Low Vitamin D Persists Year-Round in Northern Britain

Screening data from a UK clinical trial found low vitamin D levels in 55% of older patients and 72% of ethnic patients, with little variation despite summer months.

By
Andrea Surnit
July 2, 2026
3 min

MDSpire News

Objective:

To assess the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency among older and ethnic patients in northern Britain.

Approach:

Study Design: Screening data collected from December 2024 to August 2025 for a clinical trial on vitamin D supplementation.

Key Findings:

55% of older patients and 72% of ethnic patients had serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels below 50 nmol/L.
Vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency remained common throughout the year with little seasonal variation.
Among older patients, prevalence during June through August was 56%, exceeding estimates in the general UK population.
Ethnic patients maintained consistently high rates of insufficiency across all seasons.

Interpretation:

The findings highlight persistently high rates of vitamin D insufficiency across high-risk groups in northern Britain and suggest that sunlight exposure is inadequate as a corrective measure.

Limitations:

The study sample was not population-based, limiting generalizability.
Data on liver function and polypharmacy were not collected, which could influence vitamin D status.
All older patients were free-living and did not reside in care homes or sheltered accommodation.