Why You Might Still Be Low In Vitamin D (even if you’re getting enough sunlight)
Vitamin D is one of those things we hear about all the time — especially coming into winter.
Most people know it’s important for immunity and bone health, and that we get it from sunlight. So, in a sunny country like NZ we should be getting plenty of it, right?
But what I’m seeing in clinic again and again in client Oligoscan results is this:
People can still be low in Vitamin D… even when they’re getting outside and even when they are supplementing.
So let’s talk about why that might be.
It’s Not Just About Sunlight
Yes — sunlight is important.
When your skin is exposed to sunlight, your body produces D3 (cholecalciferol). But that’s only the first step.
For Vitamin D to actually be used by your body, it needs to be processed and activated — and that involves:
Your liver
Your kidneys
Your digestive system
If any of these aren’t functioning well, your body might not be converting Vitamin D into its usable form as efficiently as it could.
So you can be doing all the “right things”… and still not quite getting the benefit.
The Cholesterol Connection - did you know?
Vitamin D and cholesterol are closely linked.
Your body actually uses LDL cholesterol to help transport and utilise Vitamin D.
So when Vitamin D is low, the body may try to compensate by producing more LDL cholesterol — and this can sometimes be reflected in cholesterol levels.
It’s not always as simple as “cholesterol is bad” — sometimes it’s the body trying to work with what it has.
It’s a Bit of a Team Effort
Vitamin D doesn’t work alone.
To be properly used in the body, it also relies on other nutrients — especially Vitamin K.
Without enough of these supporting nutrients, Vitamin D can’t be directed and used as effectively as it should be.
This is why simply supplementing one thing in isolation doesn’t always give the full result people are expecting.
Why It Matters (Especially Coming Into Winter)
Vitamin D plays a key role in:
Immune function
Bone health
General resilience
If you’re someone who:
tends to get run down in winter
picks up every cold going around
struggles with low energy or slow recovery
then Vitamin D (and how your body is using it) can absolutely be part of the picture.
So What Can You Do?
A few simple things to keep in mind:
Get regular sunlight where you can (even in cooler months)
Support your gut, liver, and overall health
Don’t assume more supplements = better results
Look at the whole picture, not just one nutrient
Where OligoScan Can Help
This is where something like an OligoScan can be really useful.
Rather than guessing, we can actually look at how your minerals and nutrients are sitting at a tissue level — and get a clearer idea of what your body might need.
It helps take the guesswork out of it, and gives us a much more personalised starting point.
So, what to remember is that Vitamin D is important — but it’s not just about getting more of it.
It’s about whether your body can process it, use it, and balance it properly.
And that’s where a more holistic view really makes a difference.
If you’d like to look at your own levels and get a clearer picture of what’s going on, you can book an OligoScan here.
You can also learn more about Oligoscan and how it works here.