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Group urges people to seek vitamin D testing in winter months

Category: Vitamin D Deficiency-Diagnosis and Treatment

With the days growing shorter and individuals receiving less exposure to sunlight, doctors are urging people to seek vitamin D testing to make sure they have adequate levels of the nutrient in their systems.

Vitamin D is produced naturally in the skin following exposure to sunlight. This serves as the primary source for most people, as there are few natural food sources of the vitamin. However, during the winter, people tend to get less.

For that reason, the Ontario Society of Physicians for Complementary Medicine is warning people to take steps to make sure they have adequate levels of vitamin D throughout the winter. This may include seeking vitamin D testing or taking nutritional supplements.

The group said that healthy vitamin D levels should be around 100 to 150 nanomoles per liter of blood. However, studies have shown that the vast majority of individuals living at higher latitudes where there is less sun have far lower levels of vitamin D in their systems.

Vitamin D testing can alert individuals to potential problems with their nutritional status. This may enable them to take steps to boost their vitamin levels.