A recent study conducted at the University of Newcastle in the UK revealed that relying on sunlight during the summer may not be sufficient to compensate for vitamin D deficiency in many people, especially the elderly and those with dark skin, prompting the search for other means to maintain normal levels in the body.

72% suffer from vitamin deficiency even during summer. The results, published in the European journal Clinical Nutrition, showed that more than half of the elderly and 72% of participants from ethnic minorities continued to suffer from vitamin D deficiency even after the summer months, proving that seasonal sun exposure does not guarantee the restoration of healthy vitamin levels in groups most at risk of deficiency.

The study explained that the body's production of vitamin D is affected by several factors, including advancing age, high melanin levels in the skin, lack of direct sunlight exposure, use of protective clothing or sunscreen, as well as the climate in northern regions, which reduces the body's ability to produce sufficient amounts of the vitamin even in summer.

The research team confirmed that the findings support the importance of not assuming that summer alone will treat vitamin D deficiency, calling on individuals most at risk of deficiency to consult a doctor about necessary tests and consider obtaining the vitamin from fortified food sources or dietary supplements when needed, according to medical guidelines.