Vitamin D Testing Sparks Debate as Guidelines Clash and Overuse Rises
Confusion surrounds vitamin D testing and supplementation, as guidelines vary between countries and medical bodies. While U.S. recommendations now set the normal threshold at 50 nmol/L, some Estonian labs still use the older 75 nmol/L standard. Doctors and health authorities are urging caution before routine testing or widespread use of supplements.
The Estonian Health Insurance Fund advises against including vitamin D tests in standard blood work. Testing should only occur if a doctor identifies a specific medical need. Despite this, the number of vitamin D level tests has risen, alongside widespread use of supplements.
Endocrinologist Vallo Volke, in a 2024 article for Eesti Arst, recommends additional vitamin D for certain groups. Children and adolescents up to 18, pregnant women, and people aged 75 and older are advised to take supplements. Those with high-risk prediabetes should also consider them. For healthy adults under 75, regular supplementation is unnecessary unless signs of deficiency appear. Even then, diet and outdoor activity should be the primary sources. The ideal dose and serum levels for disease prevention remain unclear, leaving the benefit-risk balance uncertain. Ultimately, decisions on testing and supplementation rest with individual doctors. They must assess whether a patient’s health or lifestyle justifies further action.
Vitamin D testing and supplements are not universally required, despite their growing popularity. Routine checks are discouraged unless medically justified, and most adults under 75 do not need extra intake. Clearer scientific evidence is still needed to define optimal levels and benefits.
