Vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is essential to the human body, and the main source is sunlight rather than foods.

Function
Vitamin D is needed to create red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body.

Deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency can cause complex medical problems, and because vitamin D cannot be absorbed from sunlight shining through windows, people who are mostly or totally housebound are particularly at risk of Vitamin D deficiency.

Signs and symptoms
Vitamin D deficiency can cause:

Learn more

 * D Fact Sheet - Office of Dietary supplements
 * Vitamin D - NHS