What Is Vitamin D3?

Vitamin D3 is a naturally occurring vitamin created by the body during exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D synthesis from sun exposure is responsible for the majority of vitamin D ‘intake’ in the body. It is therefore recommended that during winter months, where sunlight exposure is limited, supplementation is necessary in order to compensate for limited D3 production from sunlight and meet recommended levels.

There are two types of Vitamin D, D2 and D3. Whilst D2 is produced by plants and can be consumed through diet, D3 is available in very few foods but can be synthesised through the skin. Vitamin D3 can be found in foods such as oily fish, milk and eggs although meeting your daily requirements solely through diet is almost impossible.

Surprisingly Vitamin D3 is one of the most common deficiencies, particularly during the dark winter months. Although it is estimated we need around 30 minutes of sun exposure to bare skin for sufficient Vitamin D synthesis, Vitamin D breaks down very easily, and our stores can run low very quickly.

We require an estimated 30 minutes of sun exposure to bare skin to achieve sufficient Vitamin D synthesis. It’s therefore not surprising that Vitamin D3 is one of the most common deficiencies, particularly during darker winter months. Vitamin D also breaks down very easily which means our stores can run low very quickly and require topping up. With this being said, the well-publicised health risks associated with sun exposure mean that avoidance of the sun and wearing SPF daily have become a necessity for many health and skin conscious people. 

There is also evidence to show that particularly in the UK, Vitamin D3 should be supplemented year-round to meet recommended levels.