Vitamin D is known to stimulate the release of happy hormones such as serotonin and dopamine, say Dr. Pallavi Joshi, Consultant Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Dr. Sneha Rajiv, Consultant Obstetrics and Gynecology, Manipal Hospital, Bangalore.
Also by Dr. Sneha Rajiv
If you are feeling depressed, a random test may reveal that your vitamin D levels are also low. In other words, there is a link between low vitamin D levels and depression and dementia, especially in women. This is supported by several studies. To date, vitamin D has not been proven to be a direct cause of depression or dementia. but, In case of depressionlow levels of the vitamin can increase your risk of developing the disease or worsen existing conditions.
Several ongoing national and international studies are attempting to establish a link between low vitamin D levels and depression. Research has shown that vitamin D is a type of neuroactive steroid. It is essential for the expression and regulation of 5-HT, DA, and NE brain receptors. It is also involved in important brain functions, including the production of antioxidants, neuroimmunomodulation, and the production of several other neurotrophic factors. Vitamin D is known to stimulate the release of happy hormones such as serotonin and dopamine. Low vitamin D levels can worsen symptoms of depression by hindering or suppressing these neurological functions and decreasing the secretion of serotonin and dopamine from the brain.
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Ongoing research is clarifying the effects of low vitamin D levels in pregnant women. postpartum depression. Another theory that supports low vitamin D levels as a cause of depression is the increased incidence of winter depression in women who live in geographic locations with less sunlight. Most of your vitamin D3 comes from the sun.
Vitamin D has multiple other roles in maintaining health, including bone health, building immunity, reducing inflammation, and promoting cell development. Inflammation is at the root of depression and directly affects the state of depression. Any factor that reduces inflammation also contributes to improving depression. Low vitamin D levels can interfere with anti-inflammatory activity and worsen depression.
Many people with depression complain of multiple body aches and pains. Vitamin D’s calcium absorption-promoting and inflammation-reducing properties strengthen bones and muscles and significantly reduce body pain, thereby reducing symptoms of depression.
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Additionally, severe, long-term, or unexplained vitamin D deficiency can even alter thyroid levels. This throws off the balance of other hormones, such as prolactin, which are essential for maintaining regular menstrual cycles, affecting menstrual health and subsequent fertility.
When it comes to pregnancy, a 2020 review of 14 studies found an association between vitamin D deficiency and postpartum depression (PPD). The authors point out that poor sleep quality plays an important role. A small 2019 study showed that vitamin D deficiency was independently associated with depression in adults with gout. A 2015 study of people who had a stroke found that those who subsequently developed depression had significantly lower vitamin D levels than those who did not. A 2021 study found a correlation between low vitamin D levels and depression in people.
People reach for supplements all the time, but the only way to maintain vitamin D levels in your body is through regular sun exposure and a balanced diet. And if a severe bout of depression is a concern, supplements containing antidepressants are helping patients climb out of the trough. The Endocrine Society recommends that most adults, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, should consume 1,500 to 2,000 international units of vitamin D each day. Infants under 1 year of age, and children and adolescents under 18 years of age should take 400-1,000 units and 600-1,000 units per day. A person with a body mass index (BMI) above 30, which indicates obesity, needs 2 to 3 times more vitamin D to meet the recommended requirements.
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Date first published: October 20, 2023, 07:59 IST
