Does Vitamin D Help With Depression? What You Need To Know

By We Level Up FL Treatment Center | Editor Yamilla Francese | Clinically Reviewed By Lauren Barry, LMFT, MCAP, QS, Director of Quality Assurance | Editorial Policy | Research Policy | Last Updated: February 8, 2023

Depression Statistics

One of the most prevalent mental diseases in the US is major depression. Some people who have serious depression may experience substantial impairments that impede or restrict their capacity to engage in important life activities.

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Does Vitamin D Help With Depression? Vitamins For Anxiety And Depression

Numerous further research likewise concluded that vitamin D supplementation had no impact on depression. More research is required to clarify the potential associations between vitamin D deficiency and depression as well as how vitamin D supplementation may influence depressive symptoms because the results are so contradictory.

Vitamins For Depression And Anxiety: Risk factors for vitamin D deficiency

Age, other lifestyle choices, and limited sun exposure can all contribute to low vitamin D levels. Here is further information on the dangers of vitamin D insufficiency.

Depression Vitamin D: Limited sun exposure

For most people, getting enough sun exposure is their main source of vitamin D. You can reduce your exposure by avoiding the sun. A lack of vitamin D may result from this.

The amount of sunlight you require will vary depending on your location, the time of day, and the season. Vitamin D is often produced more quickly by those with lighter skin than those with a darker complexion.

Depression Vitamin: Diet

Not many foods are naturally rich in vitamin D. You can increase your intake by eating more of these great natural sources of vitamin D:

• Salmon
• Mackerel
• Other fatty fish
• Fish liver oils
• Animal fats
• Vitamin D-fortified food products, such as orange juice and cereal

If you follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, there’s a chance you’re not getting enough vitamin D.

Vegan vitamin D sources include:

• Fortified plant-based milk, fruit juices, and grain products
• Mushrooms that have been exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light to increase their vitamin D content

Low Vitamin D Depression: Darker skin tone

Low Vitamin D And Depression: Black individuals in the United States appear to have a higher prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency than other populations. According to one study that used information from a significant U.S. health study conducted between 2011 and 2014, around 17.5% of Black persons were at risk for vitamin D deficiency, compared to 7.6% of Asian, 2.1% of White, and 5.9% of Hispanic people.

This gap may exist as a result of darker-skinned individuals having higher melanin levels, the pigment that gives skin its color. Melanin appears to prevent the skin from producing vitamin D. Consult a healthcare provider about your options if you are worried about the vitamin D your exposure to the sun produces. It’s also crucial to increase the amount of vitamin D-rich foods in your diet, such as:

• Trout or salmon
• Vitamin D-fortified mushrooms
• Vitamin D-fortified dairy or plant-based milk
• Eggs

Depression Vitamin Deficiency: Obesity

Vitamins To Help Depression: There is a connection between those with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above and vitamin D deficiency. People with obesity may require more vitamin D absorption than those with a modest weight in order to meet prescribed nutritional levels.

Ask a medical practitioner about getting your vitamin D levels checked if your BMI is 30 or higher. They can assist you in developing a strategy to raise your levels. To treat a vitamin D shortage, doctors frequently recommend a high-dose vitamin D supplement.

Can Vitamin D Deficiency Cause Depression? Symptoms of Vitamin Deficiency Depression

The symptoms of depression and vitamin D insufficiency are two separate illnesses. Speak to a healthcare provider if you have symptoms of either, or both, illnesses.

If you don’t get enough vitamin D, you could experience:

• Aching bones
• Fatigue or drowsiness
• Weakness and pain in your muscles and joints

Symptoms of depression may include:

• Overwhelming feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and helplessness
• Insomnia or excessive sleepiness, known as hypersomnia
• Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
• Lethargy
• Excessive weight loss or weight gain
• Loss of appetite
• Problems concentrating
• Forgetfulness
• Loss of sexual interest
• Headaches or back pains
• Anxiety
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Treating Vitamin D Deficiency and Depression: Natural Vitamins For Depression

Treatments for Depression

Psychotherapy and antidepressants are frequently recommended by medical practitioners to treat depression. Depending on your symptoms and treatment objectives, you can use either one of these methods alone or in conjunction with dietary changes.

Increasing your vitamin D intake could assist with symptoms of depression if a vitamin D deficiency is the cause. Consult a medical expert to learn more about your treatment options and what might be most effective for you. Here are some other actions you may take if you’re depressed that might help lessen your symptoms:

• Sign up for a support group. You can find others who are going through the same symptoms online, over the phone, or in your local area by joining a support group. They are able to encourage and show sympathy.
• Regular exercise. Regular exercise releases “feel-good” chemicals like endorphins into the brain, which helps to lessen the symptoms of depression. Cardio should be done for around 30 minutes a day, three times per week, and more days and minutes can be added as needed.
• Maintain a consistent sleep routine. Maintain a regular sleep schedule to manage depression-related sleep problems. A sleep and wake alarm might be set. You could also keep a journal to track your development, noting your sleep duration and caliber.
• Contact your loved ones. You might find support from your friends or family while you manage your symptoms. Your network of reliable, encouraging friends and family may be able to assist your treatment efforts if you are able to talk to them about your depression.

Best Vitamins For Energy And Depression: Best Vitamins For Anxiety And Depression (Depression Vitamins)

What Natural Vitamins Are Good For Depression? Vitamins For Tiredness And Depression – Vitamin B And Depression

Vitamins Depression: B vitamins are crucial in assisting the brain in producing enough of the chemicals needed to control mood and other mental processes (Vitamin B Depression). Someone may be more susceptible to depressive symptoms if they have low amounts of B vitamins, especially B-12. B-vitamin deficits are frequently observed in depressed individuals.

Best Vitamins For Depression (Vitamin Depression): Even in the absence of a specific problem, aging might make it harder for the body to absorb adequate vitamin B-12. B vitamins can aid in reducing fatigue, which is a common sign of depression. B-12 in particular is well known for helping to lessen fatigue.

What Vitamins Are Good For Depression? Fish, lean meats, eggs, poultry, and milk are a few of the foods that have high B-12 concentrations. Some morning cereals could also be B-12-fortified. If someone is a vegan or vegetarian or may not be getting enough B-12 for any reason, taking a supplement can assist.

What Vitamins Help With Depression? Best Vitamin For Depression: The following are additional vitamins that help with depression or vitamins that are important for brain health:

Best Vitamins To Fight Depression And Anxiety: Best Vitamins For Depression And Anxiety

• Vitamins That Help With Anxiety And Depression: B-3 vitamin. Vitamin B-3, also known as niacin, is vital for the synthesis of serotonin, a crucial neurotransmitter in the brain that facilitates communication between brain cells. Serotonin levels may be low in depressed people. A person’s mood may be negatively impacted by a vitamin B3 deficiency. A daily intake of 20 mg of B-3 may be beneficial for persons who have depressive symptoms.
• Vitamins To Help With Depression: B-9 vitamin. The names folate and folic acid also refer to vitamin B-9. Pregnant women are recommended to take vitamin B-9 supplements, and even women who aren’t actively attempting to get pregnant but could still do so are frequently instructed to do so. Vitamin B-9 can assist in reducing the risk of some birth abnormalities associated with the brain during pregnancy. This vitamin aids in the manufacture of serotonin, which is essential for mood regulation.

Vitamin C Depression

It may come as a surprise that vitamin C levels and mood are related, but those who are vitamin C deficient frequently experience weariness or depression. According to several research, people who have vitamin C levels that are below average report feeling happier after taking vitamin C.

However, taking a vitamin C supplement may improve mood even in those whose vitamin C levels are not known to be low. Participants in some trials claimed that vitamin C reduced their anxiety.

Vitamins For Seasonal Depression: Vitamin D For Seasonal Depression

Does vitamin D help with seasonal depression? Depression has been linked to vitamin D deficiency. According to one study, supplementing women with 5,000 IU (international units) of vitamin D per day throughout the wintertime dramatically decreased their SAD symptoms.

Another study did not discover any symptom improvement from vitamin D treatment, either. Although the evidence is unclear, vitamin D may aid with SAD-related mood improvement.

People are more likely to wear sunscreen outside to protect themselves from ailments like skin cancer and early aging, which is another cause of vitamin D insufficiency.

Seasonal Depression Vitamin D: Vitamin D Seasonal Depression

A hormone produced by the body or taken in as nutrition is vitamin D. It is crucial for numerous physical processes as well as mental processes, and has many positive health effects. When skin is exposed to UVB rays from the sun or light therapy, the body can manufacture vitamin D. You can also obtain vitamin D by consuming specific foods.

The body produces vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), which can be found in foods including oily fish, dairy products, meat, mushrooms, leafy green vegetables, and other items enriched with vitamin D. Although vitamin D is primarily recognized for its advantages in bone protection, it also contributes significantly to sustaining happiness and general well-being.

Serotonin, a key neurotransmitter for mood, happiness, and other good emotions, is controlled by vitamin D. As a result, decreased serotonin activity during the winter may be caused by lower vitamin D levels.

The production of melatonin, which controls sleep-wake cycles that are frequently disturbed in SAD sufferers, also depends on serotonin. This suggests that having enough levels of vitamin D in the body may support emotional brain circuitry, regulate sleep patterns, and lessen depressive symptoms.

How Much Vitamin D Should I Take For Depression? Vitamin D Dosage For Depression

Vitamin For Depression: According to the National Institutes of Health, the average person should take 600 IU of vitamin D daily, although taking up to 4,000 IU without consulting a doctor is safe. A medical expert might advise a greater dosage, though.

The amounts used in high-quality research examining the relationship between vitamin D and depression ranged widely, for instance, from 4,000 IU per day for 12 weeks to a single injection of 300,000 IU.

Before starting to take high-dose vitamin D supplements, it’s crucial to get your vitamin D levels evaluated. To find the ideal dosage for you, you should also work closely with a healthcare practitioner.

As a fat-soluble vitamin, vitamin D can accumulate in your fat cells. Because of this, consuming large quantities of vitamin D over an extended period of time may result in vitamin D toxicity, which can result in excessive calcium levels, kidney stones, digestive issues, and neurological abnormalities.

We Level Up Dual Diagnosis Treatment

The definition of dual diagnosis (also referred to as co-occurring disorders) can differ between institutions. However, it is generally described as the specific treatment of someone who has been diagnosed with a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder at the same time. Treating dual-diagnosis clients is a critical aspect of our inpatient treatment experience because co-occurring disorders are strongly correlated with instances of substance abuse.

Creating a treatment plan that addresses the physical aspects of withdrawal, the psychological connection with drug use, and managing underlying mental health disorders is part of setting clients up for success.  A thorough mental health analysis identifies possibilities for treatment.  Meeting with mental health counselors and medical care providers means access to behavioral therapy and medication treatment. At our dual diagnosis treatment center, We Level Up can implement the highest quality of care. 

We recognize the fragile complexities of how mental and substance abuse disorders can influence others and sometimes result in a vicious cycle of addiction.  That’s why we offer specialized treatment in dual-diagnosis cases to provide the most excellent chance of true healing and long-lasting recovery.

It can be challenging to accept that you may be living with a mental illness, but once it is properly diagnosed and treated, treating the presenting case of substance abuse can be magnitudes easier. Only a properly trained medical professional can diagnose these underlying conditions.  If you believe you are suffering from a disorder alongside addiction, we urge you to seek a qualified treatment center to begin your journey to recovery. Call We Level Up today.

Vitamin D and Depression FAQs