# Most Older and Darker-Skinned Adults in Northern Britain Are Low on Vitamin D, Even in Summer

*Circannual prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in older and minoritized ethnic adults in Northern Britain: screening outcomes from a clinical trial (ISRCTN13778806).*

- **Evidence Level**: Moderate
- **Publication Types**: Journal Article
- **Journal**: European journal of clinical nutrition
- **Sample Size**: 299 adults in northern Britain
- **Authors**: Goddard A, Watson A, Tilbury R, Corfe BM, Fairley A
- **Published**: 2026-05-19
- **Topics**: vitamin D, deficiency, aging
- **DOI**: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-026-01760-z
- **Original Source**: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42156552/

## Summary

Researchers screened older adults and people with darker skin tones in northern Britain for vitamin D levels across the year. More than half of older adults and over 70% of ethnic minority adults had insufficient or deficient vitamin D. Summer sunshine did not fix the problem. Sun exposure alone seems to fall short for these groups at higher latitudes.

## Practical Takeaway

This study suggests sunlight alone may not maintain vitamin D levels in older or darker-skinned adults at northern latitudes.

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