If you regularly experience unexplained pain in your legs, muscles, or bones, it is better to discuss the symptoms with a healthcare professional rather than beginning high-dose supplements on your own.
How Is Vitamin D Deficiency Diagnosed?
The most reliable way to determine whether you have a vitamin D deficiency is through appropriate medical evaluation and, when indicated, a blood test measuring 25-hydroxyvitamin D, the main circulating form of vitamin D.
A healthcare professional can interpret the result in the context of your age, health history, medications, diet, and other risk factors.
Symptoms alone cannot reliably tell you whether your vitamin D level is low.
Who May Be at Greater Risk?
Some people have a higher risk of inadequate vitamin D levels.
These include people who get very little exposure to sunlight, older adults, people with darker skin, and people with medical conditions that interfere with fat absorption. Obesity and certain types of weight-loss surgery can also be associated with increased vitamin D requirements. (Office of Dietary Supplements)
