Why is it useful to know and continuously monitor vitamin D levels from blood?
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to a number of health complications, including immune disorders, bone disease (rickets in children, osteomalacia or osteoporosis in adults) and, more recently, a link between vitamin D and mental health. Blood levels of vitamin D are influenced by several factors, including skin colour, age, body weight, health status and genetics. Therefore, some individuals may not synthesize enough vitamin D naturally from sunlight even during the summer months and would benefit from year-round supplementation. By knowing your current vitamin D levels, you can optimize your vitamin D intake to maintain overall health.

No. Vitamin D metabolism is a complex process that depends on many factors. There are also certain groups of people who need more vitamin D than others (e.g. seniors, people with dark skin, obese individuals, people with certain medical conditions, etc.). In addition, current recommended doses for vitamin D supplementation do not usually reflect current professional recommendations. Therefore, it is important to regularly monitor blood levels of vitamin D and then adjust supplementation doses appropriately based on the results.

There is no need to be fasting before taking the vitamin D test. The test can be done at any time of the day.

Vitamin D influences many important physiological processes in the human body, including maintaining healthy bones, teeth, immune system, and mental health. Monitoring vitamin D levels is suitable for anyone who wants to be sure to have adequate levels of vitamin D to promote health.

Regular testing of vitamin D levels is especially recommended for those at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency:

• older people over 65 (as we age, vitamin D production in the skin and absorption in the gut decreases),
  
• people with darker skin color, 
  overweight and obese people, 
  
• people who do not expose themselves to sunlight,
  
• people who suffer from osteoporosis or osteopenia, 
  
• people with malabsorption (for example, people with ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease or celiac disease),
  
• people with autoimmune, kidney or liver disease,
  
• people on a low-fat diet.