WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO CONFIRM VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY?

The most reliable way to know whether your body has enough vitamin D is through a blood test. Symptoms can give hints, but only lab results can confirm.

🧪 1. Blood Test (Gold Standard)

• The test is called 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] test.
• It measures the main circulating form of vitamin D in the blood.

📊 Interpretation of Levels (ng/mL or nmol/L):

Vitamin D Level	ng/mL	nmol/L	Status
< 12 ng/mL	< 30 nmol/L	Deficient – risk of rickets/osteomalacia
12–20 ng/mL	30–50 nmol/L	Insufficient – may affect bone/immune health
20–50 ng/mL	50–125 nmol/L	Sufficient/Optimal
> 50–60 ng/mL	> 125–150 nmol/L	High – usually safe, but monitor
> 100 ng/mL	> 250 nmol/L	Possible toxicity (too much supplement)

⚠️ 2. Symptoms Suggesting Deficiency

• Frequent colds/infections
• Fatigue, low mood, or depression
• Bone or back pain
• Muscle weakness
• Slow wound healing

(But these are nonspecific — they can come from other issues too.)

✅ 3. Risk-Based Checkups

You might need testing if you:

• Have little sun exposure
• Are older, darker-skinned, or obese
• Have chronic kidney/liver disease
• Take medications affecting vitamin D
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding

👉 In short: A blood test is the only accurate way to confirm vitamin D sufficiency.