Vitamin D is essential to help keep us healthy, but there are lots of people deficient in the vital vitamin. In order to help spot the deficiency, health experts have put together a list of key signs to look out for.
The vitamin is absorbed through sunlight, meaning most people get plenty of the essential nutrient during the summer months. However, during the winter the risk of being deficient increases due to the reduced hours of sunlight. As the vitamin is key to keeping muscles healthy, it is common to suffer muscle aches and pains if you do not get enough. Feeling tired and run down often is also a common red flag as the nutrient is essential for cell metabolism.
Low mood and depression in adults has also been linked to low vitamin D levels as the nutrient is thought to have a role in neurotransmitter metabolism such as serotonin, which affects people's moods- although further research is required to fully understand the relationship. Slow healing wounds may also be a sign due to the vitamin being important in controlling inflammation and addressing infections as it is essential for our overall immune system.