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.
QUICK TIP: Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common medical conditions worldwide. Learn More
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