Necessity of Verifying and Interpretation of the Serum Vitamin D Levels

Vitamin D insufficiency is an unnamed epidemic. In meeting the daily requirement, sun rays are essential and 95% of vitamin D in our body is synthesized by our skin under the effect of ultraviolet B rays. Serum 25-OH-D levels 20-30 ng/ mL, and below 20 ng / mL. indicate vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency, respectively. Patients who are at risk for vitamin D deficiency need evaluation of their serum vitamin D status and those who are not in the risk group do not need routine evaluation. Insufficiency is much more prevalent today than deficiency. Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) recommendations of 400 IU/day for the first year and 400-600 IU/day for 1-3 years of age, cover the daily average vitamin D requirement of 97.5% of the population. Although higher doses are given in the presence of chronic illness and risk for vitamin D deficiency, daily doses exceeding 4000 IU in healthy subjects, 6000-10000 IU in those in the risk group should not be prescribed. Today, the use of higher single doses of vitamin D in children should not be preferred due to the high risk of intoxication.