In this video Dr O’Donovan explains key things you need to know about Vitamin D deficiency.
What is Vitamin D? Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. These nutrients are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy.
What happens when you don’t get enough Vitamin D?
Severe lack of vitamin D in children causes rickets. Symptoms of rickets include:
– Incorrect growth patterns due to bowed or bent bones.
– Muscle weakness.
– Bone pain.
– Deformities in joints.
This is very rare. Children with a mild vitamin deficiency may just have weak, sore and/or painful muscles.
Lack of vitamin D isn’t quite as obvious in adults. Signs and symptoms might include:
– Fatigue.
– Bone pain.
– Muscle weakness, muscle aches or muscle cramps.
– Mood changes, like depression.
However, you may have no signs or symptoms of vitamin D deficiency.
UK government advice is that everyone should consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement during the autumn and winter.
People at high risk of not getting enough vitamin D, all children aged 1 to 4, and all babies (unless they’re having more than 500ml of infant formula a day) should take a daily supplement throughout the year.
Causes:
Vitamin D deficiency is often linked to insufficient sun exposure, as sunlight helps the body produce vitamin D. Individuals who wear extensive clothing, use sunscreen regularly, have darker skin, or are obese may be at higher risk. Additionally, poor dietary intake of vitamin D-rich foods and conditions that affect absorption, like malabsorption disorders or kidney/liver disease, can contribute to the deficiency.
Content and timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:18 – What is Vitamin D deficiency
00:58 – What does Vitamin D do?
01:36 – How much Vitamin D do I need?
02:20 – Symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency
03:20 – Causes of Vitamin D deficiency
04:12 – How common is Vitamin D deficiency?
04:50 – Treatment of Vitamin D deficiency
06:12 – Vitamin D supplements – warning
06:43 – Complications of Vitamin D deficiency
**Website resources**
NHS UK information –
Cleveland Clinic USA –
Video made: May 2025
DISCLAIMER: If you are uncertain about any of these exercises, always speak to your own health provider or physiotherapist first. This video is intended as a general educational resource only and should never replace individual advice given to you by your own provider.
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Disclaimer:
The video is intended as an educational resource only. The information within this video or on this channel isn’t designed to replace professional input, so if you have any medical issues please consult a medical provider. No professional relationship is being created by watching this video. Dr. O’Donovan cannot give any individual medical advice. All information should be verified for accuracy by the individual user. Dr O’Donovan accepts no responsibility for individual interpretation of data, although it is always accurate to the best of his knowledge at the time of the video being published. This is an EDUCATIONAL video. Images are used in accordance with fair use guidelines.
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Content provided via YouTube is for general information purposes ONLY. Information videos are not produced to provide individualised medical advice. Medical education videos on Doctor O’Donovan are not a substitute for professional professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. NEVER ignore professional medical advice because of something you have heard here. ALWAYS consult your doctor regarding any concerns about your condition or treatment.
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I just got my blood panel done, and I have low vitamin D. Not extremely low, 30-100 ng/ml is normal; mine is at 19. I drink lots of milk but I do stay away from sunlight.
My defiency led to dry cracked heels and chalk like toe nails.
Suncream is poison and causes cancer.
The Sun is not dangerous
400 a day is the bare minimum you need to prevent rickets. That is it. You need much much more than that to help your body function properly. Upwards to 8,000 to 10,000 a day along with K2.
Whenever i do test my vitamin level is always less i have alwys pain in my body what i do
I don't get it, I've been eating 10 eggs a day but I still got vitamin D deficiency in my tests
Vitamin d is rat poison .
You should also have a number 6 on your list for women who went through POV – Premature Ovarian Failure, which is now called POI – Premature Ovarian Insuffiency. I went through POV at 40 years old, and I'm now 57. There was not much help back then, so no guidance for us women. It is so important to take your Vitamin D and take HRT. Last year, a male doctor told me, I'm not 70 years old and bedbound when I asked him to change my Vitamin D Supplement and he took it off my medication list altogether. I did buy my own, but a year on, I have a Vitamin D Deficiency and literally feel like i'm dying that i've had to take time off work. I also had a recent DEXA scan and my Osteopenia turned quickly to Osteoporoisis and is now so severe that I have been put forward to have Abaloparatide Injections in the UK which I'm terrified about. So ladies, please take this seriously. Doctors should be more aware of this condition as we are brushed off far too often.
ayyeeee as a person that literally used to sit in the house 24/7 and play video games and never see the sun, i'm telling you vitamin d changed my life overnight if anyone is 2nd guessing the power of this vitamin, no more tension in my chest my mind feels like its been clear of fog(this is the one i felt the most after taking (2) 2000ui pills on day one), no more dry skin my skin is back soft how it used to be when i was a young, dandruff clearing, im way stronger than i ever was. the best thing it fixed was my racing thoughts. if you are low on vitamin d it will literally change your life overnight i swear.
Excellent video. It explains a lot regarding how I've been feeling lately. Thank you so much.
Doctor if say one has waddling gait due to weakened muscles due to vitamin d deficiency will upping the levels of vitamin d solve this issue or is exercise regarding waddling gait required to completely fix it?
Very informative; thank you!
Please make a video on Brain Fog. In my case I get relief when I take (MEBEVERINE + CHLORDIAZEPOXIDE), cuz my doctor says that due to diagnosed Celiac for 27 years I've got IBS and it will go away slowly. I don't have bloating and diarrhea anymore but the brain fog persists. The sad part is when i take this medicine I face the side effects which makes me sleepy, fatigued and paradoxically it causes insomnia, emotional bluntness (but less severe than the brain fog, which is without the pill)
My B12 and D3 deficiencies are corrected months ago and I didn't have anemia.
Right im getting outside and doing that gardening i keep putting off.. Cheers Doc..
Thank you Dr. O’Donovan🙏🏽❤️
Do you supplement with Vitamin D3….and why not just Vitamin D….?