Vitamin D

What is vitamin D?

Vitamin D helps to keep the calcium and phosphate in your body in check. Calcium and phosphate play an important role in keeping your bones, muscles and teeth healthy.

A lack of vitamin D can lead to low bone density, where brittle bones and deformities may occur. You’re less likely to experience these complications if you get the right amount.

Often referred to as the sunshine vitamin, you get most of the vitamin D you need from the sun; but this becomes more difficult during winter. Because there’s less sunlight during these months, it’s recommended that you take supplements.

Who needs vitamin D?

Everyone. Vitamin D not only affects your bones, teeth and muscles, but your mood and your immune system too. Vitamin D deficiencies have been linked to depression,^[1] muscle cramps and, in the most severe cases, osteoporosis,^[2] which is where your bones are so brittle they break easily or become deformed.

How common is vitamin D deficiency?

It’s estimated that over a billion people worldwide suffer from some form of vitamin D deficiency.^[3] Prevalence rates of severe vitamin D deficiency (less than 12 ng per ml) have been reported as 5.9% in the US, 7.4% in Canada, and 13% in Europe.^[4] It can be easily avoided, though. Supplements and treatments are usually very affordable, even if you need a high strength treatment.

What causes vitamin D deficiency?

There are a range of factors that can cause vitamin D deficiency, but it’s usually due to a lack of sunlight. Because your body gets most of its vitamin D from the sun, this can become more of a problem in winter, when it’s darker. This isn’t to say that the sun is the only source of vitamin D; you also get a small amount from food, as well as fortified food (where vitamin D has been added) such as cereals and margarines.

What are the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency?

It’s not only serious vitamin D deficiencies that can cause health problems. Less severe vitamin D symptoms include depression, general aches and pains and low energy.

If you notice these symptoms in the middle of winter, or if you spend much of your time indoors, there’s a good chance that you’re suffering from a lack of Vitamin D. Taking a daily supplement is one of the most efficient ways of avoiding or treating these symptoms.

The vitamin D supplement dose is much lower than those given for treatments, but you should still not exceed the recommended daily dose. Daily maintenance doses are the best way to keep your vitamin D levels healthy and stop more serious issues from happening.

Can vitamin D deficiency lead to other problems?

A severe lack of vitamin D can lead to a bone condition called osteoporosis. This is where a lack of calcium leads to brittle bones, or other serious deformities.

Severe vitamin D deficiency symptoms can be caught early if you notice muscle cramps, joint pain and general fatigue. These may be early warning signs that a more serious vitamin D deficiency is developing.

Getting significantly more vitamin D into your body over a number of weeks can help, although it won’t completely reverse more extreme deficiencies. All treatments for severe vitamin D deficiencies will need a prescription, as well as careful monitoring by our clinician. Vitamin D deficiency treatment doses usually depend on the severity of your condition.