Vitamin D deficiency: prevention and management in primary care

GP Dr Roger Henderson provides an overview of vitamin D metabolism, deficiency and the key preventive and management strategies undertaken in primary care.

Module summary

Vitamin D deficiency is a widespread and often under-recognised public health concern. It is estimated that around one in six adults in the UK have low vitamin D levels, particularly during winter and spring months when ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure is limited.

Inadequate vitamin D leads to disturbed calcium and phosphate metabolism, resulting in bone and muscle disorders such as osteomalacia in adults and rickets in children. Some emerging evidence has also linked deficiency to falls, frailty and possibly immune dysregulation, cardiovascular disease and depression.

Nurses working in primary care are ideally placed to identify at-risk individuals, promote preventive measures through education and lifestyle advice and provide evidence-based vitamin D supplementation.

This module provides an up-to-date overview of vitamin D functions, deficiency states, clinical assessment and management in adults and children, with emphasis on current UK guidance and prescribing recommendations.

Learning objectives

By the end of this module, you should be able to:

• Explain the key physiological roles of vitamin D.
• Describe the prevalence and risk factors associated with deficiency in the UK.
• Recognise the clinical features of mild and severe deficiency.
• Identify appropriate indications for vitamin D testing and interpret results accurately.
• Apply national guidance on supplementation, lifestyle and dietary advice.
• Understand when vitamin D can be prescribed on the NHS and when over-the-counter supplementation is appropriate.
• Promote patient self-care and population-level prevention strategies.

Author: Dr Roger Henderson is a GP in Scotland

Date published: 20.11.2025