Table of Content
- Best At-Home Vitamin D Tests for 2022
- Everything you need to understand your results
- How can I tell if I have a vitamin deficiency?
- So, what causes vitamin D deficiency?
- Do I need follow-up tests?
- What is the maximum amount of vitamin d?
- How to get the best results from a home vitamin D kit
- How do you know what vitamins your body needs?
Test results may distinguish between vitamin D amounts that are only slightly outside of the ideal range, called an insufficiency, and those that may cause more serious problems, called a deficiency. Results may also indicate a sufficient level of vitamin D or an elevated level that indicates a risk of toxicity due to ingestion of large doses of vitamin D supplements. Reference ranges often vary by laboratory due to differences in testing methods.
Though an at-home test should not substitute for a doctor’s or nutritionist’s advice, it may indicate missing nutrients in a person’s diet. This form enables patients to ask specific questions about lab tests. Your questions will be answered by a laboratory scientist as part of a voluntary service provided by one of our partners, American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.
Best At-Home Vitamin D Tests for 2022
Once your baby is six months old, and up until they are five years, daily vitamin A, C and D supplements are recommended (unless they’re having 500ml or more of first infant formula each day). When you buy your baby vitamin supplements, make sure you read the label to check they are age appropriate. The most accurate way to measure how much vitamin D is in your body is the 25-hydroxy vitamin D blood test. A level of 20 nanograms/milliliter to 50 ng/mL is considered adequate for healthy people. However, it's important to feel supported in understanding your results, which will vary from company to company. "Like any other lab testing, you'll get a reference range, which doesn't tell you what optimal levels are," says Bonney.
However, in cases of a significant deficiency, you may notice possible related symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, easy bruising, skin dryness, and brittle nails. A doctor or registered dietitian can provide more detailed recommendations on which nutrients you may be lacking and how you can modify your diet to ensure that you’re meeting your needs. It’s important to consider your medical history, diet, and symptoms to determine whether a nutrient deficiency test is right for you. The Labcorp Ferritin Test is processed in a CLIA-certified lab, and samples must be collected by a trained technician at one of their nearly 2,000 locations. The LetsGetChecked Vitamin B12 Test has multiple 5-star reviews noting quick and accurate results. You can then share your results with a doctor or dietitian before making any changes to your current diet or supplement routine.
Everything you need to understand your results
Contact a healthcare professional if you are concerned about your vitamin D levels. Vitamin D, also known as “the sunshine vitamin,” is a hormone produced in your body when your skin reacts with sunlight and other nutrients in your body. Vitamin D is not found naturally in many foods, but it is essential to healthy bones and a properly functioning immune system, among other things. Genetics, prescription medications, and other factors can affect levels of vitamins and minerals in the body, and a healthcare professional will consider these.
To identify signs of chronic inflammation, a healthcare provider may test for additional markers of inflammation. Blood tests are traditionally used to check for vitamin deficiencies. While saliva tests are also available, these may not be as accurate. This is why all our selections rely on blood samples obtained via finger pricking . In some cases, you may need specific vitamin or mineral supplements, such as a multivitamin with iron or vitamin D3, B6, or B12.
How can I tell if I have a vitamin deficiency?
Acute inflammation is often a sign your body is working to fight an infection or heal itself. In contrast, when inflammation persists, or is in response to the body's own cells, it is referred to as chronic inflammation. In chronic inflammation, your body’s immune system continues to send out it’s main defenders, white blood cells, and other messengers to fight.
It states that at-home tests may not require insurance coverage, but it is best to check with the insurance provider directly and ask whether some coverage is available. A doctor within the user’s state reviews and approves the person’s test and provides a personalized report with resources and health insights. Vitamin D from supplements is often in the form of lanolin from sheep or the animal-free alternative lichen. While this vitamin is not plentiful in food, mushrooms are one of the best sources of vitamin D through diet.
The Vitamin D Monitoring Test from imaware is our pick for clearest at-home vitamin D test results. Along with your level of vitamin D, your test results include information about how to discuss a treatment plan with your health care professional and track your vitamin D levels over time. Return your test sample to Everlywell using the prepaid shipping label. You’ll be notified when your results are available, which is generally within a few days. At-home vitamin D tests enable you to collect a blood sample at home for testing and then mail it to a laboratory for analysis.
And we should never underestimate the power of exercising outdoors. Time outdoors will increase our chances to produce vitamin D naturally and consequently, counteract the negative effects of a deficiency. MyLAB Box offers a testing experience similar to the above options but with a slightly quicker turnaround time. After registering your test, obtaining your finger-prick blood sample , and sending it back with the prepaid shipping label, you can expect to receive your results online in two to five days. For this test, you’ll collect a blood sample via finger prick.
Check their brand website and the reviews they have received to see what other people think of their service. It will get tested and the service provider should contact you to tell you your results. Thanks to modern technology, going to the GP isn’t your only option if you want to test your vitamin D levels, you can now do a vitamin D test at home. The most common vitamin D blood test is called the 25-hydroxyvitamin D, also known as 25- D.
To learn what your vitamin D test results mean, talk with your provider. Your body makes vitamin D when your bare skin is exposed to sunlight. Research shows that a lack of vitamin D in your body can lead to hair loss. One role vitamin D plays is stimulating new and old hair follicles. When there isn't enough vitamin D in your system, new hair growth can be stunted. B12 is critical for oxygen delivery and energy production, so low levels can cause extreme fatigue.
Though vitamin D is a valuable marker on its own, there is evidence that low vitamin D levels are often seen in individuals with elevated CRP levels. If you're not getting enough iron, you may develop iron-deficiency anemia. You can also talk with your insurance company to see whether they cover nutritional deficiency tests performed at your doctor’s office or a local lab. Comparing such costs can help you determine which option could be the most affordable. Testing is the only definitive way to determine whether you have a nutrient deficiency.
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