Uni researchers say exercise key to winter health

Exercise is the key to maintaining vitamin D levels in winter, a West study suggests. Regular, moderate-intensity exercise helps maintain crucial vitamin D levels during the darker months - even without weight loss or supplements.

- Rod Minchin

Researchers found that overweight and obese adults who completed a 10-week indoor exercise programme over winter experienced significantly smaller drops in vitamin D levels compared with those who did not exercise, even though their body weight was deliberately maintained.

More than 50 people took part in four sessions per week of two treadmill walks, one longer steady-state bike ride, and one high-intensity interval bike session.

Exercise completely preserved the body's active form of vitamin D, which plays a key role in supporting bone health, the immune system, and various organs.

Previous studies suggest that vitamin D supplements alone do not help maintain this active form.

The small-scale study was led by academics from the University of Bath, University of Birmingham and University of Cambridge.