Vitamin D 25 Hydroxy

Why is this test important? While fortified milk, cereal and certain types of fish can provide limited amounts of Vitamin D in the diet, the main source is sunlight. For that reason, many people with indoor jobs, living in northern climates, or with concerns about the sun's harmful effects on skin may have a Vitamin D deficiency. This is potentially serious, since Vitamin D is critical to good bone health. Other medical studies suggest that Vitamin D may help lower risks of heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

What does the test include? The HealthCheckUSA Vitamin D, 25 hydroxy involves a blood draw from a qualified technician. Participants should fast at least four hours before the test. The test will show your body's amount of Vitamin D in the bloodstream, with a normal range of 30 to 70 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). All test results are analyzed by an accredited medical laboratory, and can be accessed on the HealthCheckUSA Web site within four business days after a blood test.

Who should be tested? In a study recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, 77 percent of U.S. teens and adults were found to lack enough Vitamin D in their system. You should strongly consider testing if you are a dark-skinned person, since the pigment melanin makes it harder for the skin to produce Vitamin D from sunlight. In addition, consider testing if you are a light-skinned person who has limited time in the sun, since a Stanford University study noted that such people are twice as likely to have Vitamin D deficiency. Crohn's disease, cystic fibrosis or celiac disease can reduce the intestine's ability to process Vitamin D from food, so consider taking this test if you have one of these medical conditions.