Sunlight alone is not enough to treat vitamin D deficiency

Mercy Medical Center experts explain what you need to know. When you think about getting your vitamin D, you probably think all you need to do is get outside and get some sunshine. It is not always enough to resolve vitamin D deficiency. Jaylen Heyliger, a physician assistant at Mercy Medical Center, said exposure to the sun carries a risk of skin cancer, and people with darker skin don’t always absorb vitamin D. So while it helps while sitting in the sun, it’s not a complete solution. Bone health is a much bigger issue for women, and vitamin D is especially important because women are four times more likely to develop osteoporosis than men. Heiliger also said menopause can reduce bone mineral density in women. Therefore, you can check your number with your doctor’s guidance. It all depends on where you are. If you are truly vitamin D deficient based on your levels, you may be taking as many as 5,000 units each week. In some cases, if you’re just on that fine line, or maybe you’re a little bit deficient in vitamin D, but you’re someone who works outside the home, we might have you take more like smaller units of vitamin D. It’s difficult to give a “one size fits all” answer. Dr. Heiliger says vitamin D deficiency is difficult to diagnose. Some people experience symptoms such as fatigue, muscle aches and weakness, and even bone pain, but testing can confirm a deficiency, Heiliger said. A healthy amount of vitamin D to take each day is the amount of a multivitamin. And if you’re only taking vitamin D, check with your doctor to find out, she says.

Female doctor: Sunlight alone is not enough to treat vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D supports bone health. Women are four times more likely to develop osteoporosis than men

Updated: May 25, 2026 5:35pm EDT

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Vitamin D is an important nutrient for maintaining bone health, but some women are deficient. When you think of vitamin D, you may think of simply being outdoors and getting some sunlight, but that’s not always enough to cure a deficiency. Exposure to sunlight can help, but it’s not a complete solution. Jaelyn Heiliger, a physician assistant at Mercy Medical Center, told WBAL-TV 11 News that sun exposure comes with a risk of skin cancer, and people with darker skin don’t actually absorb vitamin D either. Vitamin D is especially important for women because bone health is a bigger issue and they are four times more likely to develop osteoporosis than men. Heyliger also said women may need to have their bone density checked because menopause can cause women to lose bone density. “It all depends on where you are. If you’re really vitamin D deficient based on your levels, you might take 50,000 units a week. In some cases, if you’re just on that fine line, or if you’re someone who may be a little vitamin D deficient, for example, but you work outside, you’ll probably take less units. It’s hard to give one (size) that fits all,” Heiliger told WBAL-TV told 11 News. Diagnosing vitamin D deficiency is difficult, but tests can confirm it, Heiliger said. She said some people may experience symptoms such as fatigue, muscle aches and weakness, and even bone pain. Heiliger also said that a healthy amount of vitamin D to take each day would be the amount found in a multivitamin. She says if you’re taking vitamin D alone, check with your doctor to see if that’s the dose that’s most beneficial for you.

BALTIMORE —

Vitamin D is an important nutrient for maintaining bone health, but some women are deficient.

When you think of vitamin D, some people may think of simply going outside and getting some sunlight, but that’s not always enough to cure a deficiency.

Sitting in the sun can help, but it’s not a complete solution. Jaelyn Heiliger, a physician assistant at Mercy Medical Center, told WBAL-TV 11 News that sun exposure comes with a risk of skin cancer, and people with darker skin actually absorb less vitamin D.

Vitamin D is especially important because women are four times more likely to develop osteoporosis than men, making bone health a bigger issue.

Heiliger also said menopause can cause women to lose bone density, so women may need to have their bone density checked under the guidance of their doctors.

“It all depends on where you are. If you’re really vitamin D deficient based on your levels, you might take 50,000 units a week. In some cases, if you’re just on that fine line, or for example, if you’re a person who may be a little vitamin D deficient but you work outdoors, you’ll probably take fewer units. It’s hard to give one (size) that fits all,” Heiliger told WBAL-TV. 11 News.

Heiliger said vitamin D deficiency is difficult to diagnose, but can be confirmed through testing. She says some people experience symptoms such as fatigue, muscle pain, weakness and even bone pain.

Heiliger also said that a healthy amount of vitamin D to take every day is the amount found in multivitamins. If you’re taking vitamin D alone, ask your doctor if it’s the most beneficial dose for you, she said.

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