Vitamin D is sometimes called the “sunshine vitamin,” and for good reason — it plays a big role in keeping your bones, muscles and immune system strong. But here’s the catch: many Canadians don’t get enough, especially during the long winter months. The tricky part is that deficiency often goes unnoticed until it starts affecting how you feel.
That’s why your Longevity Test checks vitamin D levels as part of your overall health assessment. If your results show you’re low, your Felix practitioner will walk you through what that means and how to treat it.
Why vitamin D matters
Vitamin D helps your body with:
- Bone health: absorbing calcium and phosphorus for strong bones and teeth
- Muscle function: supporting strength and coordination
- Immune system: helping your body fight off infections
- Overall health: research also links vitamin D to brain and heart health, and potentially a lower risk of some chronic conditions
Without enough vitamin D, your body can’t absorb calcium properly, which can lead to bone softening (osteomalacia), pain, muscle weakness and higher risk of fractures.
What causes vitamin D deficiency?
Low levels can happen for a few reasons:
- Not enough sun: Sunscreen, long winters, staying indoors and darker skin pigmentation can all lower vitamin D production.
- Diet: Few foods contain vitamin D naturally. Salmon, tuna, egg yolks and fortified milk or cereals are common sources, but often not enough on their own.
- Absorption issues: Conditions like celiac disease, Crohn’s disease or cystic fibrosis can interfere with how your body absorbs vitamin D.
- Liver or kidney issues: These organs help activate vitamin D.
- Age: Your skin and kidneys process vitamin D less efficiently as you get older.
- Obesity: Vitamin D can get trapped in fat tissue, leaving less available in your bloodstream.
Symptoms of low vitamin D
Many people don’t feel symptoms right away. But prolonged low vitamin D can cause:
- Fatigue or low energy
- Bone pain
- Muscle weakness, cramps or aches
- Frequent infections
- Slower wound healing
- Hair loss
- In children, delayed growth
What your results mean
Your Longevity Test results will show your vitamin D level as a number. Here’s how that’s usually interpreted:
- Below 30 = Severe deficiency
- 30–75 = Deficiency
- Above 75 = Normal
Treatment recommendations
The good news? Vitamin D deficiency is treatable and supplements are available over the counter at most pharmacies.
- If your level is below 30 (severe deficiency): Your practitioner may recommend a higher-dose supplement at first (25,000–50,000 IU once per week for 8 weeks), then switch to a daily maintenance dose of 1,000 IU.
- If your level is between 30–75 (deficiency): A daily supplement of 1,000 IU vitamin D3 is usually recommended.
- If your level is above 75 (normal): You may just need a daily maintenance dose of 600–1,000 IU to keep levels steady.
In addition, your practitioner may suggest:
- Adding vitamin D-rich foods: salmon, tuna, mackerel, egg yolks, fortified milk, yogurt, cereals or orange juice.
- Safe sun exposure: Short (10–30 minute) periods in the sun a few times per week can help your body make vitamin D naturally. Just be sure to protect your skins during longer exposures and avoid burning.
Your Felix practitioner will usually repeat your blood test in about 3 months to make sure your levels are improving.
Vitamin D plays a key role in keeping you healthy, but deficiency is more common than you might think. The Longevity Test helps identify if your levels are low so you can take action. With supplements, dietary changes, and a little safe sun, your levels can usually be corrected — quickly and effectively.
Next step: If your test results show low vitamin D, follow your practitioner’s treatment plan and check in again at your follow-up test.
TL;DR
Vitamin D plays a big role in keeping your bones strong, your muscles working well, and your immune system healthy. But many people in Canada don’t get enough—especially during the darker winter months.
Low levels can happen if you spend little time in the sun, don’t eat many vitamin D–rich foods, or if your body has trouble absorbing it. Some people don’t notice any symptoms, while others may feel more tired than usual, get sick more often, or have bone or muscle aches. The good news is that it’s usually easy to treat: most people will benefit from a daily vitamin D3 supplement, some simple food changes, and a bit of safe sun exposure.
A Longevity Test can check your levels and, if needed, your Felix provider will create a personalized plan to get your vitamin D back to where it should be.
Medically reviewed by
References