Why do you need more vitamin D in winter and how to get it

Should I take vitamin D in winter?

Vitamin D has a wide range of effects on system health and has been shown to support the functions of the physical, mental and immune systems. Maintaining healthy levels of vitamin D throughout the winter is important to support a healthy whole body.  

Vitamin D is not just a nutrient; It is a hormone that has receptors in almost every cell and tissue of the body. [1] Vitamin D acts as a genetic and immunomodulator and has a systemic effect on overall health. Research has linked vitamin D levels to more than 53 different conditions, including nine of the fourteen leading causes of death in the United States. It is estimated that about 3% of the human genome is regulated by the endocrine system with vitamin D and that more than 1,000 genes in the human body are affected.

Why do you take vitamin D in winter?

Maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D is important year-round, but during the winter vitamin D is especially critical. In northern climates, vitamin D cannot be obtained from the sun in winter. Between November and March, the angle of the sun prevents the majority of ultraviolet B (UVB) light from passing through the atmosphere, and thus from reaching our skin to stimulate vitamin D production. As a result, many people suffer from vitamin D deficiency in the winter. Many diseases appear including the winter seasonal flu. Some researchers hypothesize that this seasonality is caused by decreased exposure to sunlight and vitamin D during the winter months.

Vitamin D benefits in winter

Winter is a time of year that can be mentally tough for many people. Shorter days and less sun can affect your energy level, mood, motivation, and more. Approximately 3% of Canadians and 6% of the US population suffer from winter depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). [3,4] A larger proportion of the population, about 15%, suffers from a mild version of seasonal depression known as winter blues. [3] The symptoms of depression for these cases begin gradually at the beginning of winter, as the days get shorter, and gradually fade away in the spring, as the days get longer with more sunlight.

There are many different proposed mechanisms involved in the development of SAD. One factor is that low levels of vitamin D in winter may increase the risk of depression. Consistently correlated scientific evidence suggests that a higher level of vitamin D is linked to diminished mental health issues, including depression and anxiety. Other studies have shown that increasing vitamin D levels can improve symptoms of depression. These studies suggest that maintaining adequate vitamin D can be beneficial for winter depression. 

 Click to learn more about the effect of vitamin D on mental health .

The best way to get vitamin D in winter

Many doctors understand the importance of vitamin D in winter and recommend a vitamin D supplement to prevent vitamin D deficiency and winter blues. While it is important to keep vitamin D levels elevated for the winter, vitamin D pills may not be the best choice for supporting systemic health. Oral vitamin D supplements are not effective for a surprisingly large number of people and do not provide the same health benefits as exposure to light. 

Getting vitamin D from light may be the best vitamin D supplement for winter. But if you can’t get vitamin D from sun exposure, how are you supposed to get vitamin D from light during the winter months? 

Solius uses a narrow spectrum of UV light to stimulate naturally occurring vitamin D production in the skin, by activating the same mechanisms as light from the sun. The innovative Solios technology narrowly targets the light spectrum most effective in stimulating vitamin D production, while eliminating the remainder of the UV light spectrum. 

How much vitamin D do I need in the winter?

When it comes to vitamin D dosage for winter, each individual will have unique needs to keep their bodies healthy. For oral supplements, the recommended dose of vitamin D you should take in the winter varies widely among the medical community. Using light to make vitamin D during the winter months allows your body to self-regulate vitamin D production and achieve what it needs to stay healthy, without the risk of overdose or toxicity.