Measuring Vitamin Deficiency

Deficiency of vitamins may lead to serious health problems. Each vitamin plays a major role in the body. For example, vitamin A is essential for maintaining good eye sight, vitamin D for healthy bones and vitamin C is responsible for immunity of the body.

Blood tests, mainly, and urine tests, rarely, confirm deficiency of the vitamins. Vitamin A is stored in the body. The levels can be measured to found out if there is a deficiency. The normal concentration of vitamin A in the body is from 15 to 60 microgram per 100 ml of the blood serum.

Additionally, the carotene can also be measured from the blood serum. Its levels are supposed to be from 8 to 40 microgram per 100 ml of the serum.

To measure vitamin E three tests can be performed. One test is to measure the concentration of the circulation vitamin; must be within the range of 1.0 to 3.0 mg per 100 ml of the blood serum. The second test is done using urine of the person. Presence of creatine in urine indicates the deficiency.  The third test is done using RBCs of the person using an isolated blood sample.

The RBCs are resistance towards hydrogen peroxide when vitamin E is present in optimal levels. The test is carried out in presence of hydrogen peroxide. If the cells burst, it will represent the deficiency.

Determination of vitamin D deficiency is done through a special assay which estimates presence of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (vitamin D chemical) in the blood. Radiographic examination of long bones can be used to detect rickets and osteomalacia (deficiency diseases of vitamin D).

For determining vitamin C deficiency, blood plasma and urinary tests are done. Required range of vitamin C in normal cells is 0.4 mg to 1.5 mg per 100ml. For WBCs, the required range is 25 to 38 mcg per 100 ml. Everyday, 13 to 15 mg of vitamin C is excreted from the body. When the excretion is less than 13 mg, there is a possibility of the deficiency.

Many a times a small health issues like sleeplessness, mood swings, lack of appetite or binging are signs of vitamin deficiency. These must not be ignored.