Vitamin D results

[philamom]

Hi. My daughter has a low vitamin D (25-OH) result, but an elevated 1,25 (OH)2 Vit D total. Does anyone know what the elevated 1,25 means? thx

[dut]

Hi - found this on web.

 

don't know it's validity but...

 

 

Diagnosis of Vitamin D Deficiency

 

 

What’s the Right Test to Diagnose Vitamin D Deficiency and Why?

 

Laboratories offer two tests to determine vitamin D level in the blood. In vitamin D deficiency, one of them is low whereas the other one is often normal. Most physicians don’t know the distinction between these two tests and may order the wrong test. Consequently, they may say your vitamin D level is normal, when it’s actually low.

 

 

The right blood test to evaluate your vitamin D status is:

 

25 (OH) vitamin D (25-hydroxy vitamin D ).

 

 

The other blood test for vitamin D is 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D (1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D).

 

This is the wrong test to diagnose vitamin D deficiency! Why?

 

 

There are two reasons why 25 (OH) vitamin D and not 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D is the right test to diagnose vitamin D deficiency.

 

Reason 1:

 

25 (OH) vitamin D stays in your blood for a much longer period of time (half life of about 3 weeks) compared to 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D (half life of about 14 hours).

 

Therefore, 25 (OH) vitamin D more accurately reflects the status of vitamin D in your body.

 

 

Reason 2:

 

As vitamin D deficiency develops, your body increases production of parathyroid hormone by the parathyroid glands situated in your neck. Parathyroid hormone increases the conversion of 25 (OH) vitamin D into 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D. Consequently, 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D level in the blood will stay in the normal range (and can even be high) even if you’re low in 25 (OH) vitamin D.

Edited May 11, 2012 by dut

[philamom]

Good find - thank you so much. Sums it up.