Vitamin D Winter Is Here: New 2026 Research Shows Why Sunlight Matters More Than Ever

World Vitamin D Day – November 2nd

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Distribution

TORONTO, ON (October 29, 2026) – Vitamin D winter has arrived, and new research published this year shows why sunlight matters more than ever for your health. As the Vitamin D Society marks its 18^th annual November Vitamin D Awareness Month and World Vitamin D Day on November 2^nd, we are calling on Canadians to take action now to keep their vitamin D levels up through the darker months ahead.

People should worry about what shortens their life. Research is now revealing that people who get regular sun exposure, without burning, have lower mortality rates and live longer.

“Moderate sensible sun exposure makes vitamin D in your skin plus many additional benefits that are part of a healthy lifestyle. People should go more out into the sun. Avoid the sunburn and enjoy it!” says Dr. Stefan Pilz of the Medical University of Graz in Austria.

Dr. Jörg Reichrath of Saarland University Medical Center in Homburg, Germany, agrees that the key is the dose: “It’s the dose that makes the poison. It is most important that you avoid excessive UV-exposure, most importantly sunburns. By doing this you can obtain the positive effects of the sun and UV radiation without being at too big of a risk for skin cancer.”

Studies published in 2026 continue to show that regular, non-burning sun exposure has positive effects on human health, from healthier blood sugar levels to lower mortality, adding to the evidence that the benefits of sunshine outweigh the risks.

Dr. Andrew Stevenson, lead author of a new UK study on sunlight and type 2 diabetes, reports: “Our new study of older adults in the UK, where sunlight is relatively limited, found that people’s blood sugar levels were lower after periods of sunnier days in winter and spring, and those who actively sought out the sun were less likely to develop type 2 diabetes.”

Dr. Pelle Lindqvist of the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden followed nearly 29,000 Swedish women in the Melanoma in Southern Sweden cohort for up to 34 years. His new study found that solarium users had about 18% lower all-cause mortality than non-users, and that solarium users without signs of intermittent solar overexposure had no increased risk of melanoma.

Dr. Lindqvist reports: “Melanoma risk among solarium users appears driven by intermittent solar overexposure rather than solarium use itself, while solarium use was associated with lower all-cause mortality.”

Everyone must decide how much sun exposure is right for them. There is a balance between risks and benefits. New research is now showing that the benefits of sun exposure substantially outweigh the risks.

“Sunlight is essential for good health, from healthier blood sugar levels to a longer life,” said Perry Holman, Executive Director of the Vitamin D Society. “Regular sun exposure without burning is one of the best things you can do for your health.”

From November to March, the sun’s UVB rays at Canadian latitudes are too weak to make vitamin D in your skin. That means you need to take action: take a vitamin D3 supplement or use an alternate source of UVB light. Food alone will not bring you to optimal levels, as most foods provide very little vitamin D.

How much vitamin D do you need? The Vitamin D Society follows the recommendations of the scientists at GrassrootsHealth, who recommend that everyone reach a vitamin D blood level, or 25(OH)D level, of 100-150 nmol/L (Canada) or 40-60 ng/ml (USA). To reach these levels, adults typically need a vitamin D intake of 4,000 IU/day. Ninety percent of Canadians fall short of these levels.

Take action to make sure you are not vitamin D deficient this winter:

Adults need a daily vitamin D intake of 4,000 IU/day (100 mcg) from all sources, according to levels recommended by vitamin D experts.
Get out in the natural sunlight when the UV Index is above 3 and your shadow is shorter than your height. Remember to never sunburn.
Consider artificial UVB exposure when natural sunlight is weak or not available and your skin type can receive UV exposure without burning.
Increase your food intake of fatty fish such as salmon.
Take a vitamin D3 supplement to make up the balance when sun exposure is not available or a viable option. UVB from sunlight or a sunlamp is what makes vitamin D naturally in your skin. Remember vitamin D supplements don’t replace all the benefits you get from sunlight. There are so many more photoproducts that sunlight creates in your skin, like nitric oxide for cardiovascular health.
Test and make sure your 25(OH)D blood level is between 100-150 nmol/L (Canada) or 40-60 ng/ml (USA). (home-based test)

GrassrootsHealth is celebrating World Vitamin D Day by hosting the inaugural Baggerly-Garland Vitamin D Scientist Awards on November 2nd at the Goldberg Auditorium at Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health. Beginning at 11 a.m. Pacific Time (2 p.m. Eastern), the ceremony will honour Dr. William B. Grant, Dr. Joan Lappe and Dr. Edward D. Gorham for research that has advanced our understanding of vitamin D, UVB exposure and cancer prevention, along with the legacies of GrassrootsHealth founder Carole Baggerly and Dr. Frank C. Garland. You can attend in person or virtually. Register here. Be sure to sign up for their free weekly newsletters to keep on top of all the latest vitamin D research.

To learn more about World Vitamin D Day on November 2^nd, visit our website and join us in helping to STOP vitamin D deficiency. You can also help spread the word by sharing a graphic from our Tools section on social media on November 2^nd and all through November. Thank you!

Please help STOP Vitamin D Deficiency!

About the Vitamin D Society:

The Vitamin D Society is a Canadian non-profit group organized to increase awareness of the many health conditions strongly linked to vitamin D deficiency; encourage people to be proactive in protecting their health and have their vitamin D levels tested annually; and help fund valuable vitamin D research. The Vitamin D Society recommends people achieve and maintain optimal 25(OH)D blood levels between 100 – 150 nmol/L (Can) or 40-60 ng/ml (USA).

To learn more about vitamin D, please visit www.vitamindsociety.org

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