Why do we test your Vitamin D levels?
At Adelaide Obesity Surgery and Innovations Healthcare we routinely check Vitamin D levels before and after bariatric surgery.
Vitamin D helps the body to absorb calcium to maintain healthy bones, muscles and teeth.
Low vitamin D levels and vitamin D deficiency may have no obvious symptoms, but can increase the risk of bone and muscle pain, as well as osteomalacia, which are soft, weakened bones. Osteomalacia results in bones becoming misshapen and fracturing easily. Low vitamin D levels can also contribute to osteoporosis.
More recently a lack of vitamin D has also been linked to chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cancer and osteoporosis. Vitamin D is also thought to help the immune system and may have positive effects on mood and depression in some people.
Some foods contain small amounts of vitamin D, but this provides little of what we need. Some vitamin D is found naturally in fish and eggs. Some is added to margarine and some varieties of low fat milk, however most Australians are unlikely to get enough Vitamin D from their diet.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the best natural source of vitamin D. Skin cancer is a risk for all almost Australians and is not recommended that you deliberately expose yourself to the sun when the UV Index is 3 or above. Exposing your face, arms and hands to the sun for 10 minutes in summer, 15-20 minutes in spring and autumn and 30 minutes in winter should give you enough vitamin D. The best time to expose your skin is either side of the peak UV times - 10am-2pm or 11am-3pm in daylight saving time.
The Cancer Council report that during short periods of exposure (10 minutes in summer, 15-20 minutes in spring and autumn and 30 minutes in winter) you should not need to worry about sun protection such as wearing sunscreen and a hat, unless the UV Index is 3 or above, or you plan to be in the sun for a longer period of time. This is not an excuse to sun bake!
If your blood tests indicate you are low in Vitamin D, our GPs will recommend Vitamin D replacement on an individual basis.
