Vitamin D deficiency symptoms

Overview

Vitamin D deficiency is common in adults with limited sun exposure or darker skin. Symptoms are non-specific — bone/muscle aches, fatigue, mood — and screening is easy.

Symptoms to watch for

• Fatigue
• Bone or muscle aches
• Low mood
• Frequent infections

How it's diagnosed

25-hydroxyvitamin D level. Below 20 ng/mL is deficient; 20–30 insufficient.

Treatment

D3 1000–2000 IU daily maintenance; 50,000 IU weekly x 8 weeks for deficiency, then maintenance.