Health News Update: Depression and Inflammation…Vit. D May Help!
Hello everyone:
A new study revealed that Vitamin D supplementation was beneficial in supporting brain health and lowering depression symptoms. Now scientists know that there are Vitamin D receptors in the brain suggesting that Vit. D is important in helping to regulate neurological immune processes and lower inflammation.
“For the study, the researchers examined 41 RCTs including 53, 235 people in their analysis…The researchers also noted that while doses up to 2,000 IU daily had a small to moderate effect, those who took over 4,000 IU daily had a larger effect…vitamin D supplementation appeared to have a larger effect when taken for less than 12 weeks compared to longer periods of time. Overall, the researchers found that vitamin D supplementation had a small to moderate effect on depressive symptoms.”
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10408398.2022.2096560 (full study)
Bottom Line:
As a component of a comprehensive brain health treatment plan, it is important to consider Vitamin D status. The researchers noted that the size of the effect of Vitamin D supplementation was larger in those with initial baseline Vit. D levels less than 50 nmol/L than those with Vit. D levels above this baseline. In other words, get your Vit. D levels tested and start to supplement as indicated by your labs and your condition. Since Vit. D can become toxic at high levels, make sure you monitor your Vit. D levels with lab testing at least every 6 months.
A significant omission from this study which can help explain the findings is that in order for Vit. D to work, the Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) must function optimally. Background elevated levels of some viruses and other infections can block the VDR from working properly. This means that even if you have normal Vit. D levels on your lab test, it may not be working nearly as much as it should if your Vit. D receptors are blocked by a background infection or a genetic polymorphism. The best way to figure out if your VDR’s are working right is that if they are working well, and you take a high dose of Vit. D, your calcium should go up to a high normal and your parathyroid hormone should go down to a low normal. If that does not happen, your VDR is probably blocked, and you may need higher dosages. To figure this out, coordinate with your health care provider to get the right labs done and figure out the right dosage for your Vit. D. We find this issue is very common and important for many conditions.
