Vitamin D how does it help?
Researchers have found that many people who have depression also have low circulating levels of vitamin D in their blood, so it is possible that the two factors are related.
Particularly, a number of studies have suggested that low levels of vitamin D during pregnancy are connected to postpartum depression - a type of depression that happens in the days, weeks, and months after a person gives birth.
Likewise, researchers have found possible associations between depression and low vitamin D levels in people with gout, chronic spinal cord injuries, stroke, and multiple sclerosis.
Some small, high quality studies have noted that various groups of people experience improvements in symptoms of depression after they start taking vitamin D supplements.
Who’s getting too little vitamin D?
Nicknamed “the sunshine vitamin,” vitamin D’s moniker is enough to bring a smile to your face. And as it turns out, vitamin D might help boost your mood in other ways too.
In a review from 2022 in the journal Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, researchers found that people who took vitamin D supplements saw a reduction in symptoms of depression.
Another review of research was less conclusive, but it did indicate that among people with more severe depression, taking extra vitamin D seemed to help ease their symptoms, backing up other research indicating that supplements might be less useful for people whose depression isn’t so severe.
By Lorie A. Parch
It has long been suspected that vitamin D had a positive impact on mental health.
Now, research has found that vitamin D supplements may reduce depressive symptoms!
How much vitamin D should I take?
The study on vitamin D found that an amount equal to or exceeding 2,000 IU per day is how much you would have to take to see a possible reduction in symptoms.
What about my current mental health treatment?
If you are currently being treated for a mental health condition, or are looking into treatment, please continue to do so. It is vital that you consult with medical professionals when it comes to your mental health!
Do I need to take vitamin D if I am mentally healthy?
Yes! Vitamin D has a range of benefits in addition to mental health including: Maintaining healthy teeth, Improving strength of teeth and bones, Muscle function, Immune system support.
What is the best way to get more vitamin D?
Spending at least 15min under the sun is the number one way to get more vitamin D. However, as we are heading into winter we need to be looking for new ways to increase our vitamin D intake. Certain foods contain more vitamin D than others.
