OHIO — Vitamin D is sometimes called the "sunshine vitamin." During the Ohio winter months, sunshine can be hard to come by.

What You Need To Know

  • Vitamin D deficiency is common in Ohio due to the lack of sun during the winter months.

  • Milk, mackerel, salmon and eggs are foods high in vitamin D.

  • Doctors said 10 to 15 minutes in the sun is the best way to get vitamin D. Sunscreen blocks vitamin D intake, so health professionals recommend waiting to put on sunscreen until after spending a few minutes outside.

If you aren’t feeling well this time of year, it could be because of vitamin D deficiency. 

Mood changes, fatigue, bone pain and muscle weakness can all be signs of such a deficiency.

Dr. Deborah Plate is the Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at Cleveland Clinic Akron General. She said vitamin D is vital and impacts our immune system and cognitive function.

She said 10 to 15 minutes in the sun is the best way to get vitamin D. Sunscreen blocks vitamin D intake, so she recommends waiting to put on sunscreen until after spending a few minutes outside.

Milk, mackerel, salmon and eggs are foods high in vitamin D.

Dr. Plate said a blood test can determine if someone has vitamin D deficiency, but the testing is not usually done or covered by insurance unless someone has symptoms and other possible causes are ruled out.

“I know that when those levels are really low and I find that, that when we place them on supplementation and there’s actually prescription supplementation that we use that’s once a week," she said. "It’s a very high dose once a week. It’s amazing how well they feel within a short period of time and how well they think."

Dr. Plate said it is possible to have too much vitamin D, so before you take any supplements, be sure to consult with your primary care doctor.