Question:
Should I have my doctor check a vitamin D level at my yearly physical if I am otherwise healthy and have no history of bone disease or calcium disorders?
Answer:
No
MedHead Confidence Score: 2
Amount Saved: $100 average cost of vitamin D blood test
MedHead Message:
This may seem confusing, as we are told that screening for vitamin D deficiency doesn’t appear to “prolong life, decrease the incidence of cancer or cardiovascular disease, or decrease fracture rates”, even though another Cochrane review of over 95,000 people did show a decrease in mortality. I think the main thrust here is to not do a screening vitamin D test during a yearly preventative visit, as levels don’t correlate with your chance of dying. This is highly controversial folks, as the state of research is in significant flux right now.
References:
1. http://www.choosingwisely.org/clinician-lists/american-society-clinical-pathology-population-based-screening-for-vitamin-d-deficiency/ 2. https://choosingwiselycanada.org/vitamin-d-tests/ 3. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/UpdateSummaryFinal/vitamin-d-deficiency-screening 4. LeFevre, ML, et.al. Vitamin D Screening and Supplemenation. American Family Physician, Vol 97, Number 4, February 15, 2018 p. 255. 5. https://www.healthcarebluebook.com/page_ProcedureDetails.aspx?cftId=L885&directsearch=true
