitamin D deficiency and represents significant risk to health. This low vitamin D level means that calcium cannot be sufficiently absorbed into the blood, which may lead to osteomalacia. This may also affect muscle strength and motor coordination.

If your vitamin D blood level is e.g. 25 ng/ml or higher and you want to increase them, you can take the following amount of vitamin D :

To reach the mentioned value.. take this vitamin D Dose per day:

20 ng/ml ..1000 IU 30 ng/ml ..2200 IU 40 ng/ml ..3600 IU 50 ng/ml ..5300 IU 60 ng/ml ..7400 IU 70 ng/ml ..10100 IU

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Ways To Increase Your Vitamin D Levels

Vitamin D is a critical for good healthspecifically bone health. Appropriate levels of vitamin D can have impacts on a variety of medical conditions including7:

• Osteoporosis
• Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
• Hypertension
• Rickets

Yet many adults are vitamin D deficient, with a 2011 study finding that nearly 40% of participants did not have adequate levels.2 This is due to a variety of reasons ranging from diet to geographical location, and even factors like age and race play a role.2

Before you decide to increase your vitamin D levels, its best to know where youre starting from. A normal, sufficient level of vitamin D is considered to be > 50 nmol/L.2 Taking a basic test that measures levels of vitamin D in the blood can tell you what your current levels are, and where they sit on the range of deficient to potentially toxic. Talk to your doctor about getting this test performeda Vitamin D Test from US BioTek only requires four drops of blood from a simple finger prick.

If the results of your vitamin D test indicate a deficiency, and you and your physician have determined a need to increase your levels, its time to figure out a way to do so that works for you. Below are three simple ways to get more vitamin D.

Are Vitamin D Supplements Safe

Taking vitamin D supplements is safe so long as you stick to the recommended adult dose of 400 IU per day.

This dose is likely to achieve a blood level of vitamin D, in the region of 30 ng/ml.

There is generally no need to have blood tests if you want to take a vitamin D supplement. However, it is possible if you have specific health concerns, to see your GP and request a vitamin D blood test.

This can be done before you start, as a baseline, and then be repeated 3-6 months after starting treatment.

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Recommended Daily Allowance And Maximum Daily Allowed Intake

A dose of 400 to 600âIU/day for infants and children and 600 to 800âIU/day is sufficient for otherwise healthy Caucasian adults and elderly. In some populations with different risk stratification such as low baseline vitamin D status, obesity, or higher metabolic rate of vitamin D, higher levels may be needed as to achieve the desirable target levels. These recommendations fall within the conservative upper limit level set by IOM. Meta-analyses and meta-regressions using results of ongoing randomized trials in pregnant women, children, and other ethnic groups, would help refine age-specific and ethnic-specific recommended doses, as has been done for European recommendations.,