The sunshine factor: Understanding vitamin D, low levels, and when to test
- Date:
- 05/08/2025
- Author:
- Ellie Jones

Often known for its role in keeping bones strong, Vitamin D actually plays a much larger part in your overall health. From supporting your immune system and lifting your mood, to influencing metabolism and energy levels, it’s involved in more bodily functions than most people realise.
Despite its importance, Vitamin D deficiency is incredibly common, and many don’t even know they’re deficient. The symptoms can be subtle, the risks wide-reaching, and the solution surprisingly simple.
In this blog, we’ll explore how Vitamin D supports key areas of your health, the signs of low levels to watch out for, and when it might be time to test, especially if you want to take a proactive approach to your well-being.
The vital link: Vitamin D and your health

Vitamin D is involved in incredibly diverse processes. Let's take a look at some of the major areas where it plays a significant part.
Vitamin D and immune system support
Did you know that vitamin D and immune system health are closely linked? Vitamin D receptors are found on immune cells, suggesting that they play a role in their function. It's thought to help regulate both the innate and adaptive immune responses.
A well-functioning immune system is your body's primary defence against everyday challenges. Maintaining adequate Vitamin D levels may contribute to supporting this vital system, helping it respond appropriately when needed.
While no single nutrient is a magic solution for immunity, Vitamin D is an important factor when it comes to overall immune resilience.
Vitamin D and bone health
This is perhaps the most well-known role of Vitamin D. It's essential for helping your body absorb calcium and phosphate from your diet. These minerals are the building blocks of strong, healthy bones.
Without sufficient Vitamin D, your body struggles to take in enough calcium, which can impact bone mineral density over time. This connection highlights why vitamin D and bone health are so closely related.
Ensuring healthy Vitamin D levels is particularly important at all ages, helping to maintain bone strength and integrity throughout life.
Vitamin D and mood
Feeling a bit down? There's growing interest in the potential connection between vitamin D and mood. Receptors for Vitamin D are present in areas of the brain linked to mood regulation.
While more research is ongoing, some studies suggest that low vitamin D levels might be associated with mood changes. This could be one reason why people sometimes report feeling better when exposed to sunlight, a natural source that helps the body produce Vitamin D.
Supporting your mood is an important aspect of overall well-being, and ensuring your Vitamin D levels are within a healthy range could potentially be a supportive factor.
Vitamin D and metabolism
The connection between vitamin D and metabolism is an area of active research. Metabolism involves all the chemical processes that happen constantly in your body to keep you alive, including converting food into energy.
Some studies explore how Vitamin D might influence metabolic pathways or hormone function that play a role in metabolism. While the exact mechanisms are still being understood, it's another area where Vitamin D's broad influence across bodily systems is being investigated.
Considering the interconnectedness of bodily functions, it's perhaps not surprising that Vitamin D's impact extends to these fundamental metabolic processes.
Understanding low vitamin D levels

Given its widespread roles, it makes sense that having low vitamin D levels could potentially affect your well-being in various ways.
Several factors can contribute to Vitamin D deficiency:
- Spending little time outdoors or getting limited sunlight exposure
- Living in northern climates with less year-round sunlight
- Consistently using sunscreen or wearing full-coverage clothing
- Having darker skin, which reduces natural vitamin D production
- Being over the age of 65
- Having a higher body fat percentage
- Eating a diet low in vitamin D-rich foods (e.g., oily fish, eggs)
- Following a vegan diet without fortified foods or supplements
- Having digestive disorders like Crohn’s or coeliac disease
- Living with chronic kidney or liver disease
- Taking medications that interfere with vitamin D metabolism
(e.g., corticosteroids, anticonvulsants)
Recognising the potential factors that put you at risk can be helpful in understanding your own situation.
Potential symptoms of vitamin D deficiency
Pinpointing symptoms of vitamin D deficiency can sometimes be tricky because they can be subtle and overlap with symptoms of other issues. However, some signs that might suggest low vitamin D levels include:
- Fatigue or low energy — Feeling unusually tired even after rest
- Frequent illness or infections — Weakened immune response
- Bone or muscle aches — Especially in the lower back, legs, or joints
- Mood changes — Low mood, irritability, or symptoms of depression
- Slow wound healing — Cuts and scrapes may take longer to heal
- Hair thinning or hair loss — In some cases linked to low vitamin D
- Muscle weakness — Particularly noticeable when climbing stairs or standing up
- Bone fragility — Increased risk of fractures over time
- Poor sleep quality — Disrupted sleep or insomnia in some individuals
- Brain fog — Trouble concentrating or feeling mentally sluggish
It's important to remember that experiencing one or more of these does not automatically mean you have a vitamin D deficiency. However, if you are experiencing persistent symptoms that concern you, it's always sensible to consider potential underlying factors.
Gaining insight with an at-home test kit
Using an at-home Vitamin D test kit offers a convenient and straightforward way to check your levels from the privacy and comfort of your own home. Rezure offers a reliable, medical-grade test designed for user-friendliness and clear results you can trust.
These kits are built on the principle of simplifying health insights. They provide straightforward guides and reliable results, cutting through the complexity often associated with health testing. The ease of at-home testing means you can gain valuable information on your own schedule, without waiting lists or appointments.
Choosing a reputable home test kit, like the Vitamin D Rapid Home Test Kit from Rezure, means using a product that adheres to strict quality standards and is vetted for reliability and accuracy.
Taking the step to test can offer peace of mind or provide the information you need to explore options to support your Vitamin D levels, potentially impacting your energy, mood, and bone health.
Supporting healthy vitamin D levels
If your test reveals low vitamin D levels, there are steps you can consider. Remember, always approach making changes with care and consider speaking to a healthcare professional.
Knowing your level is the first step to understanding whether these strategies might be beneficial for you.
Take charge of your vitamin D health
Knowing your Vitamin D status isn’t just about checking a box but about understanding a key part of your overall well-being. Many people live with low levels without realising it, brushing off symptoms like tiredness, low mood, or frequent illness as just part of life. But what if the cause is something you can address?
With an at-home test kit, you don’t have to guess. You can get clear, reliable insights from the comfort of your own home.
At Rezure, we’re here to make well-being simple and accessible. Because when you have the right information, you're better equipped to take action that supports how you feel, move, and live every day.
Understanding your levels today could help you feel better tomorrow. Take a small step toward clarity, confidence, and better health.
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