Why Test for Vitamin D?

Vitamin D deficiency is a real problem today and does not have obvious symptoms, but increases your risk for more serious diseases. Vitamin D deficiency is very common in northern climates with little sunshine. Researchers and experts say maintaining sufficient levels of vitamin D are important in protecting the body from a wide range of illnesses, including flu, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, osteomalacia, schizophrenia and autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis.

In addition, vitamin D deficiency is closely linked to increase in risk for strokes, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes (types 1 and 2)., depression, seasonal affectiveness disorder (SAD), and several cancers, including breast and colon cancer.

Vitamin D is metabolized by the liver to a storage form of the vitamin, which circulates in the blood until needed. Enzymes in the kidneys metabolize it further to form the highly active hormones that is involved in essential biochemical processes throughout the body.

Testing for vitamin D is therefore an important screening test, especially if you spend much of your time indoors, or live in a colder climate.

The ZRT blood spot test measures both the natural form of vitamin D (D3) as well as D2, the form that is used in many supplements. So testing can be used to monitor vitamin D supplementation to ensure you are getting the right amount for optimum health.

With ZRT’s innovative blood spot test, you can take this simple test in the comfort of your own home. A few drops of blood from a quick and nearly painless nick of the finger, placed on a filter paper to dry are all that is needed. You mail it off to ZRT Labs and then in about 1 week, you will know the level of vitamin D in your bloodstream.

Blood Spot Testing of Vitamin D Can Help:

• Identify vitamin D deficiency as a potential cause of health problems.
• Recommend the right dosage of vitamin D as a supplement.
• Monitor your D levels during supplementation to ensure you have adequate levels without overdosing.
• Understand appropriate ways to safely increase sunlight exposure and modify your diet to include more vitamin D foods and/or supplements.
• Track treatment progress.