There has been a dramatic interest in the importance of vitamin D, “the sunshine vitamin”, in the past few years with regard to its impact on various aspects of health and disease. Research into well-known skeletal effects, as well as extra-skeletal effects, has been overwhelming. At times it has been difficult to make informed clinical decisions regarding replacement, if needed at all. This article aims to provide the family practitioner with a summary of the most important clinical effects of vitamin D, as well as give guidelines on testing for possible deficiency and consideration of replacement thereof.