Vitamin D deficiency symptoms: Most common signs of a deficiency that aren’t ‘obvious’

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Vitamin D is absolutely crucial for the body’s overall wellbeing and health. It helps to keep your bones and muscles healthy, while also protecting against a number of other medical conditions. These are the most common warning signs of a vitamin D deficiency that might be going under the radar.

Vitamin D is essential for regulating the amount of calcium and phosphate in your body, according to the NHS.

Both calcium and phosphate work to maintain the health of your bones, teeth and muscles.

The so-called ‘sunshine vitamin’ – vitamin D – is also important, however, because it protects against bone deformities and bone pain.

It’s crucial that everyone makes sure they get enough vitamin D in their diet, particularly during the winter months.

It’s not always easy to know whether you need to top up on vitamin D, however.

Deficiency symptoms aren’t particularly obvious – particularly in adults, said medical website the Cleveland Clinic.

There are four key signs to look out for, including fatigue and muscle weakness, it said.

But, bone pain and unexplained mood changes could also be caused by a vitamin D deficiency.

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“Severe lack of vitamin D causes rickets, which shows up in children as incorrect growth patterns, weakness in muscles, pain in bones and deformities in joints,” it said.

“This is very rare. However, children who are deficient in vitamin D can also have muscle weakness or sore and painful muscles.

“Lack of vitamin D is not quite as obvious in adults.

“Signs and symptoms might include fatigue, bone pain, muscle weakness, muscle aches, muscle cramps, [and] mood changes, like depression.”

But, just because you have any of these symptoms, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have a vitamin D deficiency.

Fatigue, for example, could be caused by a wide range of medical conditions, or even simply spending too long exercising.

Muscle pain might be linked to injuries, infections, or even certain medications.

It’s important to speak to a doctor if you have a collection of these symptoms, however.

You can top up on vitamin D by spending time in direct sunlight during the summer months.

But during the winter, the shift of the Earth’s axis means our bodies find it difficult to manufacture enough vitamin D.

Everyone should consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement between October and March.

A 10mcg vitamin D supplement everyday should be enough to protect against a deficiency.

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