Depression is often associated with low D and treated by Vitamin D – April 2022

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Depression and Vitamin D: A Peculiar Relationship

Cureus. 2022 Apr 21;14(4):e24363. doi: 10.7759/cureus.24363
Nisha Saji Parel 1, Parimi Vamsi Krishna 2, Anuradha Gupta 3, Kamsika Uthayaseelan 4, Kivonika Uthayaseelan 5, Monika Kadari 6, Muhammad Subhan 7, Sripada Preetham Kasire 8

List of criteria

Randomized Controlled Trials

Depression is a psychiatric disorder characterized by various symptoms that can impact one's quality of life. Vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin, is well-known for its role in bone health, and research on its effects on mental health has only recently emerged. Vitamin D deficiency is widespread worldwide, and it has been linked to an increased risk of depression. In this article, we have discussed different hypotheses that explain the role of vitamin D in gene expression and its effects on neurotransmitters and different brain functions. We have reviewed literature that shows us that Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for depression and explored studies that show us the effects of using or supplementing Vitamin D in preventing depression among various populations.

 Download the PDF from VitaminDWiki

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Intervention of Vitamin D for Depression

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Meta-analyses of Vitamin D and Depression

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VitaminDWiki - Depression summary

• Low vitamin D is associated with most types of depression, Including: Seasonal Affective Disorder. manic depression, bipolar disorder, dysthymia, Depression during/after pregnancy, Seniors, Suicide
• Depression substantially reduced by Vitamin D, Omega-3, Magnesium, etc – many studies
• Depression 1.6 X more likely if low Vitamin D, taking Vitamin D reduces depression – umbrella of meta-analyses – Jan 2023
• Depression: Low vitamin D in the strongest of 11 risk factors – Jan 2023
• Yet another study confirms Depression is treated by weekly Vitamin D (50,000 IU)– RCT Dec 2019
• Depression treated by Omega-3 (again) – meta-analysis Aug 2019
• Supplementing with Vitamin D (or getting more sun) decreases most types of depression as well as drugs
• Omega-3, Magnesium, and St. Johns' Wort also decrease depression
  • Speculate that some combination (Vit D, Omega-3, Mg, St John's) will decrease depression even more
  • Note: Both Omega-3 and Magnesium increase the amount of vitamin D which gets to tissues
• Antidepressants reduce cellular Vitamin D, increasing fractures, CVD, etc. - Oct 2022
• There are 268 items in the Depression category in VitaminDWiki

Some recent publications

• Depression in seniors greatly reduced by Vitamin D (50,000 IU weekly) – meta-analysis June 2023
• Depression reduced if take more than 5,000 IU of vitamin D daily – umbrella meta-analysis – Jan 2023
• Post-partum depression and low Vitamin D - many studies
• Depression: Low vitamin D in the strongest of 11 risk factors – Jan 2023

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VitaminDWiki - Suicide associated with low vitamin D - many studies contains

7 Hints that suicide is associated with low vitamin D:

• 1) Giving Vitamin D decreases suicide attempts
• 2) Suicide peaks in the Spring, when vitamin D values are lowest
• 3) Suicide has increased while vitamin D has been crashing
• 4) Suicide higher in dark-skinned individuals (low vitamin D due to built-in sun protection)
• 5) Suicide higher in prison (shut-ins have low levels of vitamin D)
• 6) Suicide attempts by males 3.7 X more likely if poor Vitamin D gene (CYP24A1) – Oct 2021
• 7) Suicide rate is higher at high latitudes (where vitamin D is less available)
  See Criteria to associate a health problem with low vitamin D