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With almost half of Brits at risk of a common vitamin deficiency, there are four crucial symptoms to watch out for this March. According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), approximately 40 per cent of adults will be lacking in vitamin D at this time of year.

This can prove dangerous in the long run, potentially leading to bone damage, including rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. TheNICE website referenced figures from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey, which revealed that typically 23 per cent of adults aged 19–64 years and 21 per cent of adults aged 65 years and over are deficient in vitamin D.

However, between January to March, this figure rises to 29.3 per cent of people aged 65 years and over, and 40 per cent of people aged 19–64 years. This is partly attributable to the fact that the UK receives very little sunlight during these months, which is one of the primary sources of vitamin D.

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For this reason, the NHS recommends that everyone takes daily vitamin D supplements between October and March. Should you be suffering from a vitamin D deficiency, the symptoms can be rather subtle.

The Cleveland Clinic highlights four principal warning signs to be aware of. In adults, these include:

• Fatigue
• Bone pain
• Muscle weakness, muscle aches or muscle cramps
• Mood changes, like depression

Children with a mild vitamin deficiency may have "weak, sore and/or painful muscles". If this develops into rickets, they could have:

• Abnormal growth patterns caused by curved or misshapen bones
• Weakened muscles
• Aching bones
• Joint abnormalities

That said, this remains "very rare". The Cleveland Clinic states: "Vitamin D deficiency means you don't have enough vitamin D in your body.

"It primarily causes issues with your bones and muscles. Vitamin D is an essential vitamin that your body uses for normal bone development and maintenance.

"Vitamin D also plays a role in your nervous system, musculoskeletal system and immune system."

From roughly late March or early April through to September's end, the NHS notes that "most people" ought to be capable of producing all the vitamin D they require from sunshine. "The body creates vitamin D from direct sunlight on the skin when outdoors," the health body says.

"But between October and early March we do not make enough vitamin D from sunlight." If you opt for vitamin D supplements, 10 micrograms daily should be sufficient for most.

Vitamin D can also be found in some foods. Options include:

• Oily fish – including salmon, sardines, trout, herring or mackerel
• Red meat
• Egg yolks
• Fortified foods – including certain fat spreads and breakfast cereals
• Liver (steer clear of liver during pregnancy – discover more about foods to avoid in pregnancy)

Across the UK, cows' milk typically isn't a reliable vitamin D source since it isn't fortified, unlike in countries such as the US. If you take supplements, it's crucial not to exceed the advised dosage.

The NHS states: "Do not take more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) of vitamin D a day as it could be harmful. This applies to adults, including pregnant and breastfeeding women and the elderly, and children aged 11 to 17 years.

"Children aged one to 10 years should not have more than 50 micrograms (2,000 IU) a day. Infants under 12 months should not have more than 25 micrograms (1,000 IU) a day."

If you suspect that you or your child may be lacking in vitamin D, it's essential to consult your GP.

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