Summer sun isn’t a sure thing: Why experts say many people should keep taking vitamin D even in Thailand’s hottest months
A new wave of consumer health guidance is urging people not to abandon their vitamin D supplements in summer, arguing that sunshine alone often falls short—an insight that may surprise residents of tropical countries like Thailand. A recent explainer from Verywell Health reports that experts recommend continuing vitamin D supplements through the warmer months to keep levels steady year-round because sun-derived vitamin D varies widely by skin tone, time outdoors, pollution, and sunscreen use, among other factors. It also reiterates current daily intake guidance—typically 600–800 IU for adults, unless a clinician advises more—and notes that vitamin D3 tends to sustain levels better than D2 in most studies (Verywell Health). For Thailand, where UV radiation is extreme but urban lifestyles limit midday sun and foods are rarely fortified with vitamin D, the message is especially relevant.