Nutrition & Diet

Summer Sun Fails to Fix Vitamin D Deficiency in High-Risk Groups

Vitamin D deficiency is widely assumed to resolve with summer sunlight, but new research from Newcastle University challenges that belief. A study of nearly 300 people in northern Britain found that vitamin D levels remained low year-round in older adults and people from minoritized ethnic backgrounds — even during peak summer months. More than half of older adults had insufficient levels, with even higher rates in minoritized ethnic groups. Researchers say sunlight alone is not a reliable fix for high-risk individuals, particularly in northern latitudes. The findings, published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, suggest that consistent supplementation and proactive screening — not seasonal sun exposure — are needed to protect bone health, immune function, and long-term wellbeing.