It typically takes a few weeks to a couple of months of consistent vitamin D supplementation to significantly raise levels, with measurable blood level increases often seen in 1-2 weeks, but severe deficiencies can take longer. Higher doses (like 3,000-4,000 IU daily) speed this up for deficiency, while maintenance doses (1,000-2,000 IU) sustain levels, with results depending on deficiency severity, body weight, sun exposure, and individual factors.
The study suggests an initial oral dose of 100,000-500,000 units can increase blood vitamin D levels above 50 ng/mL within 3-5 days.
“Like any medication or supplement, it is possible to experience an allergic reaction to vitamin D that could cause a mild allergic reaction such as a skin rash or hives.”
To quickly increase Vitamin D, combine safe sunlight exposure (10-20 mins daily without sunscreen for lighter skin), taking high-dose Vitamin D3 supplements (consult a doctor first), and eating foods like fatty fish (salmon, tuna), egg yolks, fortified milk/cereals, and sun-exposed mushrooms, ensuring you take supplements with a fat source for better absorption.
You need 10 micrograms of vitamin D each day. It's recommended pregnant and breastfeeding women take a daily supplement containing this amount between September and March. Between the months of September and March the body cannot make sufficient vitamin D from sunlight alone, which is why a supplement is recommended.
Maternal vitamin D deficiency has been linked to pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia [18], [19], preterm birth [20], and intrauterine growth restriction [21], which may promote adverse neonatal outcomes, such as increased future risk of hypertension [22], enteritis [23], asthma [24], and impaired ...
Vitamin D deficiency often has subtle or no symptoms but can cause fatigue, bone pain, muscle weakness/cramps, mood changes (depression), slow wound healing, frequent illness, and hair loss; in children, severe deficiency leads to rickets (bowed bones), while in adults, it increases risks for osteoporosis and fractures.
High bolus doses of vitamin D lead to a rapid increase in 25-OH-D levels, which can reach values > 75 nmol/l in the first few weeks, depending on the basal serum concentration and the dose. However, the increase is only temporary with single doses and levels usually return to baseline after about three months.
No natural fruits are high in Vitamin D; it's primarily from sunlight, fatty fish, and fortified foods, but some fruits help absorption (avocado, banana) or are fortified (orange juice), while dried figs and apricots offer some benefits, so focus on fortified juices, plant milks, or supplements for D, alongside fruits that support its function.
Vitamin D deficiency causes rickets in children and will precipitate and exacerbate osteopenia, osteoporosis, and fractures in adults. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased risk of common cancers, autoimmune diseases, hypertension, and infectious diseases.
A deficiency in Vitamin D for face can lead to several skin issues, affecting both appearance and overall Vitamin D skin health. Since Vitamin D plays a crucial role in hydration, repair, and regeneration, a lack of it can cause dryness, dullness, breakouts, and slow healing.
Taking too much vitamin D leads to calcium buildup (hypercalcemia), causing physical signs like nausea/vomiting, fatigue/weakness, frequent urination & excessive thirst, constipation, and confusion/disorientation, alongside potential bone pain or kidney stones, often from supplements, not sun exposure.
Our bodies produce active vitamin D after exposure to sunlight, and we get some vitamin D from food. Vitamin D is also a hormone. Hormones help control how cells and organs function. However, we do not call vitamin D “hormone D” because without it we cannot live.
In spring and summer, 25 percent of the body (the hands, face, neck and arms) is exposed to the sun, and in these seasons, about 8 to 10 minutes of sun exposure at noon produces the recommended amount of vitamin D.
Individuals with deficient or insufficient circulating vitamin D concentrations (i.e., <30 ng/mL) are more likely to take longer to fall asleep (i.e., longer sleep latency and later sleep timing) and/or exhibit shorter sleep duration (11–16).
So, when it comes to vitamin d deficiency treatments, how long till you start to feel better? Those with the lowest levels should feel an improvement after just a few days, while those who only need to top up their levels may have to wait a week or two before they begin to feel healthier and more energised.
Some of the most nutrient-dense vegetables are dark, leafy greens, such as:
Although the list of foods naturally high in vitamin D is a short one, there are foods and beverages – like milk, orange juice, nutritional shakes and breakfast cereals fortified with the nutrient to help make life a little easier!
When it comes to Vitamin D, it doesn't matter if you're eating them raw, baked, or boiled, with or without skin, because apples don't contain any vitamin D at all. But they're rich in fiber (eat the peels) and high in antioxidants like vitamin C.
Here are three ways to increase your intake:
Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is generally better than Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) because it is more effective at raising and maintaining blood levels of vitamin D, is produced naturally by the body from sunlight, and is often recommended by doctors for deficiency correction. While both forms increase vitamin D in the blood, D3 is more potent and longer-lasting, making it the preferred choice for most people, though D2 is suitable for vegans.
When vitamin D levels are low and the body isn't able to properly absorb calcium and phosphorus, there is an increased risk of bone pain, bone fractures, muscle pain, and muscle weakness. In older adults, severe vitamin D deficiency (levels less than 10 ng/mL) may also contribute to an increased risk of falls.
Vitamin D deficiency primarily causes bone diseases like Rickets in children (soft, bent bones) and Osteomalacia (soft bones) in adults, leading to pain and weakness, plus increased risk for Osteoporosis and fractures. Long-term deficiency is also linked to muscle weakness, increased falls, cardiovascular issues, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders, though these connections are complex.
Yes, you can do a vitamin D test at home using simple finger-prick kits (like TouchBio, 2San, We Test Bio) that provide quick, preliminary results (often in 10 mins) by analyzing a drop of blood to check if levels are sufficient, insufficient, or deficient, helping you monitor bone health and immune support, but you should always discuss abnormal results with a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Medical conditions that can cause vitamin D deficiency include: Cystic fibrosis, Crohn's disease and celiac disease: These conditions can prevent your intestines from adequately absorbing enough vitamin D through supplements, especially if the condition is untreated.