Vitamin D a nutrient essential for maintaining healthy bones and supporting the immune system. It can result from inadequate dietary intake, insufficient sunlight exposure, disorders that limit absorption, or conditions that impair conversion of vitamin D into its active forms.

• fatigue
• muscle weakness 
• cramps
• general malaise

      •     Individuals with limited sun exposure - basically everyone living in Scotland especially during the winter time! 

      •     Older adults, whose skin’s ability to synthesize vitamin D decreases.

      •     People with darker skin, which produces less vitamin D in response to sunlight.

      •     Those with conditions affecting fat absorption, such as Crohn’s disease or celiac disease.

      •          People who spend alot of time indoors ( ie: people living in care homes)

If you are having mild symptoms  and you fit the risk factors mentioned above , and they have been ongoing for a few months,  then it is likely you are vitamin D deficient and often a blood test is not required and we would simply recommend making sure you diet contains the necessary sources including fortified foods, fatty fish, and egg yolks.

However, if  your symptoms are more severe and significantly impacting your well being and day-to-day activities. Then making an appointment with one of the clinical team to discuss your symptoms would be worthwhile. We can measure your  blood levels of Vitamin D  but it is worth noting there can be many causes of fatigue, cramps and muscle weakness, so it is likely we will investigate and examine for other things too. 

Treatment involves 3 routes :

1: Sunlight!! Increased exposure to sunlight,even cloudy days still helps , specifically being outdoors for at least 30 minutes a day. exposing your arms head and legs. It is free too, just be sure to wear some sunblock if it is very sunny!

2: Diet: Vit D can be found in small amounts in diet however it must be stressed sunlight is more important.

sources include:

• fortified foods like cereals
• fatty fish
• egg yolks

3: Replacement therapy is very good at correcting deficiencies, especially if going outside is not an option. Mild deficiencies can be easily corrected  with the addition of Vitamin D supplementation which can be purchased over the counter at local supermarkets and pharmacies. For more severe deficiencies, a prescription for the higher dose replacement may be required from us. 

For more detailed information on vitamin D deficiency please click on the adjacent link for the Patient UK website .

it has more info on

• What is vitamin D deficiency?
• Why is vitamin D so important?
• How much vitamin D do I need?
• Vitamin D deficiency symptoms
• What causes vitamin D deficiency?
• How common is vitamin D deficiency?
• How is vitamin D deficiency diagnosed?
• Vitamin D deficiency treatment
• How to get vitamin D naturally
• What foods contain vitamin D?
• Are there any risks to taking vitamin D supplements?
• Complications of vitamin D deficiency
• What is the outlook?