Vitamin D Screening
Vitamin D Blood Test
This test is used to measure the vitamin D level in your body. Vitamin D, which is a fat-soluble vitamin, is called the ‘sunshine’ vitamin because the main natural vitamin D source is from sunlight exposure. At your IPSA clinic, the vitamin D test is used to check if you have lower vitamin D levels than you should have.
Vitamin D is vital in terms of maintaining healthy bones and teeth; it works by controlling levels of both calcium and phosphate in your body.
It is especially important for children below five years old, breast-fed babies/infants and pregnant women to ensure that their vitamin D levels are adequate.
Vitamin D deficiency is fairly common. Those particularly at risk of vitamin D deficiency include:
- Anyone over 65 years old
- Black or Asian individuals
- Anyone suffering from liver, kidney or gut disease
- Anyone with a bone metabolism issue
Who should have a vitamin D blood test?
The vitamin D test at your IPSA clinic is appropriate for you if you want to establish what your vitamin D level is and find out if you are vitamin D deficient. The vitamin D test might also prove especially useful for those over 65, for mums-to-be, for children under 5, for black or Asian skin types, and for people with liver, kidney, or gut diseases.
What are the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency?
There are a few signs that you may have a vitamin D deficiency, and these include:
- Muscle pain
- Fatigue
- Weakness and cramps
- Chronic pain
- Joint pain
- Restless sleep
- Weight gain
- Lack of concentration
- High blood pressure
- Headaches
- Constipation or diarrhoea
- Bladder problems
Depending on your vitamin D blood test results, your IPSA clinician will prescribe the appropriate vitamin D strength to restore you to your normal vitamin D levels. Your IPSA physician will also recommend that you are retested following an appropriate interval post-treatment.
If you do suspect that you may have a vitamin D deficiency or if you just want to find out your vitamin D levels, then book your same-day IPSA clinic vitamin D test online or by phoning your nearest IPSA clinic.
