Frequently Asked Questions
If I live in a sunny city like Hyderabad, why am I deficient?
Most urban professionals spend the bulk of their day indoors and use sunscreen outdoors. Clothing, commuting in cars, and glass buildings eliminate effective UV-B exposure for most of the day. Melanin pigmentation further increases the sun exposure needed. Even in very sunny climates, indoor lifestyles produce deficiency.
Can I get too much vitamin D from sunlight?
No. The skin has a self-regulating mechanism that breaks down excess previtamin D when UV-B exposure is sufficient. Vitamin D toxicity from sun exposure does not occur.
Is Vitamin D testing necessary, or should I just supplement?
Testing before supplementing is preferable — it confirms deficiency, quantifies its severity, guides the supplementation dose, and allows monitoring of response. Blind supplementation at low doses (1,000–2,000 IU daily) is unlikely to cause harm, but testing provides more targeted management.
My doctor prescribed a 600,000 IU injection. Is this safe?
High-dose intramuscular vitamin D injections are not recommended in current guidelines from endocrinology or rheumatology bodies. They produce unpredictable serum levels and have been associated with hypercalcaemia. Oral supplementation with 60,000 IU sachets weekly for 8–12 weeks (the standard Indian loading regimen) is preferred, followed by daily maintenance doses.
Does vitamin D supplementation help fatigue in autoimmune disease?
Correcting deficiency can improve fatigue, particularly when deficiency is contributing to muscle weakness and general unwellness. However, fatigue in autoimmune disease is multifactorial — disease activity, anaemia, sleep disturbance, and depression all contribute. Vitamin D correction is one component of a broader assessment, not a cure for fatigue.
This article is for educational purposes. It does not constitute medical advice. Dr. Keerthi Vardhan, MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Clinical Immunology & Rheumatology), Assistant Professor, NIMS Hospital, Hyderabad.