Screening
As vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency is prevalent in children and adults, routine screening of the general population is not recommended.[2] The US Preventive Services Task Force state that there is insufficient evidence to support screening in asymptomatic adults.[87]
However, individuals at high-risk of vitamin D deficiency should be evaluated for vitamin D deficiency by measuring their level of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D.[2] Those at high-risk include: people with an inadequate dietary intake of vitamin D; infants receiving breast milk as their sole source of nutrition without vitamin D supplementation; those who are obese; people who have increased skin pigmentation, are institutionalised, are exposed to minimal sunlight, or always wear sun protection or protective clothing outdoors; people aged >50 years; those who have a malabsorption syndrome (coeliac disease, cystic fibrosis, Crohn's disease, Whipple's disease, short bowel syndrome, or a history of gastric bypass surgery); those who take medications such as glucocorticoids, antiepileptic medications, highly active antiretroviral therapy, rifampicin, or St John's wort; and those who have liver or kidney disease.
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