Depression And Vitamin D Deficiency

[finding_my_way]

My Vitamin D is low . . . VERY low. Is that a likely source of depression or am I giving myself false hope that my emotional issues can be "explained" by science and easy fixes?

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I wouldn't underestimate the power that a low vitamin/mineral level can have on the body. I would be optimistic for improvement, but cautiously so. That is, hope for the best, but don't necessarily assume that its all due to a low vitamin D level.

 

[Pietro]

Vitamin D is enormously important to a lot of different processes in your body. Regardless of whether it directly affects mood or not, deficiency is always bad and can certainly affect other things that affect mood.

As @itsKismet said, I wouldn't get my hopes too high about solving your mood problems with Vitamin D alone, but it would certainly be a good place to start.

As for easy fixes, depends on the problems. :) If you are deficient in one specific biochemical, it could be easy. But biochemistry is an enormously complex; multiple things often affect each other, and have to be in just the right amounts. Also, the necessary amounts may differ, some, between different individuals. Chemical imbalances can occur due to deficiencies or failures in hormonal organs, liver or kidney problems, genetic issues, and neurological issues, including trauma.

If you have the time and inclination, there's a wealth of information on the Internet about this. You could look into Thyroid, Adrenal, and Gonadal hormone groups, B Vitamin levels, for example. As for neuro-chemical issues, I don't know that there's an easy way to test for these, but I believe there's work going-on regarding this.

 

[falling_wave]

I had the same problem last year. I started taking vitamin d magnesium tabs and felt better. Did it cure me? No Just overall better outlook but same struggles. It's worth taking a step that is available to you!

 

[ihateusernames]

They found mine was really low in February. I took a prescription supplement (the 50,000 iu) for a couple of months and was re-tested. The number went up quite a bit, but I'm still in the deficient range so I take 10,000 u in otc supplements every day with a magnesium/calcium/*zinc and a b complex. (I'd recommend that you take magnesium along with yours. I didn't know to at first and the vitamin D alone made me sick, kind of flu-like, and hurt my stomach pretty badly.)

I have had a huge boost in energy and mood since then and although I don't feel myself yet, it is still getting progressively better... buuut I also started an antidepressant at the same time. I almost wish that I had waited on the antidepressant to gauge the effectiveness of the vitamin D by itself, but I was desperate to get better. I do feel a lot more sluggish when I forget the vitamins or get in a rush or just get sick of taking so many pills and only take the bupropion.

So, I'd say yes, there probably is some relief that you can get by upping your vitamin D, either through supplements or spending more time in the sun. I don't know how much. I've read stories about other people who had drastic improvements raising their vitamin D levels, but I personally can't say for sure because it's not the only thing I tried.

*edited to change iron to zinc.

 

[finding_my_way]

Thanks for the input. It's good to have a reality check as to how much improvement to expect. And the idea of waiting on antidepressants until viewing the impact of Vitamin D supplements makes sense; I've been patient this long, so I can wait a few more months to see what happens. Sometimes, I wish things were just as easy as a medical problem, though :)

 

[ground crew]

On my way to where I am, I considered the vitamin solution and since nothing succeeds like excess, I got a bunch and started them all at the same time. I suddenly felt better. A while passed before I ran out of each pill, and I would take my time replacing them. Eventually I ran out of vitamin d. That is the one I needed most it seemed. I had a noticeable mood change after a week or two after stopping.

As an aside, laying in the sun is relaxing and produces tons of vitamin d. It feels good. Try it! Cancer? That's the least of my concerns!

 

[SR0706]

I agree with everyone saying you should definitely correct the deficiency...and in my opinion, for a number of reasons aside from mood. Vitamin D3 facilitates the absorption of phosphorus and calcium, and a deficiency can lead to osteoporosis and osteomylasia. It also interferes with your immune system's efficacy at fighting off illness. It also lowers your chances of having heart disease. Adults, whether pregnant or not, should be getting at least 600IU of Vitamin D3 every day