Florida is the Sunshine State, so low vitamin D sounds unlikely here. It still happens. Air-conditioned days, sunscreen, skin tone, age, and some health conditions all affect how much vitamin D your body makes and absorbs. This guide covers who is more likely to run low, what current guidelines say about testing, how much vitamin D adults generally need, and when it’s worth talking with a physician.
Why Floridians can still run low
- Time indoors: air-conditioned homes, offices, and cars limit sun on your skin, and the UVB light that makes vitamin D doesn’t pass through window glass
- Sunscreen: it protects against skin cancer and can reduce vitamin D production, though most people still make some vitamin D with sunscreen as it’s usually applied
- Skin tone: more melanin means the skin makes less vitamin D from the same sun
- Age: older skin makes vitamin D less efficiently
- Body weight: people with obesity tend to have lower blood levels
- Absorption: conditions that limit fat absorption, such as celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, cystic fibrosis, and some liver diseases, or a history of gastric bypass surgery
Please don’t skip sunscreen to make more vitamin D. Food and supplements are safer ways to get it.
How common is low vitamin D?
You may have seen the claim that about 42% of American adults are vitamin D deficient. That figure comes from a 2011 study by Forrest and Stuhldreher, which used national survey data from 2005 and 2006 and counted blood levels at or below 20 ng/mL. It’s sometimes credited to the NIH, but it isn’t an NIH estimate.
More recent national data from 2011 to 2014, summarized by the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, found that about 5% of Americans age 1 and older were at risk of deficiency (below 12 ng/mL) and about 18% were at risk of inadequacy (12 to 20 ng/mL). The numbers differ mostly because the studies drew the line in different places. Either way, low vitamin D is common enough to take seriously, and not so universal that everyone needs treatment.
What vitamin D does
- Bones: vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium, and long-term deficiency can lead to soft, weak bones
- Muscles: very low levels can cause muscle weakness and aches
- Nerves and other tissues: vitamin D takes part in many processes beyond bone, an active area of research
More isn’t automatically better. A large U.S. trial called VITAL found that a daily vitamin D supplement didn’t lower rates of cancer, or of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke, in generally healthy adults.
Should you get tested?
Not everyone needs a vitamin D test. The Endocrine Society’s 2024 guideline suggests against routine testing in healthy people, including people with obesity or darker skin, because trials haven’t shown that screening improves health. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has also found too little evidence to recommend screening adults who have no symptoms.
Testing makes more sense when there’s a medical reason, for example:
- Osteoporosis, a fracture from a minor fall, or another condition that affects bone health
- A condition that limits fat absorption, or a history of weight-loss surgery
- Chronic kidney or liver disease
- Medicines that affect vitamin D, such as some seizure medicines or long-term steroids
- Symptoms your physician wants to look into, such as bone pain or muscle weakness
How much vitamin D do adults need?
The recommended dietary allowance for most adults is 600 IU (15 mcg) a day, rising to 800 IU (20 mcg) after age 70. Few foods are naturally rich in vitamin D, so fatty fish, egg yolks, and fortified milk and cereals help, and many people use a supplement. For adults, the upper limit from food and supplements combined is 4,000 IU (100 mcg) a day, unless a physician prescribes more for a diagnosed deficiency.
For people without a medical reason for treatment, the Endocrine Society suggests taking more than those everyday amounts for a few groups: adults 75 and older, people who are pregnant, and adults with high-risk prediabetes. It suggests against it for healthy adults younger than 75. If a test shows your level is truly low, your physician may recommend a higher dose for a set time, then recheck.
Pills, food, or a shot?
For most people, a daily pill works well. Vitamin D is absorbed with the fat in your meals, and the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements notes that neither age nor obesity changes how well the gut absorbs it. When absorption is the problem, such as after some weight-loss surgeries or with certain bowel conditions, a physician may change the dose or the form. For adults over 50 who need vitamin D, the Endocrine Society suggests daily doses rather than occasional large ones.
Where MeliOra’s wellness shots fit
MeliOra’s menu has six wellness shots, including Revital B12 and NAD Boost, at $30 each or 4 for $80. None is a dedicated vitamin D shot, and none replaces testing and treatment for a deficiency. If you’re curious about nutrient injections, see wellness shots in Lutz or B12 and lipotropic injections in Lutz, and ask Dr. Espinet whether one makes sense for you.
When to talk with a physician
Talk with a physician if you have one of the medical reasons for testing above, if you take high-dose supplements, or if you have symptoms like bone pain or muscle weakness. Too much vitamin D can raise calcium in your blood and cause problems such as nausea, weakness, and kidney stones, so very high doses should be supervised.
Your primary care physician can order a vitamin D test when there’s a reason for one. If you’re a MeliOra patient, you’re also welcome to bring your questions to Dr. Melanie Espinet, a board-certified family physician, at your next visit.
Frequently asked questions
Can you get enough vitamin D from the Florida sun?
Many people do, but not everyone. Time indoors, sunscreen, darker skin, age, and some health conditions all lower how much vitamin D your body makes or absorbs. Food and supplements are safer ways to fill a gap than skipping sun protection.
Should I get my vitamin D level checked?
Not routinely if you’re healthy. Current guidelines suggest testing when there’s a medical reason, such as bone loss, a condition that affects absorption, or certain medicines. Ask your physician whether you fit.
How much vitamin D should I take?
Most adults need 600 IU a day, or 800 IU after age 70, from food and supplements combined. Don’t go above 4,000 IU a day unless a physician recommends it for a diagnosed deficiency.
Does MeliOra offer vitamin D shots?
MeliOra’s wellness-shot menu doesn’t include a dedicated vitamin D shot. The six shots on the menu are Revital B12, Immune Renew, Revita, Lean Ease Lipo-C, MD Boost, and NAD Boost.
Related Services
Sources & References
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin D Fact Sheet for Health Professionals
- Endocrine Society: Vitamin D for the Prevention of Disease, clinical practice guideline (2024)
- MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine): Vitamin D Test
- Herrick et al., American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2019): Vitamin D status in the United States, 2011 to 2014
- Forrest and Stuhldreher, Nutrition Research (2011): Prevalence and correlates of vitamin D deficiency in US adults
- Manson et al., New England Journal of Medicine (2019): Vitamin D supplements and prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease (VITAL)
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