Vitamin D, 25-OH-Cholecalciferol Test

The analysis of Vitamin D, 25-OH-Cholecalciferol is primarily used to assess the body’s vitamin D status. This test measures the level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, which is the major circulating form of vitamin D in the blood. It provides critical information for diagnosing and managing conditions related to vitamin D deficiency or excess.

Uses and Benefits of Vitamin D, 25-OH-Cholecalciferol Analysis
1. Diagnosing Vitamin D Deficiency:
– Helps identify insufficient levels that can lead to bone disorders such as rickets in children or osteomalacia in adults.
– Deficiency is also linked to increased risk of osteoporosis, particularly in older adults.

2. Monitoring Supplementation:
– Evaluates the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation, ensuring optimal levels are maintained.
– Helps prevent excessive supplementation, which can lead to toxicity.

3. Bone Health Assessment:
– Provides insights into bone metabolism as vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and bone mineralization.
– Often used alongside calcium and phosphorus tests in diagnosing bone-related disorders.

4. Risk Assessment for Chronic Diseases:
– Low levels of vitamin D have been associated with increased risks of:
– Cardiovascular diseases.
– Type 2 diabetes.
– Autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis.
– Certain cancers, including colorectal and breast cancer.

5. Immune Function Evaluation:
– Vitamin D plays a key role in modulating the immune system, and its deficiency is linked to higher susceptibility to infections.

6. Fatigue and Muscle Weakness:
– Helps investigate unexplained fatigue, muscle weakness, or general malaise, which could be linked to low vitamin D levels.

7. Metabolic Disorders:
– Evaluates vitamin D status in conditions such as obesity, where fat storage affects vitamin D bioavailability.

8. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD):
– Monitors vitamin D levels in CKD patients since the kidney converts 25-OH vitamin D into its active form, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. Impairment in this process can lead to metabolic bone disease.

Optimal Levels
– Normal range: Typically 30-50 ng/mL (75-125 nmol/L), though this can vary by laboratory and region.
– Deficiency: Below 20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L).
– Toxicity risk: Above 150 ng/mL (375 nmol/L).

Clinical Applications
– Routine health check-ups in populations at risk (e.g., elderly, pregnant women, people with limited sun exposure).
– Monitoring in conditions that affect vitamin D metabolism (e.g., liver or kidney disease).
– Supporting the management of secondary hyperparathyroidism.

The test is simple and typically requires a blood sample. Results are valuable for guiding treatment and lifestyle recommendations, such as dietary changes, supplementation, or increased sun exposure.