Is your vitamin D level where it should be?

Vitamin D is involved in many processes in the body, including calcium and phosphate metabolism, bone and muscle function, and the immune system. Many people don’t know their vitamin D level, and it can vary with the seasons, time spent indoors, skin pigmentation, sun protection and age.

The Vitamin D Test Add-on measures the 25-OH vitamin D concentration in your blood serum, the form in which vitamin D is stored in the body and the recommended marker for assessing your vitamin D supply.

Vitamin D Test Add-on

• Measures total 25-OH vitamin D (both D3 and D2) in blood serum
• 25-OH vitamin D is the storage form of vitamin D and is particularly suitable for
assessing your supply
• Add it to your ImuPro test using the same blood sample
• Analysed in our specialised laboratory in Germany
• Clear report with your result, reference range and a plain-language assessment
• Results emailed approximately 10-14 days after your sample is couriered to
Germany
• Available direct to-consumer in Australia

Why vitamin D matters 

Vitamin D, often called the ‘sun vitamin’ is involved in many regulatory processes in the cells of the body. It plays an important role in calcium and phosphate metabolism and therefore in building and maintaining bone. It also supports muscle function and the immune system.

The body produces most of its vitamin D itself when skin is exposed to UVB radiation from the sun. A smaller portion comes from food, particularly fatty fish such as salmon, herring and sardines, and in smaller amounts from eggs, mushrooms and cheese.

Who might want to check their vitamin D level?

Vitamin D levels can be lower than ideal for a number of reasons. Factors that can contribute
include:
• Spending most of your time indoors
• Lower sun exposure in winter and early spring
• Consistent use of high-protection sunscreen, which blocks most UVB
• Darker skin pigmentation
• Older age
• Being overweight
• Certain medications, alcohol or nicotine use, or a limited diet
Common symptoms associated with low vitamin D include fatigue, listlessness, exhaustion, low mood, muscle weakness and bone pain. These symptoms have many possible causes, so a test result should be considered alongside your symptoms and other relevant information. If symptoms are severe, sudden, persistent or concerning, seek medical advice promptly.

How the Vitamin D Test Add-on works

• Order your Vitamin D Test Add-on online together with your ImuPro test or add it to a
recent ImuPro test.
• Have a standard blood sample collected at a local pathology collection centre.
• The blood is processed to obtain serum. Samples are shipped to our laboratory in
Germany every week.
• Your serum is analysed for total 25-OH vitamin D.
• Your results are emailed approximately 10- 14 days after your sample is couriered to
Germany.

What does the test measure in the laboratory?

What is measured. The test measures the total concentration of 25-OH-calcidiol (25-OH vitamin D), both the D3 and D2 forms, in your blood serum. This is the storage form of vitamin D and is the marker commonly used to assess vitamin D supply.

Units. Your report shows your result in ng/ml. Some publications and laboratories use nmol/L instead. To convert: 1 ng/ml = 2.5 nmol/L. For example, 25 ng/ml corresponds to 62.5 nmol/L. Always check the unit when comparing results or researching.

Preparation. No fasting required

Already having an ImuPro test?

Several tests can be performed from the same blood sample. This makes it possible to check your vitamin D level and investigate potential food-related immune responses from the same blood collection. If you have recently completed an ImuPro test, contact us if you would like to add on this test.

Understanding your results

Your report shows your 25-OH vitamin D concentration, the reference range (30 – 70 ng/ml, which is 75 – 175 nmol/L), and an assessment of whether your result is diminished, within range or elevated. It also includes background information about vitamin D, causes and symptoms of low levels, and general information about how vitamin D levels can be raised and re-checked.

The report interprets your result as follows:

A result should always be considered alongside your symptoms and health history. If your result is low, speak with your doctor or a qualified healthcare professional before starting high-dose vitamin D supplements. High doses should be supervised by a health professional, and individual absorption and needs can vary.

The laboratory suggests re-checking your level after a period of treatment to see whether your target has been reached.

With your test, you will receive

• An analysis of your serum for total 25-OH vitamin D (D3 and D2)
• A clear report showing your result against the reference range, with a plain-language assessment
• Background information on vitamin D, risk factors and how levels can be monitored

Frequently Asked Questions