Crisis in Vit D Deficiency: Is it Another Cause of Depression?

March 3, 2009 12:00 am Dr. Duffy Depression, Miscellaneous

Sunshine

I have been hearing alot about vitamin D lately.

My doctor said I should have a blood test for Vit D levels to make sure I am not deficient. Later that same week a physician friend of mine said her doctor put her on Vit D after a blood test showed a deficiency. She told me she had multiple joint and muscle pains that went away with addition of the supplement.

Although currently there is a lot of hype and misinformation about Vit D we are still learning about how it effects the body, how to get it, and if supplements work.

All the worry about skin cancer and avoidance of the sun may have put us at risk for ViT D deficiency thought diseases.

Low levels of Vit D have been linked to the following (and more) diseases.

depression
muscle and joint pain
osteoporosis
prostate cancer
breast cancer
diabetes
obesity

The amount of sun exposure needed to get the proper dose of vitamin D depends on a person’s skin type, where they live, and time of year, and time of day the exposure occurs. It appears that if you live north of Atlanta in USA it is impossible to get enough Vit D from the sun in the winter. However, in the summer a light-skinned person at the beach should be able to get all the vitamin D they need in about five minutes.

Although it is possible to get vitamin D through foods or supplements it is not easy. The daily dose according to FDA the recommended daily allowance is about 4-600 international units (iu) a day. Some experts however believe that 1000 IU is more like it.