Vitamin D 17.2 ng/ml means : causes, sources, risks, treatment

Published Date : 2023-09-10T14:56:15.567Z

Updated Date : 2023-09-10T14:56:15.567+00:00

What does a Vitamin D level of 17.2 mean?

A vitamin d level of 17.2 is considered to be deficient.

What is my Vitamin D level in SI units, for value of 17.2 in standard units?

In order to convert the value of Vitamin D from ng/ml into the SI Units, we must use a formula of conversion : Vitamin D in SI units (nmol/L) = Vitamin D in ng/ml*2.496¹ Based on the given formula, the value of Vitamin D in SI units for a value in ng/ml of 17.2 is 42.9 nmol/L

Is a Vitamin D value of 17.2 considered low or high?

Based on your Vitamin D value of 17.2. you are classified as having a moderate Vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D Levels

What are the sources of Vitamin D?

Food	How it helps with Vitamin D
Herring	Herring is a fatty fish that can contribute to Vitamin D intake.
Goat cheese	Goat cheese provides Vitamin D and is a dairy alternative for those who are lactose intolerant.
Fortified cereals	Many cereals are enriched with Vitamin D to improve nutritional content.
Tofu	Some tofu products are fortified with Vitamin D, especially those made from soy milk.
Cheese	Certain types of cheese, like Swiss and cheddar, contain small amounts of Vitamin D.
Halibut	Halibut is a fish that contains moderate levels of Vitamin D.
Egg yolks	Egg yolks contain small amounts of Vitamin D, especially if the hens are raised on Vitamin D-enriched feed.
Fortified plant-based milk	Non-dairy milk alternatives (e.g., almond, soy) are often fortified with Vitamin D.
Lamb	Lamb meat contains small amounts of Vitamin D.
Trout	Trout can provide Vitamin D, particularly when caught in the wild.

What are the causes of Vitamin D deficiency?

Cause	Description
Lack of fortified foods	A diet lacking in fortified dairy products or cereals may lead to lower Vitamin D intake.
Limited outdoor activities	A sedentary lifestyle with minimal outdoor time can result in reduced sunlight exposure.
Obesity	Vitamin D is stored in fat tissues, so higher body fat levels may decrease its availability.
Certain types of cancer	Some cancers and their treatments can impact Vitamin D levels and metabolism.
Premature birth	Premature infants may have underdeveloped systems for producing and utilizing Vitamin D.
Certain autoimmune diseases	Autoimmune disorders may interfere with Vitamin D metabolism and utilization.
Gastric bypass surgery	Surgical procedures that alter the digestive system can limit the absorption of nutrients, including Vitamin D.
HIV/AIDS	The virus and certain treatments can affect nutrient absorption and utilization, leading to deficiency.
Crohn's disease	An inflammatory bowel disease that can lead to malabsorption and nutrient deficiencies.
Multiple sclerosis	People with multiple sclerosis often have lower Vitamin D levels, although the relationship is complex.

What symptoms will I experience with a Vitamin D of 17.2 ng/ml?

The symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency in children and adults are manifested by rickets and osteomalacia respectively. These conditions may show a variety of symptoms ranging from mild muscle pain, and bone pain to developmental abnormalities and fractures. For a Vitamin D level of 17.2 the symptoms are enlisted in the table below:

Vitamin D level 17.2 Symptoms in Children

Vitamin D level 17.2 Symptoms in Adults

What additional risks do I face with a Vitamin D level of 17.2?

Level	Risk
Your value is Less Than 25	Increased risk of fallsBischoff-Ferrari
Your value is Less Than 21	Increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, obesity and high triglyceride levelsMartins D

What is my Vitamin D deficiency score and how to calculate it?

Since your value of Vitamin D 17.2 is below the normal limit of 30, you must evaluate the following 4 factors that may be contributing to your deficiency. Based on a study done by Garg et al the following Vitamin D Insufficiency and Deficiency Score can predict and determine your causes of deficiency.

As per the study 4 major factors are invovled in Vitamin D deficiency.

Factors and Descriptions

• Insufficiency Score for Vitamin D : 17.2

• You get less than 1.75 hours of sunlight per day
• AND
• Insufficient Dietary Intake + Obesity
• AND
• Obesity OR Insufficient Exercise
• Score : Your Vitamin D Insufficiency Score ranges between 14 - 18.

What is the treatment plan for a Vitamin D level of 17.2?

Vitamin D supplmentation is the only way to correct for deficiencies. The tables below list the dosages of Vitamin D supplements recommeded for different age groups, depending on the level of the Vitamin D. Since your value of Vitamin D is 17.2 the relevant supplement dosages are indicated below.^{Pawel Pludowski}

Recommended Daily Dosing for Vitamin D in cases where the Vitamin D Level is between 10 ng/dl and upto 30 ng/dl

A first line of treatment involves increasing the dosage to 1.5-2 x the current level of supplements if the patient is taking any supplements.

If you are not taking any supplements, the values in the table below are to be followed.