Lab results
Vitamin D Deficiency: Symptoms and What to Do
Who is most likely to run low on vitamin D, the symptoms it can cause, when to test and how to bring your level back up safely.
Possible symptoms
- Tiredness and low energy
- Aching bones, especially the lower back, hips and legs
- Muscle weakness, cramps or trouble climbing stairs
- Low mood (the link is real but modest)
- Frequent falls in older adults
- Over time, thinner bones and a higher risk of fractures
Who is most likely to be low
- People with darker skin, who make less vitamin D from sunlight
- Those who spend most time indoors or cover their skin
- Adults over 65
- People with obesity, as vitamin D is stored in fat
- People with celiac disease, Crohn’s, weight-loss surgery or kidney or liver disease
- People taking some seizure medicines or long-term steroids
- Breastfed babies (who need drops)
What to do
A blood test (25-hydroxy vitamin D) shows where you stand. Read more about the numbers in our vitamin D results guide. If you are low, a daily vitamin D3 supplement taken with food usually brings levels up over two to three months. Very low levels may need a higher dose for a period. We recheck when it matters, such as with bone thinning.
How we can help
We decide whether testing makes sense for you, order it at a discounted cash price, and set the right dose. If you have bone pain or muscle weakness, we also look for other causes so nothing is missed.
Questions people ask
Can low vitamin D make you tired?
It can contribute, but tiredness has many causes. If correcting vitamin D does not help, we look further.
Is it safe to take vitamin D every day?
Yes, at sensible doses. Most adults can take 1,000 to 2,000 IU a day. Higher doses should be guided by a test.
Do I need calcium too?
Many people get enough calcium from food. Supplements may be needed if your diet is low in dairy or fortified foods; ask us.
Talk it through with Lydia
Feeling achy and run down? A vitamin D check may help explain why. See a board-certified nurse practitioner virtually anywhere in Virginia, in our Woodbridge office, or straight to your front door in much of Northern Virginia.
Visits start at $85, and every membership comes with a 30-day trial.
Prefer to ask first? Text us at (571) 402-2102 or message us on WhatsApp.
