By Dr. Christopher Lepisto, Naturopathic Doctor
a 2-minute read
by Dr. Christopher Lepisto
As the days grow shorter in the fall, many of us notice a subtle shift — less energy, heavier moods, slower mornings. When daylight savings ends and we “fall back,” that single hour can ripple through our lives, disrupting sleep, focus, and mood. It’s easy to blame the darkness, yet something physiological is also changing beneath the surface: our body’s natural production of Vitamin D begins to drop.
Before diving into lab results or supplements, it’s worth pausing to ask: what does vitality look like for you? Is it waking refreshed? Feeling more emotionally steady? Recovering easily after stress or exercise? Vitamin D contributes to these experiences — not as a solitary fix, but as one element in the larger picture that sustains whole-body balance.
A Steroid Hormone Commonly Called a Vitamin
Though we refer to it as a “vitamin,” Vitamin D functions more like a hormone. It helps cells communicate, supports calcium absorption for bone and brain health, influences immune function, and moderates inflammation. These anti-inflammatory effects can ease pain and, as a result, reduce fatigue. Because Vitamin D receptors are found in parts of the brain that regulate mood and circadian rhythm, some people feel lighter and more resilient as their levels improve.
Why It Matters — But Not Alone
Many people today test low for Vitamin D, especially in winter or if they spend most of their days indoors. Yet deficiency rarely stands alone. Low Vitamin D can accompany low magnesium, omega-3s, or disrupted sleep — all of which interact with mood, energy, and immune balance.
That’s why, in my practice, I look at the bigger picture through comprehensive blood work, including Vitamin D levels. Rather than treating Vitamin D as “the key,” it’s more accurate to see it as one note in the orchestra of health. I often ask patients, “What’s the most important Vitamin?”
The truest answer is: all of them.
Individual nutrients work like instruments in a symphony — each distinct yet designed to harmonize. Vitamins conduct; minerals provide rhythm and structure; amino acids build and repair; and essential fatty acids carry energy and messages across every cell. When these are in tune, they create the music of metabolism, mood, and resilience — what we recognize as vitality.
Practical Curiosity
If you’re curious where your levels stand, a simple in-office blood test for 25-hydroxyvitamin D provides insight. While a goal of 50 ng/mL is often cited, optimal levels vary depending on genetics, sun exposure, and overall nutrient balance. I often recommend D3 paired with Vitamin K2 and healthy fats to enhance absorption and synergy.
Baseline labs also reveal nutrient patterns, such as Complete Blood Count (CBC) markers that hint at B12 or iron needs. Even “normal” test results can hold subtle clues and discovering your needs is an inherently individual approach.
An Invitation
As we move through the darker season, consider this less about correcting deficiency and more about re-establishing the foundations of vitality. Vitamin D is one conversation among many your body holds each day — a reminder that resilience is both biochemical and deeply personal.
If you’d like to explore your nutrient status and discover what balance looks like for you, I’d be glad to guide you through testing and individualized support.
(970) 250-4104
