Vitamin D deficiency

Overview

Your skin makes vitamin D from sunlight. You also get it from fatty fish, eggs, and fortified milk and cereals. Vitamin D helps keep bones strong and supports muscles, nerves, and the immune system.

Low levels can cause rickets in children and soft bones (osteomalacia) and bone loss in adults.

Symptoms

Often no symptoms.

• Little sun, or told my vitamin D is low

Less common

• Bone pain
• Muscle weakness or cramps
• Feeling tired
• Bowed legs in children

Look up a symptom: Fatigue · Little sun, or told my vitamin D is low · Low vitamins or minerals on a blood test, or worried about a deficiency · Muscle weakness in arms or legs · Pain all over the body · Vegan or vegetarian diet

When to get medical care

Causes

Little sun, darker skin, limited diet, problems absorbing fat, obesity, kidney or liver disease, and some medicines.

Does it spread or run in families?

• It isn't contagious. You can't catch it from someone else.

Who is more likely to get it

• Older age
• Darker skin
• Little time outdoors
• Breastfed babies without supplements
• Obesity or weight-loss surgery

Possible complications

• Osteoporosis
• Rickets and soft bones

Diagnosis

A blood test measures your vitamin D level.

Questions you may be asked

• Sun exposure, diet, and supplements

The exam

They may check for bone pain or muscle weakness.

Tests

Test:

• 25-hydroxy vitamin D: The main test of vitamin D levels.

Treatment

Low vitamin D is treated with supplements and food.

Self-care

• Eat foods with vitamin D like salmon, eggs, and fortified milk
• Take a supplement if your care team recommends it
• Get some safe sun

Medicines

Supplements:

OwieClear doesn't give doses: follow the label or your healthcare professional. Medicine names here are examples, not a full list.

Your care team may prescribe higher doses for a short time, then a daily amount.

Prevention

To prevent low vitamin D:

• Eat vitamin D foods
• Breastfed babies need 400 IU a day
• Ask about a supplement if at risk

Which doctor treats this

• Start with your primary care provider (family doctor or internist).
• A registered dietitian can help plan meals.

Children, pregnancy, and older adults

• Babies: Breastfed babies need vitamin D drops.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

• If you're pregnant or planning to be, tell your prenatal provider about this condition.
• Don't start or stop any medicine on your own. Some are safe in pregnancy and some need to be changed.
• Ask before taking any pain reliever. The FDA advises avoiding ibuprofen and naproxen after 20 weeks unless your doctor says to.
• Breastfeeding: Most medicines are fine, but ask. The NIH LactMed database lists what's known about each one.

Outlook

Vitamin D levels usually return to normal with supplements.

Getting ready for your visit

Bring a list of your symptoms and medicines.

What to bring

• Supplements you take

Questions to ask

• How much vitamin D should I take?

Research studies

Research studies test new ways to find and treat health problems. Some are looking for volunteers. Talk with your doctor before joining one.

Search ClinicalTrials.gov for studies on Vitamin D deficiency