Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy

• Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy, Total

Methodology: Immunoassay (IA)

Fasting: Fasting is preferred, but not required.

Water: Drink plenty of water to stay well hydrated.

Medications: Take all medications as prescribed.

Dietary supplements: If you take a dietary supplement containing Vitamin D, discontinue the dietary supplement 48 hours (two days) prior to the blood test. This will give a more realistic picture of a person’s Vitamin D status.

3-4 business days
Result turnaround times are estimates and not guaranteed. Due to factors outside of our control, such as weather, holidays, confirmation/repeat testing or equipment maintenance, our lab may require additional time to complete tests.

Measurement of serum 25-OH vitamin D concentrations provide a good index of circulating vitamin D activity in patients not suffering from renal (kidney) disease. Lower than normal 25-OH vitamin D levels can result from a dietary deficiency, poor absorption of the vitamin or impaired metabolism of the sterol in the liver.

Conditions associated with Vitamin D deficiency include:

• Back pain
• Breast Cancer
• Colon Cancer
• Congestive heart failure
• Depression
• Heart attacks
• Hypertension
• Insulin resistance
• Menopausal symptoms: vaginal atrophy
• Menstrual Migraines
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Musculoskeletal pain
• Osteomalacia and Rickets
• Osteoporosis
• Ovarian Cancer
• Pancreatic Cancer
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
• Prostate Cancer
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
• Type I Diabetes (Insulin Dependent)
• Type II Diabetes (Non-Insulin Dependent)

The Endocrine Society recommends regular screening for individuals at risk for deficiency. These include people who have:

• Osteoporosis
• Osteomalacia and rickets
• Chronic kidney disease
• Diseases that require certain medications (anti-seizure medications, glucocorticoids, AIDS medications, antifungals, cholestyramine)
• Malabsorption syndromes, including inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, cystic fibrosis, history of bariatric surgery
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Hepatic failure

Screening is also recommended for:

• African American and Hispanic children and adults
• Pregnant and lactating women
• Older adults with a history of falls
• Older adults with history of nontraumatic fractures
• Obese children
• Obese adults

Above normal levels of vitamin D can lead to elevated calcium in the blood, called hypercalcemia.

The Silent Disease of Vitamin D Deficiency, by Dr. John Neustadt

Vitamin D (Mayo Clinic)

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