Vitamin D in Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the northernmost large city in the pilot Canadian set and has a particularly short modeled UVB season. Location affects possible vitamin D production from sunlight; it does not change the age-based dietary reference intake or determine whether a particular person needs a supplement.
See Winnipeg's sunlight estimate in the calculatorWhat the monthly model shows
The chart uses latitude 49.8951°, longitude -97.1384°, and elevation 239 m. It is model version 2026.09 with reference year 2026. It is not a weather forecast or measured local UV record.
| Month | Modeled sunlight | Gap to RDA* |
|---|---|---|
| January | 2 IU/day | 398 IU/day |
| February | 27 IU/day | 373 IU/day |
| March | 181 IU/day | 219 IU/day |
| April | 665 IU/day | 0 IU/day |
| May | 1,360 IU/day | 0 IU/day |
| June | 2,066 IU/day | 0 IU/day |
| July | 2,222 IU/day | 0 IU/day |
| August | 1,640 IU/day | 0 IU/day |
| September | 764 IU/day | 0 IU/day |
| October | 150 IU/day | 250 IU/day |
| November | 9 IU/day | 391 IU/day |
| December | 0 IU/day | 400 IU/day |
*Mathematical gap after modeled sunlight and an assumed 200 IU/day from food. This is not a supplement recommendation.
How much vitamin D do adults need?
Health Canada recommends 600 IU (15 µg) daily from all sources for ages 1–70 and 800 IU (20 µg) after age 70. Its food guide advises adults 51 and older to take a daily 400 IU supplement.
Vitamin D and seasonal depression
Seasonal affective disorder is a form of depression related to seasonal changes in daylight. Low vitamin D can coexist with it, but research on vitamin D as a SAD treatment is mixed. Established options include clinician-guided light therapy, psychotherapy, and medication. Read the evidence guide to vitamin D and SAD.