How much vitamin D do I need a day?

The recommended daily intake of vitamin D in the UK is 10 micrograms (400UI) for both males and females above the age of 1. In adults, our doctors regularly recommend taking a Vitamin D supplement of 1000IU which is readily available in health food shops and pharmacies, as most of the people we test are very deficient! This is why we recommend tracking your Vitamin D levels.

What foods contain vitamin D?

Many foods in the UK are fortified with Vitamin D. The following foods are great sources of Vitamin D: oily fish red meat liver egg yolks

Do I need to take vitamin D supplements?

Whilst we get most of our Vitamin D from exposure to sunlight (Vitamin D is the only vitamin our bodies produce), the UK government understands that 1 in 6 adults have Vitamin D levels below government recommendations. It is important to check your Vitamin D levels using an at home blood test.

How long does it take to recover from vitamin D deficiency?

In the event that someone is deficient in Vitamin D, a doctor may prescribe a “loading dose”. Depending on the dose, it can take up to 10 weeks to resolve a deficiency.

Does vitamin D help with mental health?

Vitamin D is considered a vital factor in mental health such as low mood, depression, and quality of life.

How soon will the test arrive?

If you order your test before midday on a Monday to Friday then your kit will be dispatched the same day. All our kits are sent out via Royal Mail first class post, so it should be with you within 1-2 working days.

Can I have someone take my blood for me?

Yes. We offer two options if you do not want to do our finger prick test. The first is a home appointment where a nurse comes to your home to take a blood sample. The second is to visit a Phlebotomy clinic near you that offers a blood sample service. A blood sample will be taken from your vein and we will provide you with everything you need to give to the nurse to allow them to take the sample. The nurse will give you the blood sample to return to us using the pre-paid envelope provided.

Does a doctor review my results?

We have a team of doctors and nurses who look at all results and will comment on any results that are outside of the normal range for your age.

Can I download the results to share with my GP?

Yes, you can download your results from your health dashboard as a PDF to share with your GP.

How secure is my data?

We have strict processes in place to ensure the protection of your data. Following GDPR the company also operates under tight legal rules about the sharing of data which ensures that data is only shared if it is crucial to the delivery of our service. For example, our doctors see customer results at the time of review, however, after review, access to results is withdrawn.

Get a £5 voucher for you or to pass on when you order this test today.

Vitamin D Blood Test

Name: Vitamin D Blood Test
Brand: Forth
Price: 46 GBP
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.2 (1168 reviews)

Do you often feel tired or rundown? Have you been catching colds more often than usual? These could be signs of a vitamin D deficiency. Our vitamin D test kit will tell you if your levels are too low and could be causing symptoms such as low mood, fatigue or frequent illness.

£46

+ £5 Voucher when you order today

Certified for quality & security

Did you know?

Nearly half of UK adults have a vitamin D deficiency

BMJ: Preventable but no strategy: vitamin D deficiency in the UK

What is vitamin D & what does it do?

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that we get from the sun and some foods. It’s responsible for controlling how your body absorbs calcium and phosphate, which are needed for energy, bone growth, and muscle and nerve function. The RDA for vitamin D in the UK is 10 micrograms (400UI) for everyone above the age of 1 (babies under 1 years old need between 8.5-10mg).

What are the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency?

Some symptoms related to low vitamin D levels include fatigue, depression, hair loss, muscle pain and bone pain. We found that 74% of people have vitamin D levels below the optimum range.

What will a vitamin D test tell me?

Checking your vitamin D levels may help you understand why you feel tired, but other tests, like our Baseline Plus test will give you much greater insight into your health, and can help uncover more than just a vitamin D test.

Frequently asked questions

This is what our customers ask us most about this test. For more information, try our help centre.

How much vitamin D do I need a day?

The recommended daily intake of vitamin D in the UK is 10 micrograms (400UI) for both males and females above the age of 1. In adults, our doctors regularly recommend taking a Vitamin D supplement of 1000IU which is readily available in health food shops and pharmacies, as most of the people we test are very deficient! This is why we recommend tracking your Vitamin D levels.
What foods contain vitamin D?
Many foods in the UK are fortified with Vitamin D. The following foods are great sources of Vitamin D:
- oily fish
- red meat
- liver
- egg yolks
Do I need to take vitamin D supplements?

Whilst we get most of our Vitamin D from exposure to sunlight (Vitamin D is the only vitamin our bodies produce), the UK government understands that 1 in 6 adults have Vitamin D levels below government recommendations. It is important to check your Vitamin D levels using an at home blood test.
How long does it take to recover from vitamin D deficiency?

In the event that someone is deficient in Vitamin D, a doctor may prescribe a “loading dose”. Depending on the dose, it can take up to 10 weeks to resolve a deficiency.
Does vitamin D help with mental health?

Vitamin D is considered a vital factor in mental health such as low mood, depression, and quality of life.
How soon will the test arrive?

If you order your test before midday on a Monday to Friday then your kit will be dispatched the same day.

All our kits are sent out via Royal Mail first class post, so it should be with you within 1-2 working days.
How secure is my data?

We have strict processes in place to ensure the protection of your data. Following GDPR the company also operates under tight legal rules about the sharing of data which ensures that data is only shared if it is crucial to the delivery of our service. For example, our doctors see customer results at the time of review, however, after review, access to results is withdrawn.

Learn more about your data security.

Can I have someone take my blood for me?

Yes. We offer two options if you do not want to do our finger prick test. The first is a home appointment where a nurse comes to your home to take a blood sample. The second is to visit a Phlebotomy clinic near you that offers a blood sample service.

A blood sample will be taken from your vein and we will provide you with everything you need to give to the nurse to allow them to take the sample.

The nurse will give you the blood sample to return to us using the pre-paid envelope provided.
Does a doctor review my results?

We have a team of doctors and nurses who look at all results and will comment on any results that are outside of the normal range for your age.
Can I download the results to share with my GP?

Yes, you can download your results from your health dashboard as a PDF to share with your GP.

Learn how to export your results.

We are dedicated to supporting you on improving your health

Recommended by doctors

Dr Thom Phillips

Clinical Lead

BSc. (Hons) MSc. MB BCh. MRCGP. Dip SEM. PGCert (Diabetes)

Renee McGregor

Nutrition Lead

BSc (hons) PGDIP (DIET) PGCERT(sportsnutr) RD BASES

Dr Michael Cornes

Scientific Officer

Consultant clinical scientist, FRCPath, BSc Biochemistry, MSc Clinical Biochemistry, PhD Biochemistry

"The majority of the UK population have insufficient vitamin D levels. It's a nutrient that is essential for bone health, immune function, and overall well-being. Low levels can lead to conditions like osteoporosis and immune system issues. Use this test for assessing baseline levels and the efficacy of any dietary changes or supplementation"

Dr Thom Phillips

We’re changing people’s lives

Easy to administer, fast and efficient service, quick and clear results.

Andrew M

18th May 2023

I find Forth professional and forward-thinking with a bigger range of tests than more traditional healthcare providers in the UK. I think it is closer to what you can get from US providers.

Richard C

I wanted to get more information about my own health instead of using the NHS who just test for a specific reason. I also wanted better historical data to view changes over time as the NHS systems aren’t very good for that.

James W

Finding out what is going on inside your body is key, especially now that the NHS is in crisis. If we can take control of our wellness (and flag up potential problems early) that has got to be a good thing.

Vannesa C

I am very satisfied with your excellent service and I have recommended you to all my friends who are also very interested in your products.

Doris R

How it works

Getting the insights you need to improve your health has never been easier.

1. Choose your blood test

No need to wait for a GP appointment, choose from our wide range of tests which come with everything you need to take your sample and return to our lab.

2. Collect your sample

Take your finger prick blood sample at home, or choose to have your blood taken at a Superdrug health clinic or a nurse at home. Return to our NHS lab using our prepaid envelope.