Ontario is considering to stop paying for vitamin D testing.

As of Sept 2010 Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan have stopped paying for vitamin D testing unless the person already displays a symptom of lack of vitamin D such as osteoporosis.

Statistics Canada in 2010 announced that only 4% of Canadians lacked vitamin D. They defined ‘lacking as 18 ng/ml. The vitamin D research community has been arguing for over a decade as to what level should be considered sufficient: 30 ng, 40 ng, or 50 ng.

75% of Canadians less than 30 ng in winter

Number of vitamin D tests in Ontario: 29,000 tests in 2004 ==> 700,000 in 2009, a 2400% increase

An MS blog stated that “Ontario would continue to fund tests for patients with medical conditions such as Osteoporosis, Rickets, Osteopenia, Malabsorption Syndromes and Renal Disease. Ontarians who are on medications that affect Vitamin D metabolism would also still be covered. “
Apparently there is no ‘evidence’ that shows that a person will take action to improve their vitamin D level is the test shows them to be low.

A reference for some of the material above was a Canadian newspaper

When Ontario goes, 48% of Canadians will not be able to get free vitamin D tests (they are permitted to pay)

Aug 2010 previous post on Vitamin D Life

Update Dec 2010 the vitamin D test restrictions were imposed

Economic burden of premature deaths due to vitamin D deficiency in Canada - Jan 2010

One of the tables in the paper

From the abstract: It is estimated that the death rate could fall by 37 000 deaths, representing 16.1% of annuals deaths and the economic burden by 6.9% or $14.4 billion less the cost of the program.

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See also Vitamin D Life

• Guidelines for vitamin D testing - BC Oct 2010
  "Routine serum vitamin D testing or screening for vitamin D deficiency is not recommended. "
  "Routine serum vitamin D testing during vitamin D supplementation is not recommended. "
• All items in category Canada _47 items__