Hormone Health Hub: Expert Insights on Testing, Balance & Better Living — Vitamin D

Vitamin D, comprising D2 and D3, is an essential nutrient that plays a vital role in our overall health and well-being. From maintaining strong bones to supporting immune function, this sunshine vitamin is a key player in various physiological processes. In this blog, we will explore the importance of Vitamin D, identify common symptoms of deficiency, discover natural sources, and learn about the Vitamin D blood spot test.1. Understanding Vitamin D:Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that exists in two main forms: Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). While Vitamin D2 is found in plant-based sources, such as mushrooms,...

By Margaret N Groves, M.Phil, ELS   Two vitamin D studies were published recently, both utilising ZRT's testing in dried blood spots. Dried blood spot samples are well suited for research applications because they are equivalent to serum but have the advantage of the ease of sample collection, shipping, and storage, which doesn’t require any refrigeration or biohazard labeling. Also, samples are easily identified by details that can simply be written on the outside flap of the collection cards, which require minimal freezer space for long-term storage of samples. Here are brief summaries of each study: Wakayo T, Belachew T, Vatanparast...

By Dr. Kate Placzek, ZRT Laboratory. Many children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) struggle with fitting in and according to some experts, may receive as many as 20,000 negative messages by age 10 than their neurotypical peers. Little wonder then that many struggle with self-esteem and the belief that they are somehow broken. Being labeled as “different” – and this difference perceived as unacceptable to others – can impair an individual’s social development and actually exacerbate their struggles. One study found that children with ADHD whose families expressed high levels of criticism failed to experience the usual decline in...

As we face the current coronavirus pandemic, knowing our baseline level of vitamin D and supplementing appropriately has never been more important. Assuring that we have a healthy and balanced immune response that can effectively reduce viral load and suppress uncontrolled inflammation is crucial for prevention and recovery. Spending time outdoors and exposing our skin to a little bit of sunshine is also good for the body and mind.

Many patients produce sufficient thyroid hormone yet still suffer from classic hypothyroid symptoms. Why? Because standard TSH testing misses the full picture. In this clinical guide, Jim Paoletti explains the functional approach to thyroid assessment — examining T4 production, TBG binding, T4-to-T3 conversion, cortisol interference, ferritin and vitamin D — and outlines exactly which tests are needed for a complete analysis.