Why Your Vitamin D Might Be Low Even in the Summer
4 min read
Most people assume that if the sun is out, their vitamin D is fine. In reality, the amount of vitamin D your skin produces depends on where you live, how much melanin you have, what time of day you are outside, and how much of your skin is exposed.
In Chicago, the sun sits at an angle for much of the year that makes vitamin D production inefficient — even in July, an office schedule can mean almost no direct midday sun. Deeper skin tones need significantly longer exposure to make the same amount, and sunscreen, windows, and clothing all reduce it further.
Low vitamin D rarely feels dramatic. It shows up as fatigue that sleep does not fix, low mood, aching bones or muscles, and getting sick more often than you should. Because those symptoms overlap with everyday stress, most people never connect them to a nutrient level.
The good news is that it is one of the simplest things to check. A single blood test tells you where you stand, and if you are low, the fix is usually inexpensive supplementation paired with a recheck a few months later to confirm your level has moved.
If you have not had your vitamin D checked in the last year, bring it up at your next visit. It is a small test that often explains more than patients expect.
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