Healthy Bone Profile

A Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) test measures the levels of vitamin D in the body. It is an essential nutrient that can be synthesized in the body upon healthy exposure to sunlight or absorbed from dietary sources. It majorly 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, and vitamin D3 is found in foods like cheese, green vegetables, mushrooms, egg yolks, and fatty fish.

Both forms of vitamin D (D2 and D3) need to undergo some chemical changes before being available for use in the body. These chemical changes take place in the liver or kidneys. The liver converts vitamin D to 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH vitamin D). A Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy) test measures the level of this 25-OH vitamin D as it is the primary form of vitamin D that circulates in the blood.

An Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) test measures the quantity of ALP enzyme present throughout the body. The main sources of this enzyme are the liver and bones. It exists in different forms depending on where it originates, such as liver ALP, bone ALP, and intestinal ALP. In the liver, it is found on the edges of the cells that join together to form bile ducts. 

ALP levels can be increased during pregnancy as it is found in the placenta of pregnant women. It is also higher in children because their bones are in the growth phase. ALP is often high during growth spurts (a short period when an individual experiences quick physical growth in height and body weight).

A Serum Calcium test measures the levels of calcium in the body. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body, and the majority of it is present in the bones and teeth, and the remaining portion (around 1%) is found in the blood. It is normally present in two forms in blood in about equal amounts, namely "bound calcium", which is attached to proteins in the blood, and "free calcium or ionized calcium", which is not attached to any protein. 

A Serum Calcium test cannot be used to check for a lack of calcium in your diet or osteoporosis (loss of calcium from bones) as the body can have normal calcium levels even in case of dietary deficiency of calcium. Moreover, the body can normalize mild calcium deficiency by releasing the calcium stored in bones.