Data presented this week at the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) meeting showed that many people have low vitamin D levels and that testing individuals at risk may be beneficial.
According to published data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Survey, reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine, only 23 percent of Americans have vitamin D levels over 30 nanogram/millilitre (ng/mL), a level that many experts agree is needed for optimal health. Low vitamin D can cause skeletal disorders, such as rickets in children and bone loss in adults, and has been linked to an increased risk of hip fractures. Although research is still being conducted in this area, some studies have shown that people with a low level of vitamin D may have elevated risk for cardiovascular problems, autoimmune disorders and some infectious diseases.
“There are many factors that contribute to people having low vitamin D status,” said Neil Binkley, M.D., associate professor of Endocrinology and Geriatrics at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. “Low dietary intake, sun avoidance, age and geographic location all play a part. It is important to measure vitamin D in some individuals who may be at risk because of all of variables that may cause low vitamin D.”
Several published studies have shown low vitamin D levels are widespread but the potential health consequences are largely unrecognized. It has been reported in healthy children, young adults, especially African-Americans and middle-aged and elderly adults. Low vitamin D is often present in adults above age 50. One study in an outpatient setting showed that 41 percent of otherwise healthy adults 49–83 years were found to have low vitamin D throughout the year.
Source: Abbott Diagnostics
As of June, 2011 the Province of Nova Scotia has ceased Vitamin D testing for the general public (in the absence of unexplained high serum Calcium). Due to the urgent need to assess and quickly get my patients into an optimal Vitamin D blood level I have brought in the ZRT assay for Vitamin D. (Covered under Naturopathic Services In House Lab Testing by your insurance).
For a video of how the sample will be collected Watch Here.