A 25(OH)D level of less than 15 or 20 ng/mL has been used to define vitamin D deficiency. Intestinal calcium absorption is optimized at levels above 30-32 ng/mL. PTH levels start to rise at 25(OH)D levels below 31 ng/mL, which is another marker of vitamin D insufficiency.
The Endocrine Society, along with the Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism and the National Osteoporosis Foundation, published a clinical practice guideline in 2011 titled "Evaluation, Treatment and Prevention of Vitamin D Deficiency." The committee recommended screening only individuals who are at high risk for vitamin D deficiency, including patients with osteoporosis or a malabsorption syndrome, as well as black and Hispanic individuals, obese persons, and those with several other medical conditions.
Vegetables are not a good source of vitamin D. Sensible sun exposure, especially between the hours of 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM, produces vitamin D in the skin that may last twice as long in the blood compared with ingested vitamin D.
For more on the treatment of vitamin D deficiency, read here.
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Cite this: Romesh Khardori. Fast Five Quiz: Test Yourself on Various Nutritional Deficiencies - Medscape - Apr 10, 2017.
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