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Vitamin D3 Testing 101
Check your Vitamin D levels. Take home our Vitamin D collection kit today.
- Test from home, no blood draw at the Lab
- Choose your collection time - at your convenience
- Get accurate numbers to guide Vitamin D supplementation
- Always receive affordable pricing and fast results
Review the results with our consultants to determine the Vitamin D supplementation program best for you. |  |
Q. What diseases are associated with Low Vitamin D?
A. Low Vitamin D is associated with the following conditions:
Osteoporosis and osteomalacia (fractures)
Cancers; including breast, prostate and colon
Hypertension
Heart disease
Insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome
Depression | Seasonal Affective Disorder
Facial Hair and Acne
Migraines
Lowered resistance to influenza and viruses
Pain and muscle ache
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Q. What are the risk factors for Vitamin D deficiency?
A. Risk factors for Vitamin D deficiency are:
DARK SKIN - produces less Vitamin D than lighter skin
LIVING - north of 35ｰ LATITUDE*
AGING - less Vitamin D conversion with age
SUNSCREEN - using SPF 8 reduces production of Vitamin D by 95%
INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE - reduces Vitamin D absorption
OBESITY - Vitamin D is easily stored in body, being absorbed directly into fat cells from the intestine
LOW ESTROGEN LEVELS
Q. What's the "skinny" on vitamin D?
A. Vitamin D has long been associated with bone health, and it's true that it plays an important role in regulating calcium deposition and bone formation, but recent research has also shown that Vitamin D plays an important role in cardiovascular heath, immune system regulation, cancer prevention, blood sugar regulation and weight management!
Yes, that's right; vitamin D can help your patients who are struggling with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome!
The numbers of patients with insulin resistance and type II diabetes are growing at alarming numbers. Thanks to many of the diet and lifestyle choices that are prevalent in our culture, children and adults are increasingly more at risk of developing unwanted belly fat and imbalanced blood sugar levels that lead to their insulin receptors losing sensitivity. This problem is self-propagating, as increased insulin resistance will in turn cause more abdominal adipose tissue which is more insulin resistant than other tissue and the cycle continues.
Many patients who have developed insulin resistance will take medication that works on the insulin receptor and improves insulin sensitivity. Research has shown that while these drugs may improve insulin sensitivity by 13%, a higher vitamin D level is correlated with a 60% improvement in insulin sensitivity and a clinical trial using 1,332 IU/day for only 30 days in 10 women with type II diabetes improved their insulin sensitivity by 23%. Another study on obese children and adolescents found that "obese children and adolescents with low vitamin D status may be at increased risk of developing impaired glucose metabolism independent of body adiposity."
Testing for and treating for vitamin D insufficiency may not only help protect from carcinogenic sun exposure (through its many anti-cancer actions), but may play a role in helping with weight loss by controlling blood sugar.
Q. What does the test kit include?
A. The test kit contains everything needed for sample collection. An instruction sheet, a postage paid envelope, a specimen collection pad and a lancet used to pierce a finger (similar to the procedure for glucose testing). When the collection process is completed and the collection card is dry the sample can be packaged up and returned to the lab using the prepaid UPS shipping provided.
Q. What is measured with a D3 test kit?
A. 25 (OH) Vitamin D3
Q. What is the collection method?
A. Finger Stick Blood Drop - Simple Blood Drop test is used for Vitamin D level testing
Q. How many drops of blood are needed?
A. At least 4... 6 is preferable
Q. What are the blood drops collected in/on?
A. On a special collection card designed to separate the serum from the red blood cells
Q. Is it as accurate as blood draw?
A. Absolutely! You can always count on our Lab for excellent quality testing. We have run parallel testing with serum and results are comparable.
Q. How long does the collection card take to dry?
A. 1-2 hours
Q. Is the sample stable at room temperature?
A. Yes - for about 7 days
Q. Is return shipping included?
A. Yes - a US Postal label is inside the kit (US only)
Q. What is an optimal range for Vitamin D?
A. 70-100 ng/ml
Q. Isn't Vitamin D toxic? Can you get too much?
A. It is possible to have too much Vitamin D. That is why it is important to test.
Take a test to find out your Vitamin D3 levels. | 
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