Vitamin Information Center

Vitamin D is known as the “sunshine vitamin” because the human body naturally produces vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. A report in the Archives of General Psychiatry gives new meaning to the term. New research has shown that your risk for depression could be high if your blood is low in vitamin D and high in serum parathyroid hormones, says a report in . (Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2008;65[5]:508-512.)

More specifically, poor vitamin D consumption can cause an increase in serum parathyroid levels, which are frequently accompanied by symptoms of depression. And considering that nearly 15% of older individuals suffer from the blues this could be the relief that they’ve been seeking.

The findings may be important to patients because both low blood vitamin D levels and high parathyroid hormone levels can be treated with higher dietary intake of vitamin D or calcium and increased sunlight exposure. “Moreover, the clinical relevance of the present study is underscored by our finding that 38.8% of men and 56.9% of women in our community-based cohort had an insufficient vitamin D status,” researchers conclude. Additional studies are needed to determine whether changes in levels of vitamin D and parathyroid hormone precede depression or follow it.

The Anti-Aging Bottom Line: Almost 15% of older Americans suffer from depression, which can substantially decrease your quality of life. if you feel like you may be depressed, get your vitamin D levels checked. Recent research has found that vitamin D deficiency is much more common that was previously thought, and that most people need higher amounts of D than the current government mandated recommendations. Vitamin D supplementation has been proven very effective at correcting deficiency. Make sure you are getting at least 1,000 IU of supplemental vitamin D daily.

Low levels of vitamin D may put older people at a higher risk of depression, a study has found.

Researchers also estimated that 13 per cent of all people aged over 65 could be depressed.

The study, carried out by scientists in Amsterdam and published in Science Daily, found that a deficiency in vitamin D causes high blood levels of the parathyroid hormone, which has been linked to depression.

Of the 1,282 older people aged between 65 and 95 studied, 169 had a minor depressive illness and 26 were majorly depressed. Those with depression were found to have 14 per cent lesser vitamin D in their blood levels.

Over half of the women and 38.8 per cent of the men studied had insufficient vitamin D levels.

The authors of the study write: “Decreased vitamin intake may be secondary to depression, but depression may also be the consequence of poor vitamin D status.”

Decreased outdoor activity and different housing or clothing habits were all believed to decrease vitamin D.

However, a healthy dose of sun exposure can relieve minor feelings of depression.

By Michelle Carolla

Americans spend more than $7 billion a year on vitamins. But how do you know if you need vitamins and supplements?

A study in the Journal of American Medical Associations reports insufficient vitamin intake is an apparent cause of chronic disease. The American diet does not normally provide adequate amounts of vitamins.

Mary Ellen Scarborough, a registered dietician, told News 13 what’s important is what you eat. Eating whole, fresh foods and not processed, fatty foods is the best way to ensure you’re getting the proper amount of vitamins. Continue Reading…