Vitamin D is one of many vitamins that is essential for good health. Vitamin D helps the body to absorb calcium. Having enough calcium in the body keeps your bones, teeth and muscles healthy. Children who do not get enough vitamin D can develop rickets, a condition where the bones are too soft and start to deform. Adults who do not get enough Vitamin D can develop osteomalacia, which can cause bone pain and weakness.

Our body can create vitamin D from direct sunlight on the skin. Our body can also absorb vitamin D from certain foods and supplements:

• oily fish (such as tuna, salmon and mackerel)
• fortified foods (such as some breakfast cereals)
• red meat or liver
• egg yolks
• vitamin D supplements

Some people can get enough Vitamin D from direct sunlight, especially in the summer months. But, many of us do not get enough sunlight to produce healthy amounts of Vitamin D. This is especially true during the winter months because there are less hours of sunlight. In this case, we need to make sure we are getting enough Vitamin D in our diets, which may need to include Vitamin D supplements.

Having low vitamin D can be associated with the following symptoms:

• tiredness
• weakness
• muscle or bone pain
• mood changes

The best way to diagnose a vitamin D deficiency is through a blood test. You can perform this test at home using a home vitamin D test kit from Superdrug Online Doctor. It's a simple pin-prick blood test where you collect a few drops of blood and send your sample to the lab. Your results will be available in your account within 2-3 days after the lab receives your sample, and a Superdrug doctor will provide advice based on your results.

Your result will fall into one of three categories:

• Sufficient: Levels of 50-200 nmol/L, considered healthy for most people.
• Insufficient: Levels of 25-49 nmol/L, indicating a risk of developing conditions related to low vitamin D.
• Deficient: Levels below 25 nmol/L, where symptoms like bone or muscle pain, tiredness, weakness, and mood changes may occur, along with an increased risk of health issues related to low vitamin D.

Certain groups are at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency, including those who:

• Have limited sunlight exposure, such as staying indoors for extended periods or covering their skin for religious or other reasons.
• Have darker skin, which reduces the amount of sunlight absorbed.
• Are over the age of 65, as skin production of vitamin D decreases with age.
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Are under five years old.

Some symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are similar to those of other conditions. If you're unsure, consult your GP for further discussion.

If your doctor or pharmacist agrees, go out in the sun for 10-15 minutes per day without sunscreen to make sure that some sunlight reaches the skin. You may wish to still put on sunscreen on moles or other areas that are sensitive to the sun. Be aware that spending too much time in the sun without sunscreen can cause skin damage, which can lead to signs of ageing and skin cancer.

Include more foods that are rich in vitamin D in your diet. This may be difficult if you follow a strict vegan diet as a lot of vitamin D is found in animal-based foods.

If you have a low level of vitamin D in your blood, you may want to consider taking supplements. If you have an ‘insufficient’ level of vitamin D in your body, you can buy low dose vitamin D supplements. If you have been diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency, you can get prescription medication high dose Vitamin D supplements to boost your levels up quickly and then continue with the low dose supplements once you have increased your vitamin D levels.

What are the best treatments or supplements for low vitamin D?

We supply both treatments and supplements for low vitamin D:

• Colecalciferol 1,000 IU is a low dose supplement suitable for people with ‘insufficient’ levels of vitamin D or those with deficient levels who have already had a high dose booster treatment
• Colecalciferol 10,000 IU is high dose booster treatment suitable for people who have been diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency to help quickly improve Vitamin D levels

To use the Superdrug Online Doctor service, follow these steps:

1. Complete a brief questionnaire about your symptoms and general health.
2. A doctor will review your questionnaire to determine if vitamin D treatment is suitable and safe for you.
3. If eligible, your treatment will be delivered to your preferred address.

You must be over 18 and have had a blood test confirming low vitamin D levels to order treatment. You can either get the test through Superdrug or via your regular GP.

Do not take vitamin D supplements if you:

• Have had kidney stones in the past
• Have reduced kidney function
• Have cancer
• Have hyperparathyroidism
• Have tuberculosis (TB)
• Have been diagnosed with high calcium in the blood
• Use thiazide diuretics (a group of medicines)

Side effects from Vitamin D treatments are rare, but some potential side effects include:

• Tummy pain
• Headache
• High calcium levels in the blood or urine
• Nausea
• Skin reactions

• BNF (2018). Colecalciferol. NICE. [online] Available at: https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/colecalciferol.html#sideEffects [Accessed 14th November 2018].
• Ladhani, S. et al. Presentation of vitamin D deficiency. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 89(8).
• NHS (2017). Vitamin D. NHS. [online] Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/ [Accessed 14th November 2018].
• West London Mental Health NHS Trust. Vitamin D. NHS. [online] Available at: https://www.wlmht.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Vitamin-D-leaflet-A5-8pp.pdf [Accessed 16th November 2018].