Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) & Vitamin B12
Understanding Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) & Vitamin B12
What is Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) & Vitamin B12?
A Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) & Vitamin B12 package helps measure the level of vitamin D and B12 in the blood and detect possible health concerns associated with vitamin D and vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin D helps keep bones, teeth, and muscles healthy, whereas vitamin B12 maintains blood, brain, and nerve functions.
Vitamins, although required in small amounts, are significant in maintaining your overall health and well-being. Vitamin D plays a vital role in many bodily functions, including immune system regulation, bone health maintenance, and cell growth. It is also a multifunctional hormone that regulates the levels of other nutrients, such as calcium and phosphorus. Low vitamin D levels can lead to many disorders, such as an increased risk of fractures, muscle weakness and lethargy, dysfunction of the immune system, and an increased risk of chronic diseases like diabetes.
Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, belongs to the B complex group of vitamins. It is vital for making red blood cells, cell and tissue repair, and optimal brain and nerve health. Some common symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency include weakness, mouth ulcers, appetite loss, numbness, muscle weakness, etc.
A Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) & Vitamin B12 package can help determine vitamin D and vitamin B12 deficiencies or if you have too much vitamin D in your body (most likely from excessive supplements). This test also helps determine the response to vitamin B12 therapy in conditions like anemia. Additionally, this test is an important monitoring parameter to maintain a healthy pregnancy, as low vitamin B12 levels have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes like anemia, low birth weight, and growth retardation of the baby.
Usually, no special preparation is required for this test. You may eat and drink as per your daily routine. However, do let your doctor know about all the medications you take, as some of them may affect the accuracy of the test results.
Test result ranges are approximate and may differ slightly between labs depending on the methodology and laboratory guidelines. Talk to your doctor about your specific test results. The results will help them determine your medical condition, make recommendations for lifestyle modifications such as diet and exercise, prescribe medication, if required, to manage your condition, and formulate your overall treatment plan.
What is Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) & Vitamin B12 used for?
A Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) & Vitamin B12 test can be done:
- As part of routine checkups to monitor your overall health.
- To determine deficient, insufficient, or toxic levels of vitamin D and B12 in the body.
- If you have vitamin D deficiency symptoms, such as bone deformities, immune system dysfunction, muscle cramps, and dental abnormalities.
- If you have symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, such as weakness, fatigue, painful tongue, frequent mouth ulcers, pins and needles sensation (mostly in feet or hands).
- To monitor the adequacy of treatment in patients who are receiving vitamin D and vitamin B12 supplements.
- To diagnose/monitor problems with the functioning of the parathyroid gland since the parathyroid hormone (PTH) is essential for vitamin D metabolism.
- As a monitoring parameter for a healthy pregnancy.
- If you have been diagnosed with pernicious anemia.
- If you are on medications or have a medical condition that may interfere with vitamin B12 absorption in your body.
What does Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) & Vitamin B12 measure?
Contains 2 testsA Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) & Vitamin B12 package is tailored to analyze the levels of two important vitamins in your body: vitamin D (25-OH) and vitamin B12. Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that can be synthesized in the body upon healthy exposure to sunlight or absorbed from dietary sources. Vitamin B12 is necessary for various health aspects, such as maintaining a healthy nervous system, making red blood cells, and creating the genetic material of our cells.
Vitamin B12
A Vitamin B12 test measures your vitamin B12 levels. Vitamin B12 is essential for various health aspects, such as maintaining a healthy nervous system, making red blood cells, and creating the genetic material of our cells. Low vitamin B12 levels are more likely to occur in older adults, children, vegans, vegetarians, people with diabetes, individuals who underwent gastric bypass surgery, women who are breastfeeding, and in conditions that impact absorption of this vitamin, like Crohn’s disease. Higher vitamin B12 levels seen in pateint on vitamin suplement does not need treatment as excessive vitamin B12 is usually removed through the urine. However, some conditions, such as liver diseases and myeloproliferative disorders, can cause an increase in vitamin B12 levels, thereby affecting blood cell production.
Know more about Vitamin B12
Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy)
A Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) test measures the levels of vitamin D in the body. It is an essential nutrient that can be synthesized in the body upon healthy exposure to sunlight or absorbed from dietary sources. It majorly exists in two forms: Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Vitamin D2 is present in plants, such as yeast or mushrooms, and is available as a supplement in fortified foods, and vitamin D3 is found in foods like cheese, green vegetables, mushrooms, egg yolks, and fatty fish.
Both forms of vitamin D (D2 and D3) need to undergo some chemical changes before being available for use in the body. These chemical changes take place in the liver or kidneys. The liver converts vitamin D to 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH vitamin D). A Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) test measures the level of this 25-OH vitamin D as it is the primary form of vitamin D that circulates in the blood.
Know more about Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy)
Answers to Patient Concerns & Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) & Vitamin B12
Frequently Asked Questions about Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) & Vitamin B12
Q. What is the right time to get a Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) & Vitamin B12 package done?
Q. Are there any risks associated with a Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) & Vitamin B12 package?
Q. What are the signs and symptoms of low vitamin D levels?
Q. What can cause vitamin D deficiency?
Q. What happens if my vitamin D is low?
Q. How can I raise my vitamin D levels naturally?
Q. What are the signs and symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency?
Q. What is the cause of vitamin B12 deficiency?
Q. What happens if my vitamin B12 level is low?
Q. How can I raise my vitamin B12 levels naturally?
Q. How much sun exposure is sufficient to get an adequate amount of vitamin D?
Q. How much vitamin D is needed daily?
Q. Can vitamin B12 deficiency cause depression?
Q. What is the role of vitamin B12 in pregnancy?
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References
- Vitamin D [Internet]. NIH; 12 Aug. 2022 [Accessed 11 Mar. 2023]. Available from: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/
- Aparna P, Muthathal S, Nongkynrih B, et al. Vitamin D deficiency in India. J Family Med Prim Care. 2018 Mar-Apr;7(2):324-330. [Accessed 11 Mar. 2023]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6060930/
- Vitamin D [Internet]. Boston, USA: Harvard T.H. Chan; Mar. 2023 [Accessed 11 Mar. 2023]. Available from: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vitamin-d/
- Vitamin B12 [Prescribing Information]. FDA; Jan. 2021 [Accessed 16 Mar. 2023]. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/080737Orig1s040lbl.pdf
- Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anemia [Internet]. NHS; 20 Feb. 2023 [Accessed 16 Mar. 2023]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamin-b12-or-folate-deficiency-anaemia/
- Duggan C, Srinivasan K, Thomas T, et al. Vitamin B-12 supplementation during pregnancy and early lactation increases maternal, breast milk, and infant measures of vitamin B-12 status. J Nutr. 2014 May;144(5):758-64. [Accessed 16 Mar. 2023]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3985831/#:~:text=Pregnant%20women%20in%20resource%2Dpoor,weight%2C%20and%20intrauterine%20growth%20retardation.
- Gemici AI, Sevindik ÖG, Akar S, et al. Vitamin B12 levels in familial Mediterranean fever patients treated with colchicine. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2013 May-Jun;31(3 Suppl 77):57-9. [Accessed 16 Mar. 2023]. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24064015/
- Rodriguez V, Gonzales KM, Iqbal AM, et al. PANCYTOPENIA SECONDARY TO AUTOIMMUNE VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY IN GRAVES DISEASE. AACE Clin Case Rep. 2020 Jun 23;6(6):e282-e285. [Accessed 16 Mar. 2023]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7685417/#:~:text=To%20describe%20a%20case%20of,to%20severe%20anemia%20and%20pancytopenia.
- Sahu P, Thippeswamy H, Chaturvedi SK. Neuropsychiatric manifestations in vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitam Horm. 2022;119:457-470. [Accessed 16 Mar. 2023]. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35337631/#:~:text=Vitamin%20B12%20deficiency%20can%20have,screening%20of%20at%2Drisk%20populations.
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