A basic medical exam produces some familiar numbers, clues to your overall health — blood pressure readings, cholesterol counts.
Now a new number is getting marquee treatment: a vitamin D level.
Do you know yours?
In the past year, a test that checks vitamin D levels in the blood has surged in popularity among doctors.
This summer the Institute of Medicine is expected to revise its recommendation for daily vitamin D intake. Experts agree the current guidelines are far too low.
If you have symptoms that include fatigue and muscle aches and pains, don't be surprised if your doctor suggests a vitamin D blood test at your next visit. Because of widespread deficiencies, some won’t need any symptoms to suggest it.
Vitamin D is important to bone and muscle health for certain, but vitamin D experts worry that D deficiency is implicated in cancers, autoimmune diseases, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, infections and depression, to name but a few ailments.
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