Description
What it does:
The basic function of vitamin D is to regulate blood levels of calcium and phosphorus, helping to build strong bones and healthy teeth.
Other functions include:
- Immune system, which helps you to fight infection
- Muscle function
- Cardiovascular function, for a health heart and circulation
- Respiratory system – for healthy lungs and airways
- Brain development
- Maintain healthy body weight
- Anti-cancer effects.
Vitamin D and other nutrients:
To get the most benefit from Vitamin D, the following co-factors are needed:
- Magnesium
- Vitamin K
- Zinc
- Boron
- Vitamin A
Testing for Vitamin D – what does the results mean?
When you get your test results you will see a number in units of ng/ml, for example, 50 ng/ml. These are the units that health professionals in the United States use. Elsewhere in the world, vitamin D blood test results are given in units of nmol/l.
To convert a test result measured in nmol/l to one measured in ng/ml, divide the nmol/l number by 2.5. For example, 50 nmol/l is the same as 20 ng/ml (50÷2.5).
To convert a test result measured in ng/ml to one measured in nmol/l, multiply the ng/ml number by 2.5. For example, 20 ng/ml is the same as 50 nmol/l (20 x 2.5).
These are the ranges that different organizations in the United States use to say whether you’re severely lacking in vitamin D (deficient), mildly lacking in vitamin D (insufficient) or whether you’re getting enough vitamin D (sufficient):
| Vitamin D Council | Endocrine Society | Food and Nutrition Board | Testing Laboratories | |
| Deficient | 0-30 ng/ml | 0-20 ng/ml | 0-11 ng/ml | 0-31 ng/ml |
| Insufficient | 31-39 ng/ml | 21-29 ng/ml | 12-20 ng/ml | |
| Sufficient | 40-80 ng/ml | 30-100 ng/ml | >20 ng/ml | 32-100 ng/ml |
| Toxic | >150 ng/ml | |||
| Vitamin D 25(OH)D range guidelines from various organizations: | ||||
The Vitamin D Council suggests that a level of 50 ng/ml is the ideal level to aim for. This is why the Council recommends that adults take 5,000 IU/day of vitamin D supplement in order to reach and stay at this level.
The Endocrine Society recommends taking a vitamin D supplement of around 2,000 IU/day to reach and stay above a level of 30 ng/ml. This is what the Endocrine Society recommends as the ideal level to aim for. Lastly, the Food and Nutrition Board recommends 600 IU/day of vitamin D supplement because they believe 20 ng/ml is the ideal level to aim for.
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