Two recent studies are showing a link between vitamin D deficiency and depression.
In a study done in Norway and recently published in the Journal of Internal Medicine, researchers found a relation between blood levels of vitamin D and symptoms of depression. In addition, giving high doses of vitamin D in the study seemed to help the symptoms of depression. The authors conclude that this represents a possible causal relationship between vitamin D deficiency and depression.
Over four hundred overweight or obese patients were enrolled in this study. Patients who had vitamin D levels less than 16 ng/ml were found to have significantly higher levels of depression than patients whose blood levels were over16 ng/ml. When the patients with a low vitamin D were given vitamin D, over the course of a year there was a significant improvement in their depression scores.
In another study that was recently published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, researchers in the Netherlands studied over 1200 patients age 65 and above. In this study they found that vitamin D levels were 14% lower in the 169 patients with minor depression and 14% lower in the 26 patients with major depression, compared with over 1000 control patients. These findings held up after many other factors including body mass index, smoking status, chronic disease status, age, level of physical activity etc, were controlled for.
The authors of this study came to the conclusion that "the results of this large population-based study show an association of depression status and severity with decreased serum vitamin D levels… in older individuals."
I’m delighted to see these studies coming out, as I have received several questions from readers about whether there is a relationship between low vitamin D and depression. And now these studies show that there does appear to be a relationship.
I too have been reading about Vitamin D recently and I can now postulate after reading your book why those with a January birthdate are more likely to suffer with Schizophrenia. Their mothers must be Vitamin D deficient, and when they deliver they remain deficient.
Also January is probably the lowest point for sun exposure.
I have upped the amount of Vitamin D I am taking recently because I found on the net that it would prevent Swine flu and now I see that I am being vindicated by other sources such as yourself.
Thank you Dr Kapur,
I have not seen articles indicating that those with a January birthdate have a higher incidence of schizophrenia but the Vitamin D – schizophrenia connection is not solid yet to my knowledge
I do believe that Vitamin D will protect against all influenza including Swine Flu and I am writing an article about that right now !
WOW!… I have suffered from depression since my preteen years. And I don’t mean the blues, I mean debilitating depression – like – can’t get out of bed depression. I am on two anti-depressants that are very helpful, but its always there – in the background. I recently had a checkup where the doctor did a lot of bloodwork because I have been drinking too much. Results come back everything normal except D deficiency. I assumed that was because of the alcohol. I had been looking for an excuse to try out a tanning salon and this was it. Holy Crap, I walked out of there feeling great. I had no idea that there was any relation between D and depression, I just noticed how great I felt all the sudden. I’ve been back to the tanning salon once and have started 1000 IU of D3 a day and I can say without hesitation that mood wise, this is the healthiest I have felt in years! I mean, I can’t even feel depressed if I try. I even caught myself thinking I might go for a jog. What? Huh? I haven’t been jogging in 20 years!
I know this is all anecdotal and doesn’t mean squat scientifically, but damn it means a lot to me. I’m not going to go so far as to say that I am cured. Nor am I brave enough to give up my antidepressants, But, at this moment, I am depression free and I haven’t been that way since I was about 10 years old. (I’m 34 now)
how wonderful that you were held so much by the Vitamin D! There is a new study going on now with high-dose vitamin D for the treatment of depression. I will keep you posted about it on my site. Please note that my blog posts will now be forwarding to my new site!
Neutrogenomics is the future of medecine. I am seeing amazing results with many illnesses and I would love to share my research with you. Are you interested?
My doctor put me on a prescription form of Vitamin D, 5,000 units every other day. I was feeling really tired, which was unusual for me. I was back to my old self in less than a week. Now I’m reading that some docs are recommending 5,000 units a day, which is what I’ve started taking. My partner has low level depression and won’t take medication for it, but will take Vitamins if handed them. What dosage of Vitamin D do you recommend for depression issues? Should we all be taking Vitamin D-3 or is there another form that is better? Thanks so much for your work on this. It sounds like it could be very helpful to many people.
Diane
please read my book and your questions will be answered. I do recommend vitamin D3 as the best source of vitamin D. Daily dose after you get your levels to normal very in my experience from 2000 5000 IU per day. The only way you can know your dose is by getting blood tests periodically until you establish what is your normal dose to keep your levels up.
Dr. Soram
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Hello from across the Pond
I too have been reading about Vitamin D recently and I can now postulate after reading your book why those with a January birthdate are more likely to suffer with Schizophrenia. Their mothers must be Vitamin D deficient, and when they deliver they remain deficient.
Also January is probably the lowest point for sun exposure.
I have upped the amount of Vitamin D I am taking recently because I found on the net that it would prevent Swine flu and now I see that I am being vindicated by other sources such as yourself.
Thank you Dr Kapur,
I have not seen articles indicating that those with a January birthdate have a higher incidence of schizophrenia but the Vitamin D – schizophrenia connection is not solid yet to my knowledge
I do believe that Vitamin D will protect against all influenza including Swine Flu and I am writing an article about that right now !
Best wishes,
Dr Soram
WOW!… I have suffered from depression since my preteen years. And I don’t mean the blues, I mean debilitating depression – like – can’t get out of bed depression. I am on two anti-depressants that are very helpful, but its always there – in the background. I recently had a checkup where the doctor did a lot of bloodwork because I have been drinking too much. Results come back everything normal except D deficiency. I assumed that was because of the alcohol. I had been looking for an excuse to try out a tanning salon and this was it. Holy Crap, I walked out of there feeling great. I had no idea that there was any relation between D and depression, I just noticed how great I felt all the sudden. I’ve been back to the tanning salon once and have started 1000 IU of D3 a day and I can say without hesitation that mood wise, this is the healthiest I have felt in years! I mean, I can’t even feel depressed if I try. I even caught myself thinking I might go for a jog. What? Huh? I haven’t been jogging in 20 years!
I know this is all anecdotal and doesn’t mean squat scientifically, but damn it means a lot to me. I’m not going to go so far as to say that I am cured. Nor am I brave enough to give up my antidepressants, But, at this moment, I am depression free and I haven’t been that way since I was about 10 years old. (I’m 34 now)
So… dosage recommendations? Tanning salon?
how wonderful that you were held so much by the Vitamin D! There is a new study going on now with high-dose vitamin D for the treatment of depression. I will keep you posted about it on my site. Please note that my blog posts will now be forwarding to my new site!
See you there.
Dr. Soram
Neutrogenomics is the future of medecine. I am seeing amazing results with many illnesses and I would love to share my research with you. Are you interested?
My doctor put me on a prescription form of Vitamin D, 5,000 units every other day. I was feeling really tired, which was unusual for me. I was back to my old self in less than a week. Now I’m reading that some docs are recommending 5,000 units a day, which is what I’ve started taking. My partner has low level depression and won’t take medication for it, but will take Vitamins if handed them. What dosage of Vitamin D do you recommend for depression issues? Should we all be taking Vitamin D-3 or is there another form that is better? Thanks so much for your work on this. It sounds like it could be very helpful to many people.
Diane
please read my book and your questions will be answered. I do recommend vitamin D3 as the best source of vitamin D. Daily dose after you get your levels to normal very in my experience from 2000 5000 IU per day. The only way you can know your dose is by getting blood tests periodically until you establish what is your normal dose to keep your levels up.
Dr. Soram