{"id":401120,"date":"2026-03-24T09:31:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T09:31:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/401120\/"},"modified":"2026-03-24T09:31:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T09:31:09","slug":"dietitian-issues-vitamin-d-warning-its-one-of-the-biggest-misunderstandings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/401120\/","title":{"rendered":"Dietitian issues vitamin D warning – ‘it’s one of the biggest misunderstandings’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Vitamin D – or the ‘sunshine vitamin’ – is an essential part of the diet and too little can leave people ‘running on empty’\"Dietitian<\/p>\n

Dietitian Karine Patel says many people stop taking vitamin D early(Image: Dietitian Fit)<\/p>\n

As spring arrives and the daylight hours get longer it can help lift the mood, especially when the sun is out<\/a>. And as thoughts often turn to summer, it can easily lull people into making a big mistake which a dietitian has warned is “one of the biggest misunderstandings”.<\/a><\/p>\n

Brighter, longer, days can see people stopping their winter supplements – something which can be a big mistake. For when it comes to vitamin D<\/a>, ditching it too early can leave your body running on empty.<\/p>\n

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The dietitian says people should take a supplement during the winter(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n

Karine Patel at Dietitian Fit<\/a> has now warned that sunshine alone for the coming weeks may not be enough to meet your body\u2019s needs just yet. And she has explained why most people stop taking vitamin D too early, the exact date many get wrong, and the signs your body may still need the essential nutrient.<\/p>\n

Why Vitamin D Still Matters in Spring<\/strong><\/p>\n

The expert explained: “Vitamin D plays an important role in supporting bone strength, immune health, mood regulation and muscle function. However, it\u2019s common for many people to stay deficient for much of the year.<\/p>\n

“As we simply don\u2019t get enough UVB exposure in the UK during the winter months to produce the right amount of vitamin D through sunlight alone. By the time spring comes around, many people are already running low or deficient without even knowing. Even as the weather<\/a> gets better, the sun is usually still too weak in early spring to trigger the right vitamin D production in the skin.<\/p>\n

“People seem to think that as it\u2019s brighter, their vitamin D levels will naturally recover and rise. But actually, UV levels in March and early April are still too low, particularly if you\u2019re indoors most of the day.”<\/p>\n

The \u2018Cut-Off Date\u2019 Most People Get Wrong<\/strong><\/p>\n

Karine said: ” One of the biggest misunderstandings is when it\u2019s safe to stop supplementing. Most people stop taking vitamin D as soon as the clocks change or when we first enter March. But for most people, April can still be way too premature.<\/p>\n

“The more correct cut-off point is late April to early May, when UVB rays start to become strong enough for the body to produce sufficient vitamin D, and that\u2019s only if you\u2019re regularly getting midday sun exposure. If you stop too early, you can risk prolonging the period where your body is running on low levels, which can impact immunity, energy and overall wellbeing.”<\/p>\n

Who Should Keep Taking Vitamin D Longer?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although some people might be able to stop supplementing in late spring, it is recommended for others to continue for longer or in some cases, all year round, says the expert. Here are the key groups who should be cautious about stopping too early:<\/p>\n

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Vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n