Vitamin D could remove depression

Researchers have found that the administration of Vitamin D could help in resolving depression.

“Vitamin D may have an as-yet-unproven effect on mood, and its deficiency may exacerbate depression,” said Sonal Pathak, M.D., an endocrinologist at Bayhealth Medical Center in Dover, Del. “If this association is confirmed, it may improve how we treat depression.”

[hana-code-insert name=’StumbleUpon’ /][hana-code-insert name=’Reddit’ /]Pathak presented the research findings of three women, in the age range of 42-66, at the Endocrine Society’s 94th Annual Meeting in Houston. These women were diagnosed with depression and were taking antidepressants. They were also being treated with Type 2 diabetes or hypothyroidism.

Researchers did 25-hydroxyvitamin D blood test in women and found low levels of vitamin D, ranging from 8.9 to 14.5 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL), in all three women. 30 ng/mL of vitamin D levels are considered as normal. These women were given oral vitamin D supplements over 8-12 weeks and the level reaches to 32 to 38 ng/mL. Not only their vitamin D level improves but they also reported improved depression score i.e. depression decreased in them.

However, according to Pathak further studies are required to confirm this finding.

“Screening at-risk depressed patients for vitamin D deficiency and treating it appropriately may be an easy and cost-effective adjunct to mainstream therapies for depression,” she said.

Via: Psychcentral Source: The Endocrine Society