A vitamin D deficiency can go undiagnosed for a long time. But how long does it really take to fix it? We asked an expert.
Vitamin D is involved in many important processes in the body and is the only vitamin that can be produced by sunlight. Among other things, it is needed for a normal immune system and muscles, bones and teeth, so vitamin D deficiency can lead to serious symptoms. But when is there a defect and how long does it take to remedy it?
Short answer:
- Duration depends on body weight and severity of deficiency. As a general guideline: 10,000 IU increases vitamin D levels by 1 ng/ml. If you want to balance your vitamin D level to 15 ng/ml, theoretically, you need 15 days with higher doses until the deficiency is gone. Which dosage makes sense should be discussed with the doctor.
Correct Vitamin D deficiency: duration depends on serum levels
According to it Robert Koch Institute (RKI) There is a drawback, “if vitamin T is missing from the body for a long time and clinically relevant symptoms appear, for example, in children, bone growth disorders and even rickets can occur.
Deficiency is measured by serum levels of vitamin D in the blood. But according to this, it is subject RKI Strong fluctuations. Low serum levels do not necessarily mean long-term vitamin D deficiency. According to the RKI, 30.2 percent of adults between the ages of 18 and 79 are vitamin D deficient. So your serum level is below 12 ng/ml. Enders lab talks about severe deficiency from 10 ng/ml. Here's an overview of when care is considered supportive:
| 25 (OH)D in ng/ml | Possible consequences |
| <12 |
Vitamin D deficiency Risk for:
|
| 12 bis <20 | Supplementary maintenance |
| 20 bis <50 | Sufficient for bones and general health |
| ≥50 |
Possible oversupply, with potential health consequences Risk for:
|
They are: RKI And Medical Institute
How long does it take to resolve vitamin D deficiency?
According to the MSD Manual, a medical encyclopedia, vitamin D deficiency is treated with dietary supplements. Doctors usually prescribe high doses of the product for a period of one month, after which the dose is reduced. However, it is difficult to determine the duration as a general rule.
The dose depends on how severe the deficiency is. The lower the amount in the blood, the longer it takes to correct the deficiency. According to Catri Tegtmeier, MD, Chief Physician of the Department of Psychosomatics/Psychotherapy and Trauma Therapy Wicker Clinic In Bad Wildungen, the time it takes to compensate for vitamin D deficiency also depends on weight.
According to its own statement, it provides a “rough guide” to how long it may take to correct a deficiency: “10,000 IU increases by approximately 1 ng/ml. For example, if a deficiency is 15 ng/ml, you need approximately 15 days to compensate for the deficiency with a higher dose. More The higher the body weight, the more vitamin D is needed and the longer it takes to make up for the deficiency.” So the dose is calculated individually for each patient based on the initial value and body weight.
The Wicker Clinic, among others, often treats depressed patients with vitamin D deficiency.
