Vitamin D Deficiency: 12 Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
7-minute read · Reviewed by the Veritas Clinical Team · Last updated July 2026
Vitamin D deficiency is common in the UK, particularly over autumn and winter, and its symptoms are often easy to put down to simply being tired, busy, or getting older. This guide walks through twelve signs worth paying attention to, who’s more likely to be affected, and how a simple blood test can tell you what’s actually going on.
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“I’m tired all the time, but my GP said my last blood test was normal. Could it still be my vitamin D?”
It’s a question we hear often, particularly from autumn through to spring. Vitamin D isn’t always included in a routine blood panel unless it’s specifically requested, so it’s entirely possible to have a “normal” set of results and still have a low level. A dedicated vitamin D test is the only way to check it directly.
Many of the signs of vitamin D deficiency, tiredness, low mood, aches, are nonspecific, meaning they can also be caused by many other things entirely unrelated to vitamin D. That’s not a reason to dismiss them, but it does mean a blood test, not guesswork, is the only reliable way to know whether vitamin D is actually part of the picture.
Based on NHS and Public Health England vitamin D guidance.What is vitamin D deficiency?
Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium and supports normal muscle function and immune system function. Most of your supply normally comes from sunlight on the skin, with a smaller amount from food. Deficiency simply means your level has dropped below what your body needs to function well, which can happen gradually and without an obvious single cause.
If you feel fine, your vitamin D level must be fine too.
Mild to moderate deficiency often causes no noticeable symptoms at all, or symptoms subtle enough to go unnoticed for a long time. Many people only find out through a blood test done for another reason entirely.
Wondering if your vitamin D might be low?
Rapid results. No referral needed.
12 signs of vitamin D deficiency you shouldn’t ignore
None of these signs on their own confirm a deficiency, they’re common symptoms with many possible causes. But if several apply to you, particularly during autumn or winter, it may be worth getting your level checked.
- 1Persistent tiredness
Feeling drained even after a full night’s sleep, without an obvious reason.
- 2Bone pain
A dull ache, particularly in the lower back, hips or legs.
- 3Muscle weakness
Finding everyday tasks, like climbing stairs, more tiring than usual.
- 4Muscle aches or cramps
Particularly if they seem to happen more often than they used to.
- 5Low mood
Vitamin D has been linked to mood regulation, though many factors contribute to low mood.
- 6Getting ill more often
Catching colds or infections more frequently than seems normal for you.
- 7Hair thinning or hair loss
Noticeable shedding beyond what’s typical for you.
- 8Slow wound healing
Cuts or grazes that seem to take longer than expected to heal.
- 9Pins and needles or tingling
Particularly in the hands or feet, though this has several possible causes.
- 10Reduced bone density
Sometimes only picked up incidentally on a scan done for another reason.
- 11Sweating more than usual
Particularly around the head, an early sign sometimes noted in the literature.
- 12Joint pain or stiffness
Especially if it’s a new pattern rather than a long-standing issue.
Vitamin D is sometimes called the “sunshine vitamin,” but between roughly October and March, UK sunlight isn’t strong enough for your skin to make any at all, regardless of how much time you spend outdoors. This is exactly why Public Health England recommends a daily supplement for most adults over the autumn and winter months.
Who’s at higher risk?
People who cover most of their skin
Or who spend most of their time indoors.
People with darker skin
More melanin means more sun exposure is needed to make the same amount of vitamin D.
Older adults
Skin becomes less efficient at producing vitamin D with age.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women
Requirements increase, and levels affect the baby too.
People with certain health conditions
Including some conditions affecting the gut, liver or kidneys.
Housebound or care home residents
Limited outdoor time year-round increases risk.
Do you need a test?
A rapid vitamin D blood test can confirm whether your level actually needs correcting.
If you’re in a higher-risk group, it may still be worth testing, particularly over autumn and winter.
What happens at your appointment?
A brief conversation about your symptoms and general health.
A small blood sample, with results available much faster than a standard lab-sent test.
Your pharmacist talks you through what your level means.
An injection or tablets, only offered once a low level is confirmed.
What to expect afterwards, and general guidance on maintaining a healthy level.
Can I just start taking a high-dose supplement instead of testing?
At Veritas, treatment-strength vitamin D is only offered once a test has confirmed it’s genuinely needed, this is a fixed clinical pathway rather than something we’ll skip.
How quickly will I get my result?
Our vitamin D test is a rapid test, so results are typically available much faster than a standard lab-sent blood test.
When should you seek medical advice?
Vitamin D testing is a routine, planned appointment. The following is a general guide to how urgently to act.
- General tiredness or low energy
- Mild aches, or joint or muscle stiffness
- You’re in a higher-risk group and haven’t been tested before
- Bone pain that’s persistent or worsening
- Muscle weakness that’s noticeably affecting daily activities
- Severe muscle weakness affecting your ability to walk
- Muscle spasms, cramping or tingling alongside confusion or a fast heartbeat
- Any of the above in a baby or young child
These symptoms need assessment by a GP, NHS 111, or A&E as appropriate, rather than a pharmacy appointment.
How Veritas Pharmacy can help
Vitamin D blood test
Rapid results, £50 standalone.
Vitamin D treatment
Injection or tablets, only after a confirmed low result.
Vitamin B12 injection
Another common nonspecific-fatigue check.
Private pharmacist consultation
General health queries and advice.
- These 12 signs are common but nonspecific, they can have other causes too.
- A blood test is the only reliable way to confirm a vitamin D deficiency.
- Certain groups, including older adults and those with darker skin, are at higher risk.
- Treatment is only given once a test confirms it’s needed, never as a first step.
Related reading
B12 deficiency: are you at risk?
Understanding iron and ferritin levels
Tiredness and hormone testing
Our full range of rapid blood tests
Not sure if your symptoms are linked to vitamin D?
Our clinical team can talk through what you’re experiencing and help you decide whether testing makes sense for you.
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The information in this post is for general information purposes. It is not intended to replace medical advice from a healthcare professional. We make an effort to keep the content on this page up to date and accurate.
Blood Testing, Bone Health, Fatigue, Health Advice, Immune Health, Private Blood Tests, Sunderland Pharmacy, Veritas Pharmacy, Vitamin D, Vitamin D Deficiency, Vitamin D Symptoms, Vitamin D Test