Plus, the levels of the vitamin that you should really be pushing for.
Instead, one of the main ways we get this beneficial vitamin is from—you guessed it—exposure to sunlight. However the length of time needed to get enough vitamin D differs by person (season, latitude, skin tone, etc.), and it may require partaking in unsafe skin practices to reach the optimal amount.
Considering how much of our time is spent sitting indoors at a desk or watching Netflix on the couch, it's no surprise that many people are still struggling to hit the recommended vitamin D intake levels of at least 3,000 IU per day (which is still on the low end).
If you're curious about your own vitamin D levels, you can ask your doctor for a lab biomarker for vitamin D status called the serum total 25-hydroxyvitamin D test, i.e., the 25(OH)D test, to shed some light on the situation. When an appointment with your health care professional isn't an option, an at-home vitamin D test is another way to test your vitamin D levels from the comfort of your home.
Below, learn everything you need to know about at-home vitamin D tests, as well as what counts as a vitamin D deficiency.
What is vitamin D?
Vitamin D1 is an essential fat-soluble vitamin that acts like a hormone in its active form. The micronutrient plays an important role in various bodily systems and functions, such as the musculoskeletal, immune, neurological, thyroid, endocrine, and cardiovascular systems.
Along with supporting thyroid health2, it also helps both the innate and adaptive immune systems by promoting white blood cell function3 and aiding the immune system in defending against threats4. It also plays a role in gut health, supporting beneficial gut bacteria and the gut mucosal lining.
Finally, vitamin D is key to healthy bones and strong muscles. It helps the body absorb calcium, which is essential for bones, and supports the body in maintaining a balance between calcium and phosphorus.
Needless to say, it's not something you want to be deficient in—and lack of the vitamin has been linked to bone, thyroid2, autoimmune5, and mood issues, to name just a few.
What counts as vitamin D deficiency?
It's estimated that 50% of people globally6 have insufficient levels of vitamin D, which are measured in nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) clinically or sometimes referred to in nanomoles per liter (nmol/l) in research literature.
The Endocrine Society7 defines vitamin D deficiency as the level of 25-hydroxyvitamin (25(OH)D) of less than 20 ng/ml, and vitamin D insufficiency as a 25(OH)D result of less than 30 ng/ml. In other words, these are the baseline cutoffs for avoiding insufficiency and thus, numbers to avoid. Indeed, many health care experts and much scientific research push for levels closer to 50 ng/ml to support bone health, immunity, and whole-body health.
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