What Is The 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D Test?

Vitamin D is crucial for many bodily functions, especially the development of strong bones. A 25-hydroxy vitamin D test is able to determine whether a person has normal vitamin D levels.

In this article, we’ll discuss the purpose of 25-hydroxy vitamin D testing, what to expect, the results, and how to boost vitamin D.

What Is The 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D Test?

Vitamin D helps you absorb calcium and build strong bones all your life. Vitamin D is created by the sun’s UV radiation. Fish, eggs, and fortified dairy foods are good sources of the vitamin. It can also be taken as a dietary aid.

Vitamin D needs to go through many processes before it can be utilized by your body. The liver is the place that undergoes the first conversion. This is where your body converts vitamin A to calcidiol, also known as the name 25-hydroxy vitamin D.

The best way for vitamin D levels to be monitored is by using the 25-hydroxy vitamin D test. Your blood level of 25-hydroxyvitamin B is an indicator of how much vitamin A your body has. It will determine whether your vitamin A levels are too high/low.

The test is also known as the 25-OH vitamin D test and the calcidiol 25-hydroxy cholecalciferol test. It is an indicator of osteoporosis (bone loss) and rickets (bone malformation).

Why Is A 25-Hydroxy Vitamin-D Test Performed?

One reason your doctor may order a 25-hydroxy vitamin D testing is to determine if there are any other reasons. It helps doctors determine if vitamin D levels are too high or low, which can lead to bone weakness and other abnormalities. It can also be used to monitor individuals who might have a vitamin deficiency.

The following are high-risk individuals who may have low levels of vitamin D:

• People who don’t get enough sunlight
• For older adults
• People who are obese
• Only breastfed babies (the formula is typically fortified by vitamin D)
• People who have had gastric bypass surgery
• People who have a disease affecting the intestines that makes it difficult to absorb nutrients. Crohn’s disease

If they have already diagnosed you as having a vitamin deficiency or want to check if your treatment is working, your doctor might also ask you to perform a 25-hydroxy vitamin D test.

How Is 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D Tested?

Your doctor will instruct you not to eat any food for between four and eight hours before your test.

Common blood tests are necessary for the 25-hydroxy vitamin d test. A needle is used by your healthcare provider to draw blood from a vein on your arm. A quick finger poke will be enough to provide sufficient blood samples for children and infants.

Evaluating Results From A 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D Test

Results can vary depending on your gender, age, and testing methods. There may be slight variations in the results depending on where you are tested.

According to the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), levels of vitamin A are measured by the 25 hydroxy levels in nanomoles/liters or nanograms/milliliters. The following information can be found in the results:

• Deficiency: Less than 30 nmol/L (12.ng/mL).
• Potential for deficiency – between 30 nmol/L (13 ng/mL), 50 nmol/L (20 ng/mL).
• Normal levels: Between 50 nmol/L 20 ng/mL and 125 Nmol/L (50 mg/mL).
• High levels: greater than 125nmol/L (50ng/mL).

A doctor may recommend that you undergo a special scan to assess your bone structure. This painless scan can be used by doctors to evaluate a person’s bone health.

Low blood levels in 25-hydroxy vitamin D are usually indicative of one (or several) of these:

• You’re not eating a balanced, complete, and healthy diet
• Your intestines have not been absorbing the vitamin properly
• You’re not spending enough sun exposure to get sufficient vitamin D.

Some studies link vitamin D deficiency with a higher chance of certain cancers and immune diseases as well as cardiovascular disease.

High blood vitamin D levels are usually caused by taking too many vitamin pills and other nutritional supplements. High intakes of vitamin D can lead to hypervitaminosis. This is a rare but serious condition that can lead to kidney or liver problems.

A high level of vitamin B1 is rarely caused by excessive intake of foods or sun exposure.

Your doctor will review the results and tell you if you have vitamin D deficiencies.

Risks Of The Test

Your blood is taken at no risk. Your veins, arteries, and sizes can differ from one person to the next and from one side to another. Sometimes it may be more difficult for some people to get blood than others.

The risks of having blood drawn are also minimal.

• Excessive bleeding
• Multiple punctures are needed to locate veins
• Feeling lightheaded or faint
• Hematoma, or blood under the skin that has accumulated.
• Infection: A slight risk of infection if the skin breaks.

How to Increase Vitamin D Levels

Researchers from Switzerland found that only 10-15 minutes of sun exposure per day in spring and summer provided sufficient vitamin D.

To protect your skin from UV damage and sunburn, it is important you apply sunscreen with a high level of SPF. Vitamin D is not made by sunlight that has passed through the glass. This means that vitamin D cannot be produced indoors.

People might find it harder to get enough vitamin D from sunlight in less sunny times. These people may need to consume more vitamin D-rich foods.

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that is naturally found in very few foods. There are many other sources of vitamin D.

• Oily fish, like mackerel and tuna
• Beef liver
• egg yolks
• mushrooms

Supplements may be required if vitamin D levels remain low after a person has tried to increase them with food and sunlight. Before starting any new supplements, it’s best to talk with your doctor.

Summary

Vitamin D has many important functions in the human body. Low vitamin D levels can cause serious health problems like osteomalacia, rickets, and other conditions. A 25-hydroxy vitamin D test is a way to find out if you have a problem with your vitamin D levels or are at risk.

By spending some time outdoors in the sunshine each day, you can get sufficient vitamin D. Vitamin D-rich foods may also be beneficial.

Supplements can be prescribed to people who have difficulty getting enough vitamin A or who have underlying conditions that make it difficult to absorb vitamin D.