Vitamins and Calcium Profile near me in Bangalore

The Serum Calcium test measures the levels of calcium in the body. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body; most of it is present in the bones and teeth, and the remaining portion (around 1%) is found in the blood. It is usually present in two forms in blood in about equal amounts: "bound calcium," which is attached to proteins in the blood, and "free calcium or ionized calcium," which is not attached to any protein. 

The Serum Calcium test cannot be used to check for lack of calcium in your diet or osteoporosis (loss of calcium from bones) as the body can have normal calcium levels even in dietary calcium deficiency. Moreover, the body can normalize mild calcium deficiency by releasing the calcium stored in bones.

The Vitamin B12 test measures your vitamin B12 levels. This vitamin 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 like Crohn’s disease that impact the absorption of this vitamin. High vitamin B12 levels are seen in conditions like liver diseases and myeloproliferative disorders. Also, high levels of vitamin B12 are seen in individuals on vitamin supplementation, but this usually does not require treatment as the excess vitamin is flushed out through urine.

The 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 levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D in blood are considered the best parameter to assess the vitamin D status of the body. This test measures the level of Total 25-OH vitamin D (D2+D3), but it does not differentiate between the two forms, as it is the major form of vitamin D that circulates in the blood.