I Live in Florida… How Can My Vitamin D Be Low?

Here in Florida, we are surrounded by sunshine almost every day.

So it seems like vitamin D deficiency should be rare, right?

That is exactly what most people assume. And honestly, I understand why. We live in the Sunshine State. We walk from our cars into stores and feel like we just crossed the Sahara. We have pool days in January. We sweat walking to the mailbox. Florida is not just hot — it is hot-hot, not cute-hot.

So when someone comes into Recharge Clinic and we find that their vitamin D is low, one of the first things I hear is:

“But I live in Florida.”

I get it. But the truth is, living in a sunny state does not automatically mean your vitamin D level is where it needs to be.

In fact, a South Florida study found that vitamin D insufficiency was still surprisingly common even in a region with year-round sunshine. In that study, researchers found hypovitaminosis D in about 38% of men and 40% of women, using a cutoff of less than 20 ng/mL. Their conclusion was simple but important: vitamin D deficiency can still be significant even in southern latitudes.

A Patient Story That Surprised Both of Us

Just last week, I had a patient come in to go over his labs.

This patient works in a profession where he is outside literally all day. Not “I walk from the parking lot to the office” outside. I mean outside, in the Florida sun, for hours and hours.

So when we got to his lab results, both of us expected it to look great.

It did not.

His vitamin D came back at below 20 ng/mL.

He looked shocked. I was surprised, too.

Now, depending on the lab and the individual patient, 20 ng/mL and over may be considered barely adequate, insufficient, or lower than what we want for optimal wellness. At Recharge Clinic, we are not just looking for people to “barely scrape by” on a lab range. We want to understand what is optimal for that person, based on symptoms, lifestyle, medical history, medications, inflammation, hormone status, gut health, and overall goals.

And this patient was a perfect reminder:

Sunshine matters, but sunshine alone is not always enough.

Why Sunshine Alone May Not Be Enough

Your body makes vitamin D when UVB rays from sunlight hit your skin. But that process is more complicated than most people realize.

Vitamin D production can be affected by:

• Sunscreen use
• Time spent indoors
• Clothing coverage
• Skin tone
• Age
• Body composition
• Gut absorption issues
• Liver or kidney problems
• Certain medications
• Avoiding midday sun because Florida is basically an air fryer

The NIH notes that factors such as season, time of day, cloud cover, smog, skin melanin content, and sunscreen can all affect vitamin D synthesis. UVB rays also do not penetrate glass, so sitting by a sunny window does not give you the same vitamin D benefit as direct sun exposure.

And we also have to be smart. I am not telling anyone to go bake in the sun without protection. UV exposure increases skin cancer risk, and national health organizations still recommend appropriate sun protection. This is one reason testing matters: we can support healthy vitamin D levels without guessing or overdoing sun exposure.

Some people are also more likely to have inadequate vitamin D levels, including older adults, people with limited sun exposure, people with darker skin, people with conditions that affect fat absorption, people with obesity, and those who have had gastric bypass surgery.

Vitamin D Is More Than a “Bone Vitamin”

Most people know vitamin D is important for bones. That is true — it helps your body absorb calcium, which is essential for maintaining strong bones.

But it does more than that.

Your body also uses this essential nutrient for:

• Muscle function
• Nerve signaling
• Immune defense
• Calcium and phosphorus balance
• Overall bone strength

The NIH explains that vitamin D supports calcium absorption, muscle movement, nerve communication, and immune function.

That is why I pay attention when vitamin D is low or sitting at the very bottom of the range. It can be one of those “small” labs that gives us a big clue about what is happening in the body.

Clues Your Vitamin D May Be Low

Low vitamin D does not always cause obvious symptoms. Some people feel completely normal. Others feel off but cannot quite explain why.

Possible clues may include:

• Fatigue
• Muscle aches
• Muscle weakness
• Bone discomfort
• Low mood
• Frequent illness
• Poor recovery
• A general “I just do not feel like myself” feeling

Cleveland Clinic notes that vitamin D deficiency in adults may show up as fatigue, bone pain, muscle weakness, muscle aches or cramps, and mood changes.

But here is the important part: these symptoms can overlap with many other issues. Fatigue could be vitamin D, but it could also be thyroid, hormones, anemia, inflammation, poor sleep, blood sugar changes, nutrient deficiencies, or stress.

That is why I do not recommend guessing.

I recommend testing.

At Recharge Clinic, We See This All the Time

At Recharge Clinic, we frequently see patients who are active, outdoorsy, and living right here in sunny Florida — yet their vitamin D levels are still lower than expected.

• Sometimes it is the person who works inside all day.
• Sometimes it is the person who wears sunscreen faithfully.
• Sometimes it is the person with gut issues who is not absorbing nutrients well.
• And sometimes, like my patient last week, it is the person who is outside all day and still comes back lower than we would like.

That is why personalized care matters.

We look at the whole picture: your labs, your symptoms, your lifestyle, your health history, your medications, your gut health, and your goals. Then we can decide what makes sense — whether that is daily supplementation, injections, nutrition support, or IV add-ons when appropriate.

How Recharge Clinic Can Help Support Healthy Vitamin D Levels

At Recharge Clinic, this is where personalized care really matters. We do not just tell patients, “Go get more sun,” especially when we know that sunshine alone does not always get the job done. 

Once we check your vitamin levels, we can help you decide what kind of support makes the most sense for your body. That may include oral over the counter supplementation like our Recharge Cocktail or ADK vitamin support, or it may include our vitamin D shots for patients who need a more direct approach. 

Everyone’s body is different, and absorption, lifestyle, medications, gut health, and symptoms all matter. 

Our goal is to help you raise and maintain healthy levels safely and intentionally — not by guessing, but by looking at your labs and building a plan around you.

The Takeaway

Living in Florida helps, but it does not guarantee healthy nutrient levels.

• You can be outdoorsy.
• You can be active.
• You can live in the Sunshine State.
• And your vitamin D may still be low, borderline, or not optimal for you.

The only way to know is to check.

Not sure where your vitamin D stands? Recharge Clinic can help you check your levels and create a personalized plan to support your energy, immune health, muscle function, bone strength, and overall wellness.

Schedule your lab review with Recharge Clinic and let’s find out what your body actually needs.

Coming Up Next

Be on the lookout for our next blog on Vitamin D: “Vitamin D and Your Whole Body: Bones, Immunity, Mood, Muscles & Cancer Support”

Frequently Asked Questions About Low Vitamin D 

What vitamin D level should I aim for?

This depends on the person, the lab, the unit of measurement, and your overall health picture.

In many U.S. labs, vitamin D is measured as 25-hydroxyvitamin D in ng/mL. The NIH notes that levels below 12 ng/mL are associated with deficiency, 12–20 ng/mL may be inadequate for some people, and 20 ng/mL or higher is considered adequate for most people. Levels above 50 ng/mL may be linked with potential adverse effects in some cases.

At Recharge Clinic, we do not just look at a number in isolation. We look at your symptoms, lifestyle, medical history, inflammation, hormone health, gut health, medications, and goals to decide what range makes sense for you.

Who is more likely to have low vitamin D?

Anyone can have low vitamin D, but some people are at higher risk.

This may include people who spend a lot of time indoors, older adults, people with darker skin, people with gut absorption issues, people with obesity, people who have had gastric bypass surgery, and those taking certain medications.

But as my patient story shows, even people who work outside all day can still come back lower than expected.

Can you take too much vitamin D?

Yes. Vitamin D is fat-soluble, which means your body can store it. More is not always better.

That is why I do not recommend blindly taking high-dose vitamin D without checking your labs and having a provider guide you. The goal is to support your body — not overshoot and create new problems.

How do I schedule vitamin D testing at Recharge Clinic?

You can schedule at Recharge Clinic by calling 352-512-9996 or booking an appointment online through the Recharge Clinic website. Walk-ins may also be available at select locations, depending on the service and availability.

Recharge Clinic has convenient locations in Ocala, Lady Lake, and Clermont, making it easy to have your levels checked and receive a personalized plan based on your results.

Vitamin D testing is a simple blood test that provides valuable information about your health. Instead of guessing whether your levels are low, borderline, or where they should be, we can review your lab results and discuss the most appropriate next steps, which may include supplementation, vitamin injections, nutrition support, or other personalized recommendations.

What are other ways to increase my levels besides the sun?

Sunlight is one way your body makes vitamin D, but it is not the only option — and for many people, it is not enough on its own.

Other routes may include:

• Oral vitamin D supplementation
• Recharge Cocktail oral vitamin
• Recharge ADK or vitamin D support
• Vitamin D shots or injections
• IV vitamin add-ons when appropriate

The right option depends on your lab results, symptoms, absorption, lifestyle, and overall health goals. Some patients do well with a daily oral vitamin. Others may benefit from injections or additional support, especially if their levels stay low despite sun exposure or supplementation.

That is why we always come back to the same idea: test, do not guess. Once we know where your vitamin D level is, we can help create a plan that makes sense for you.

References

1. National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin D – Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/
2. Cleveland Clinic. Vitamin D Deficiency: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15050-vitamin-d-vitamin-d-deficiency