FAQ: Should My Loved One Be Tested for Low Vitamin D?

A fellow caregiver asked...

Should my loved one be tested for low vitamin D?

Expert Answer

Dr. Leslie Kernisan is the author of a popular blog and podcast at BetterHealthWhileAging.net. She is also a clinical instructor in the University of California, San Francisco, Division of Geriatrics.

Your loved one should be tested for low vitamin D only if he or she is at high risk for suboptimal vitamin D intake. Testing for low vitamin D is currently not recommended for the general population.

People considered at high risk for low vitamin D include those who:

  • Are homebound or live in a nursing home or other facility.

  • Have dark skin.

  • Get minimal exposure to sunlight.

  • Have been diagnosed with osteoporosis or have a history of hip, wrist, or vertebral fracture (that is, fractures associated with having osteoporosis).

  • Suffer from illnesses affecting the bowel's ability to absorb nutrients and vitamins, such as celiac disease or Crohn's disease.

Many geriatricians check vitamin D levels in frail older adults who are at risk for falls. That's because low vitamin D levels are common in this group, and treating vitamin D deficiency has been shown to reduce the chance of future falls.

Adults who are very tan from sun exposure and those who take more than 2,000 international units of vitamin D every day are unlikely to be deficient in vitamin D, even if they're frail.