Laboratory medicine · Praxis Dr. Romanos
Vitamin D is technically a hormone — and one of the most commonly underestimated. In my Zurich practice, over 60% of patients have a 25-OH vitamin D level below 30 ng/ml, the threshold where medical societies consider it insufficient.
Between October and March, the sun sits too low at our latitude to trigger vitamin D production in the skin. Sunscreen, office work, and darker skin types compound the problem. Diet alone covers only about 10–20% of requirements.
Fatigue, muscle pain, frequent infections, low mood, hair loss, concentration problems. None of these symptoms is conclusive on its own — but in combination, they form a clear pattern I see regularly in practice.
The 25-hydroxy vitamin D level (25-OH-D) is the standard marker. Values below 20 ng/ml indicate deficiency, below 30 ng/ml insufficiency. We routinely measure this in our check-up packages. Calcium and parathyroid hormone levels can provide additional context.
The right dosage depends on baseline levels, body weight, and risk profile. At a level of 12 ng/ml, 1000 IU daily won't be enough. We often use higher loading doses initially and recheck after 8–12 weeks. Vitamin K2 and magnesium play important roles as cofactors.
People with chronic fatigue, frequent infections, osteoporosis risk, darker skin types, or limited sun exposure benefit most from targeted evaluation. We also frequently see low levels in autoimmune conditions.
Have your vitamin D level checked. A simple blood test provides clarity. In our practice, you receive a medical interpretation — not just a lab value.
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