Up to 75% of People are Vitamin Deficient — Are You?

If you were chased indoors by crappy weather or have traded outdoor sunbathing for the non-cancer-causing convenience of a spray tan, you might be one of the 40 percent to 75 percent of Americans with a vitamin D deficiency — and at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s, cancer, or cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases. Now you can find out, in the comfort of your own home, with a DIY vitamin D test kit available from the Vitamin D Council, a nonprofit public education organization. Maintaining proper levels of vitamin D is essential to keeping your bones and all your organs healthy. Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include bone pain, muscle weakness, chronic fatigue, and impaired balance, but doctors say you don’t have to have symptoms for such a deficiency to pose health risks. At $50, the new test kit is the most affordable available in the United States. A drop or two of blood is all that’s needed by Heartland Assays — the lab partnering with the Vitamin D Council — to determine levels. After you send in the card provided, Heartland Assays uploads results in one to two weeks to a secure Web page where you can access the information privately.