These Are 5 Early Signs Your Body Is Low on Vitamin D

Three more signs

3. Muscle aches or weakness: Your muscles need vitamin D too. Health services list muscle aches, cramps, and weakness among the signs of a low level. In more serious cases, people notice it on the stairs, or find that getting up from a low chair or off the floor takes more effort than it used to. It is easy to put this down to age, which is exactly why it is often missed.

4. Low mood in the darker months: Many people feel duller in winter, and shorter, greyer days alone can do that. Some studies have found a link between low vitamin D levels and low mood, although researchers still don't know whether one causes the other. Either way, don't brush it off as "just the weather". If low mood lingers or gets worse, talk to your doctor, whatever the cause turns out to be.

5. Getting ill more often: Vitamin D plays a role in the immune system, the body's defense against germs. Some studies have linked low levels to more colds and chest infections, though scientists are still working out how strong that link is. If you seem to catch everything that goes around this winter, it may be worth mentioning to your doctor.

So what can you do about it, and what is the one thing you should never do? You'll find out on the last page.