Vitamin D is an important nutrient that you get from the sun. If you don’t get enough of it, some research suggests that you may be at a higher risk of developing depression.
However, research on whether vitamin D supplementation can relieve depressive symptoms is mixed. Some studies have shown improvement in symptoms when taking vitamin D, and others have found no link.
If you have depression and are considering vitamin D supplementation, it is important to discuss your options with your healthcare provider.
Vitamin D supports many body functions and is important for overall health. The vitamin helps your body absorb calcium and is an important part of developing strong bones and teeth.
Together, calcium and vitamin D help protect your body from osteoporosis. This condition makes your bones weak and brittle, making them more likely to break. Low vitamin D also makes you more susceptible to osteomalacia, a condition that makes the bones soft, leading to bone pain, muscle weakness and bone deformities like rickets.
However, the role of vitamin D is not limited to bone health. It also has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and brain-protective properties and supports many other bodily functions.
For example, having enough vitamin D can strengthen your immune system to fight viruses and other pathogens. Your muscles depend on vitamin D to move, and your nerves use vitamin D to send messages between your brain and your body.
Vitamin D deficiency is common—affecting about 35% of adults in the United States—and is associated with many health problems.
For example, vitamin D deficiency is associated with cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and autoimmune diseases. Recently, vitamin D has emerged as a potential cause of depression.
However, researchers have not definitively concluded that vitamin D deficiency causes depression, although the two are linked. Another large population study found an association between vitamin D levels and depression in middle-aged adults.
The results of the study show that vitamin D deficiency and deficiency can help identify adults who are at high risk of developing depression. Deficiency can also serve as a biomarker for people with depression whose symptoms persist despite treatment, meaning that monitoring low levels can help diagnose depression and follow up. therapeutic progress.
Depression is an emotional disorder that affects the way a person feels, thinks and does the things they do every day, such as sleeping, eating or working. People with depression often experience one or more of the following symptoms almost every day for at least two weeks:
- Sadness and anxiety
- Loss of interest or enjoyment in activities or hobbies
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Irritability, agitation, or restlessness
- A feeling of helplessness or helplessness
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Sleep that lasts too long, too much, or not enough sleep
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Body aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems
- Thoughts of death or suicide
Each depressed person experiences this condition differently and may not have the symptoms listed above. If you or someone you love is showing symptoms of depression, contact the state’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at 1-800-662-4357 for information about support and treatment resources in your area.
Several small studies have found that people with depression have an improvement in their symptoms after they start taking vitamin D supplements.
However, some research shows that vitamin D supplementation does not affect symptoms of depression. For example, a large study involving more than 18,000 people with depression found that taking 2,000 international units (IU) daily of vitamin D for five years did not change in depression scores compared to taking a placebo. Several other studies reached similar conclusions.
It is important to note that vitamin D is not included in the guidelines for the treatment of mood disorders. Many scientists agree that more research is needed to determine how vitamin D works for depression, as well as what blood levels are needed and how to increase it. he is not depressed.
If you have depression and suspect your vitamin D levels are low, the best thing to do is talk to your health care provider. They may order a blood test to determine your vitamin D level. This will give you a baseline of your vitamin D levels before you start supplementation.
If you can’t get tested, you can supplement without testing as long as you stay within the recommended daily allowance of vitamin D, which is 600-800 IU for adults. Some health experts maintain that taking vitamin D without testing is safe, especially if you know you’re not getting enough sun or eating a healthy diet.
Your optimal vitamin D needs depend on your age, health status and skin color; Non-Hispanic black Americans, women and people aged 20-29 are at the highest risk of vitamin D deficiency.
When taking vitamin D, be careful how much you use and avoid taking too much. Because vitamin D is fat soluble, it has the potential to build up in your system and can result in vitamin D toxicity.
People with vitamin D toxicity may develop kidney stones (mineral clusters in the urine that are harder and more painful than in the urinary tract). Other symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Confusion
- The pain
- Dehydration
- Muscle weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Excessive thirst
- Excessive urination
Vitamin D levels that are too high can cause irregular heartbeats, kidney failure and death.
Vitamin D toxicity is often caused by supplementation. You can’t get too much vitamin D from the sun. Your skin naturally limits the amount of vitamin D it makes from sunlight.
Research shows that symptoms of vitamin D toxicity may occur when your daily intake is at least 10,000 IU. However, an amount below the tolerable intake of 4,000 IU can also have a negative effect over time.
Vitamin D supplements may interact with other medications, including diuretics, statins, steroids, and Orlistat (a weight-loss drug). Some of these medications can increase the risk of vitamin D toxicity. Talk to your health care provider before taking vitamin D supplements if you are taking any other medications or supplements.
Research shows a link between symptoms of depression and a lack of vitamin D. People with depression are often deficient in vitamin D, and a lack of vitamin D can increase the risk of depression.
However, research is unclear as to whether vitamin D supplementation can reduce symptoms of depression. If you have depressive symptoms and are considering taking vitamin D, talk to your health care provider about your options.
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