Vitamin D, B12 & Calcium near me in Ernakulam
Available with Tata 1 mg labs in Ernakulam at an affordable price, the Vitamin D, B12 & Calcium measures the levels of Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy), Vitamin B12, and calcium in the blood. These tests are essential for evaluating bone strength, nerve function and overall health. These tests help detect deficiencies or excesses that could lead to health problems.
The Vitamin D, B12 & Calcium test is recommended when there are signs and symptoms of deficiencies and excesses that can affect overall health. Deficiencies of these nutrients can lead to symptoms like fatigue, muscle weakness, bone pain, numbness or poor immune function. On the other hand, excessive levels can also cause problems such as kidney stones, nerve damage , or calcium buildup in blood vessels. This profile helps detect imbalances early, ensuring proper management and preventing complications. It is especially important for individuals with bone health concerns, dietary restrictions , or frequent symptoms like fatigue, muscle weakness etc.
An overnight fasting is preferred for Vitamin D, B12 & Calcium test but is not mandatory.
Understanding Vitamin D, B12 & Calcium
The Vitamin D, B12 & Calcium test provides vital information about overall health. Vitamin D is vital for calcium absorption and bone strength. It also supports immune function and mood regulation. Vitamin B12 plays an essential role in red blood cell formation, nerve function, and energy production. Calcium is a key mineral for strong bones and teeth, as well as for proper muscle and heart function. These tests help identify deficiencies resulting in osteoporosis, nerve damage, or muscle weakness. Getting tested with the Vitamin D, B12 & Calcium ensures timely intervention to avoid complications.
Deficiencies of vitamin D and calcium can lead to symptoms like fatigue, muscle weakness, bone pain, numbness, or poor immune function. Excessive levels can also cause problems such as kidney stones and nerve damage. This profile helps detect imbalances early, ensuring proper management and preventing complications. It is important for individuals with bone health concerns or dietary restrictions.
An overnight fast is preferred for the Vitamin D, B12 & Calcium test, but is not mandatory. Inform the doctor about all the medications or supplements being taken, as they may affect the test results. Doctors may ask for dosage adjustments or temporary discontinuation before the test.
Lab test results may vary across laboratories. Do not self-medicate at home solely based on these results. Always consult a doctor for a proper understanding of the test results. The test results will help them determine the medical condition, make recommendations for lifestyle modifications such as diet and exercise. If needed, they can also prescribe medication to formulate an overall treatment plan.
What does Vitamin D, B12 & Calcium measure?
Contains 3 testsThe Vitamin D, B12 & Calcium test measures the levels of vitamin D (25-Hydroxy), vitamin B12, and calcium in the blood. These are the important nutrients that are essential for overall health. Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) is crucial for bone health and immune function. Vitamin B12 is necessary for energy production, nerve health, and red blood cell formation. Calcium is vital for strong bones, muscle function, and heart health. This profile helps detect imbalances, guiding appropriate treatments or the need for supplementation.
The Serum Calcium test measures the calcium level in your blood. Most of your body’s calcium (about 99%) is stored in bones and teeth to keep them strong. The rest (1%) circulates in the blood and helps your muscles move, nerves work, blood to clot, and heart to keep a steady rhythm.
Calcium in blood comes in two forms:
- Bound calcium, attached to proteins like albumin
- Ionized (free) calcium, which is active and helps many body functions
This test measures total calcium (both bound and ionized). This test cannot show if you have enough calcium in your diet. It also cannot detect bone diseases like osteoporosis. The body keeps blood calcium levels steady. It does this by taking calcium from bones during mild shortages.
What Do the Results Mean?
Pathological Factors
|
Test Parameter |
Interpretation (possible causes) |
|
Low Levels |
|
|
High Levels |
|
Key: ⇧: Indicates High Levels , ⇩: Indicates Low Levels
Physiological Factors
🧒 Age: Older adults may have lower calcium levels due to reduced bone density and hormonal changes.
🚺 Gender: Women, especially after menopause, are more prone to calcium loss due to lower estrogen levels.
🫄 Pregnancy and Lactation: Higher calcium demand during these phases may lower calcium levels if intake is inadequate.
💊 Hormonal Influence: Parathyroid hormone (PTH), vitamin D, and calcitonin regulate calcium balance; any imbalance can alter calcium levels.
Lifestyle Factors
🥗 Diet: Inadequate intake of calcium-rich foods can lower calcium levels.
🍷 Alcohol Consumption: Excessive alcohol interferes with calcium absorption.
🚬 Smoking: Smoking may affect bone metabolism and calcium utilization.
☀️ Sun Exposure: Insufficient sunlight can reduce vitamin D levels, affecting calcium absorption.
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance.
What Do Normal Calcium Levels Mean?
Normal results indicate that your calcium metabolism is functioning properly, supporting bone health, nerve transmission, and muscle contraction.
What Do High Levels of Calcium Indicate?
High calcium levels (hypercalcemia) may indicate:
- Overactivity of the parathyroid glands
- Excessive vitamin D intake
- Underlying health issues, such as certain cancers or bone disorders.
Your doctor may recommend further tests to identify the underlying cause.
What to Do if Your Calcium Is Higher Than Normal?
If your calcium levels are higher than normal, do not self-medicate or stop supplements abruptly. Your doctor will check your health, medications, and history before deciding what to do next. In most cases, adjusting supplements or treating the root cause resolves the issue.
What Do Low Levels of Calcium Indicate?
Low calcium levels (hypocalcemia) may indicate:
- Nutritional deficiencies,
- Kidney or parathyroid dysfunction
- Poor vitamin D absorption
Treatment involves calcium or vitamin D supplementation and dietary adjustments under medical supervision.
Can Calcium Results Be Inaccurate?
Yes. The Serum Calcium test results can sometimes be inaccurate. Factors that may affect the results include recent intake of calcium or vitamin D supplements, dehydration, pregnancy, hormonal therapy, and certain medications like diuretics or anticonvulsants. Minor variations in how the lab handles the sample may also impact accuracy. It is important to share your medical history and current medicines with your doctor to get a clear understanding of your calcium levels.
What Factors Can Affect Serum Calcium Results?
Though it is a reliable test, some circumstances can influence accuracy:
- Intake of calcium/vitamin D supplements
- Kidney or parathyroid diseases
- Medications like lithium or diuretics
- Prolonged immobilization
- Hormonal imbalances
- Sample contamination with EDTA causes falsely low calcium
- Use plain or serum separator tubes; avoid EDTA/oxalate/citrate tubes
- Prolonged tourniquet application (>1 min) affects results
- Fasting sample preferred but not mandatory (8–12 hours)
- Transport the sample at room temperature; analyze ionized calcium quickly
- Low albumin affects total calcium; corrected or ionized calcium is preferred in specific cases (ICU, CKD, pregnancy)
What Follow-Up Tests May Be Required?
Based on your Calcium test results, your doctor may recommend additional tests to determine the cause of abnormal calcium levels and evaluate bone, kidney, or parathyroid health. These tests may include:
Table: Tests Commonly Ordered Alongside Serum Calcium Test
|
Test Name |
Primary Purpose |
|
Ionized Calcium Test |
Measures the active (free) form of calcium |
|
Urine Calcium Test |
Evaluates calcium loss through urine |
|
Vitamin D Test |
Checks for vitamin D deficiency |
|
Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) Test |
Checks parathyroid gland function |
|
Electrolyte Panel |
Assesses minerals affecting calcium |
|
Kidney Function Test (KFT) with Electrolytes |
Assesses kidney function and electrolyte balance |
Know more about Serum Calcium
The Vitamin B12 measures the amount of vitamin B12 in your blood. Vitamin B12 is important for a healthy nervous system, making red blood cells, and creating DNA in your cells. Low B12 levels are common in older adults, children, vegans or vegetarians, people with diabetes, those who had gastric bypass surgery, breastfeeding women, and people with conditions like Crohn’s disease that affect vitamin absorption. High B12 levels can occur in liver diseases, certain blood disorders, or from taking vitamin supplements. Usually, high levels from supplements are not harmful, as extra B12 is removed through urine.
What Do the Results Mean?
Pathological Factors
|
Test Parameter |
Interpretation (possible causes) |
|
Low levels |
|
|
High levels |
|
Physiological Factors
🧒 Age: Older adults may absorb less vitamin B12 due to lower stomach acid.
🫄 Pregnancy: Higher nutritional needs during pregnancy can temporarily lower B12 levels.
💊 Hormones: Hormone therapy or birth control pills can slightly affect B12 absorption.
Lifestyle Factors
🥗 Diet: Vegetarian or vegan diets without animal products may lead to low B12 intake.
🍷 Alcohol: Excessive alcohol can reduce B12 absorption and storage in the liver.
🚬 Smoking: Smoking cigarettes may reduce vitamin B12 activity.
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance.
What Do Normal Vitamin B12 Levels Mean?
Normal B12 levels show that your body has enough vitamin B12 for healthy red blood cells, nerve function, and metabolism. This helps maintain energy, mood, and brain health.
What Do High Vitamin B12 Levels Mean?
High B12 levels are uncommon. They can happen due to too many supplements or health conditions like liver or kidney problems, or certain blood disorders. Your doctor may order extra tests to find the cause.
What to Do If Your Vitamin B12 Is High?
Do not stop supplements suddenly. Your doctor will review your medical history, medications, and may suggest tests to check liver, kidney, or blood health. Often, adjusting supplements is enough to bring levels back to normal.
What Do Low Levels of Vitamin B12 Indicate?
Low vitamin B12 levels suggest a deficiency, which can lead to anemia, fatigue, and nerve damage if left untreated. Common causes include:
- Poor dietary intake (especially in vegetarians or vegans)
- Malabsorption due to gastric or intestinal issues
- Pernicious anemia
- Certain medications (e.g., metformin, proton pump inhibitors)
- Treatment usually involves vitamin B12 supplements or injections based on deficiency severity.
Can Vitamin B12 Results Be Inaccurate?
Yes. While the test is reliable, results may sometimes be inaccurate due to recent vitamin B12 injections or supplements, pregnancy or hormonal therapy, liver or kidney diseases affecting vitamin metabolism, or laboratory variations in sample handling.
What Factors Can Affect Vitamin B12 Results?
Though it is a reliable test, several factors can influence accuracy:
- Recent intake of vitamin B12 supplements or injections
- Liver or kidney disorders
- Alcohol consumption or chronic illness
- Use of medications like metformin or oral contraceptives
- Pregnancy or hormonal therapy
What Follow-Up Tests May Be Required?
Based on your Vitamin B12 results, your doctor may recommend additional tests to get a clearer picture of your health or to monitor possible complications. These may include:
Table: Tests Commonly Ordered Alongside Vitamin B12
|
Test Name |
Primary Purpose |
|
Folate (Vitamin B9) Test |
Check folate levels, since low folate can also cause anemia similar to B12 deficiency. |
|
Homocysteine Test |
Measure homocysteine in the blood, which can rise when B12 is low. |
|
Methylmalonic Acid (MMA) Test |
Detect early B12 deficiency by measuring MMA, which increases when B12 is low. |
|
Complete Blood Count (CBC) Test |
Provide details about red blood cells and hemoglobin to indicate type of anemia. |
|
Intrinsic Factor Antibody Test |
Detects autoimmune causes of B12 deficiency. |
|
Gastrointestinal Absorption Tests |
Checks if the stomach or intestines are absorbing B12 properly, e.g., after gastric surgery or in conditions like Crohn’s disease. |
How Does the Vitamin B12 Test Differ from Other Blood Tests?
It is important to understand how the Vitamin B12 test differs from other common blood tests:
Complete Blood Count (CBC): Checks overall blood health and red blood cells. CBC can suggest anemia but doesn’t show the cause. Vitamin B12 specifically measures the nutrient needed to produce healthy red blood cells.
Folate (Vitamin B9) Test: Folate levels also affect red blood cell production. Unlike B12, folate deficiency alone does not directly indicate nerve or brain-related issues.
Iron Studies: Tests like serum iron or ferritin detect iron-related anemia. Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia occurs even if iron levels are normal.
Homocysteine & Methylmalonic Acid (MMA): These are functional tests that rise when B12 is low. The Vitamin B12 test directly measures the B12 level, making it the first step to detect deficiency.
Know more about Vitamin B12
The Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) test measures the levels of vitamin D in the body. Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that can be synthesized in the body upon healthy exposure to sunlight or absorbed from dietary sources. It exists in two forms: vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Vitamin D2 is present in plants, such as yeast or mushrooms, and is available as a supplement in fortified foods. Vitamin D3 is found in foods like cheese, green vegetables, mushrooms, egg yolks, and fatty fish.
Both forms of vitamin D need to be converted in the liver and kidneys before the body can use them effectively. This test shows the total level of vitamin D (D2 + D3) circulating in the body and guides your doctor in recommending the right treatment or lifestyle changes if needed.
What Do the Results Mean?
Pathological Factors
|
Test Parameter |
Interpretation (possible causes) |
|
Normal / Optimal |
Possible causes: HPT (Hyperparathyroidism) Humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy |
|
Low |
Possible causes can be renal failure, hyperphosphatemia, vitamin D–dependent rickets, types 1 and 2 |
|
Borderline / Moderate Low |
|
|
High / Excess |
Possible causes can be sarcoidosis, non-Hodgkin lymphoma |
Key: ⇧: Indicates High Levels , ⇩: Indicates Low Levels
Physiological Factors
🧒 Age: Older adults synthesize less vitamin D from sunlight primarily because of age-related changes in their skin.
🫄 Pregnancy: Vitamin D demand increases during pregnancy for fetal bone development.
💊 Hormonal Influence: Hormonal changes or contraceptive use may alter vitamin D metabolism.
Lifestyle Factors
🌤️ Sun Exposure: Limited sunlight reduces vitamin D synthesis.
🥗 Diet: Low intake of vitamin D-rich foods (like fish, egg yolks, or fortified dairy) can cause deficiency.
🍷 Alcohol Consumption: Chronic alcohol use affects liver function, impacting vitamin D metabolism.
🚬 Smoking: Smoking is closely associated with reduced bone density and altered vitamin D activity.
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance.
What Do Normal Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) Levels Mean?
Normal vitamin D levels indicate your body has sufficient vitamin D for bone health, muscle strength, and immune function.
What Do High Levels of Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) Indicate?
High vitamin D levels may occur due to excessive supplementation or conditions like sarcoidosis or hyperparathyroidism. Persistently high levels can cause vitamin D toxicity, leading to high blood calcium (hypercalcemia), which may result in nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, and, in severe cases, kidney stones or kidney damage.
What to Do if Your Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) Is Higher Than Normal?
If your Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) level is high, consult your doctor for further guidance. They may review your dosage, identify causes of high calcium like excess supplement intake, or check for conditions such as hypercalcemia. Do not stop or adjust supplements without your doctor’s advice.
What Do Low Levels of Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) Indicate?
Low levels suggest deficiency, which may cause weak bones, muscle pain, or fatigue. Common causes include:
- Lack of sunlight exposure
- Poor dietary intake
- Malabsorption syndromes (e.g., celiac disease)
- Obesity or liver/kidney disease
Treatment involves lifestyle changes, dietary improvement, or vitamin D supplements.
Can Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) Results Be Inaccurate?
Yes. Results may vary due to recent supplement intake, laboratory variations, or conditions affecting vitamin D metabolism, such as liver or kidney disease. In some cases, additional tests may be advised to confirm the deficiency.
What Factors Can Affect Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) Results?
Though it is a reliable test, some circumstances can influence accuracy:
- Recent vitamin D or calcium supplement intake
- Limited sun exposure
- Chronic illness or liver/kidney disorders
- Malabsorption syndromes
- Obesity or hormonal imbalances
Know more about Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy)
Frequently booked together
LFT (Liver Function Test)
Contains 1 testCBC (Complete Blood Count)
Contains 1 testIron, Serum
Contains 1 testLFT and KFT (Liver Function Test & Kidney Function Test)
Contains 1 testThyroid Profile Total (T3, T4 & TSH)
Contains 1 testUric Acid, Serum
Contains 1 testHbA1c (Glycosylated Hemoglobin)
Contains 1 testLipid Profile
Contains 1 testSerum Ferritin
Contains 1 testFBS (Fasting Blood Sugar)
Contains 1 testFAQs related to Vitamin D, B12 & Calcium in Ernakulam
Vitamin D, B12 & Calcium test price for other cities
| Price in | Hyderabad | Rs. 829 |
| Price in | Bangalore | Rs. 1329 |
| Price in | Pune | Rs. 1329 |
| Price in | Mumbai | Rs. 1329 |
| Price in | New Delhi | Rs. 1309 |
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