Vitamin D deficiency is the state of having inadequate amounts of vitamin D in your body

Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus, which are important to bone health. When a person is very vitamin D deficient, they cannot absorb dietary calcium well; having adequate levels is important to absorb enough calcium from your diet. Healthy vitamin D levels also help to improve phosphorus absorption from your diet.

People typically get enough vitamin D from sun exposure: When sunlight hits the skin, the skin converts that ultraviolet radiation to vitamin D. People also get vitamin D from certain foods—including fish, egg yolks, and fortified milk and cereal—or dietary supplements.

What causes vitamin D deficiency?

People who don’t have adequate levels of vitamin D may be deficient for any of these reasons:

  • Not enough exposure to sunlight
  • Darker skin pigment
  • Malnutrition
  • Kidney or liver failure, which prevents the body from adequately processing vitamin D
  • Certain medications
  • Certain types of cancer, such as lymphoma
  • A family history of vitamin D deficiency or childhood rickets

What are the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency?

Most people with vitamin D deficiency don’t notice any symptoms. Others may notice vague symptoms that may be signs of any number of conditions.  

Possible symptoms include:  

  • Muscle pain
  • Bone pain
  • Increased sensitivity to pain
  • A tingly, “pins-and-needles” sensation in the hands or feet
  • Muscle weakness in body parts near the trunk of the body, such as the upper arms or thighs
  • Waddling while walking, due to muscle weakness in the hips or legs
  • A history of broken bones
  • Muscle twitches or tremors
  • Muscle spasms
  • Bowed legs (when the deficiency is severe)