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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tomatheus on March 2, 2015, at 22:42:37
A recent research study has found that the relationship between low vitamin D levels and clinical depression is most likely due to "reverse causality," with low levels of the vitamin-hormone likely being a consequence of depression rather than a cause. Study coauthor Osvaldo Almeida, a professor of psychiatry and clinical neurosciences at the University of Western Australia, told a reporter for the Web site MedicalXPress that the results of her study suggest that practitioners should avoid prescribing vitamin D to patients with depression.
Read more (news article):
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-03-vitamin-d-depression-links-debunked.htmlStudy abstract:
http://www.maturitas.org/article/S0378-5122%2815%2900033-X/abstractTomatheus
Posted by Lamdage22 on March 4, 2015, at 14:02:08
In reply to Low vit D most likely consequence of depression, posted by Tomatheus on March 2, 2015, at 22:42:37
Thanks for sharing Tomatheus.
Lots of people are Vitamin D deficient but then again, maybe thats because lots of people have mild forms of depression that does not (yet) interfere with functioning.
What do you think?
Vitamin D is the only recommendation i have ever heard from health organizations. They say its the only Vitamin that makes sense for most people as many are deficient.
Posted by Tomatheus on March 4, 2015, at 16:15:11
In reply to Re: Low vit D most likely consequence of depression, posted by Lamdage22 on March 4, 2015, at 14:02:08
Lamdage,
Thank you for your reply. I think that given the evidence implicating low vitamin D levels in a range of health problems that supplementing with the vitamin-hormone would be a good idea for individuals with a vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency, especially for those who aren't likely to enough vitamin D from the sun. Having said that, I think that the idea that low vitamin D levels are likely a consequence of depression, as opposed to a cause of depression, has some merit. The abstract of the study that I mentioned in my original post did seem to indicate that the study's findings were preliminary, judging from the fact that it was stated in the conclusions that large randomized controlled trials are needed to either definitively support or definitively refute the idea that low vitamin D levels can be a cause of depression. So, despite what the headline of the news article I linked to said, I don't think that the study that I mentioned "debunked" anything as much as it provided some evidence to support the idea that low vitamin D levels are likely a consequence of depression and not a cause. As far as I can tell, more evidence is needed before one can conclusively say that low vitamin D levels either do or don't cause depression.
I will say that judging from my own experimentation with vitamin D3 supplementation that I think that low vitamin D levels will ultimately turn out not to be a cause of depression. Despite experiencing what seemed to be a strong response to the vitamin-hormone at times during my trial, I ultimately didn't seem to respond in the long run. Of course, I'm just making a prediction based on my own experience with taking vitamin D3 supplements for depressive symptoms and to correct a vitamin D insufficiency, and I know that my own experiences don't make for the best of evidence, but that's what I'm predicting (that the evidence will eventually support the idea that low vitamin D levels aren't a cause of depression). Still, as I said earlier, I do think that supplementing to correct a vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency is a good idea, as I continue to take vitamin D3.
Tomatheus
Posted by linkadge on March 4, 2015, at 19:22:47
In reply to Re: Low vit D most likely consequence of depression » Lamdage22, posted by Tomatheus on March 4, 2015, at 16:15:11
I have not found that taking vitamin D results in any sustained improvement in my mood. Taking more than 400UI gives me headaches and insomnia. It seems to help for the first day or so, but then I get increased sensitivity to light and sound. It also seems to worsen my anxiety and impulsivity to some extent. I have tried supplementing with this one many times, due to its purported benefits.
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on March 15, 2015, at 17:33:11
In reply to Low vit D most likely consequence of depression, posted by Tomatheus on March 2, 2015, at 22:42:37
Article says men? So does it include females as well? Thanks Phillipa
Posted by Tomatheus on March 16, 2015, at 12:37:51
In reply to Re: Low vit D most likely consequence of depression » Tomatheus, posted by Phillipa on March 15, 2015, at 17:33:11
> Article says men? So does it include females as well? Thanks Phillipa
Phillipa,
I found this statement in the paper associated with the study:
"[W]e acknowledge that the results of this study are limited to men and may not necessarily apply to women."
So, it does seem possible that the findings may not apply to women, since only men were used as participants.
Tomatheus
Posted by Lamdage22 on March 16, 2015, at 13:07:25
In reply to Re: Low vit D most likely consequence of depression » Phillipa, posted by Tomatheus on March 16, 2015, at 12:37:51
weird
Posted by Phillipa on March 16, 2015, at 20:55:02
In reply to Re: Low vit D most likely consequence of depression, posted by Lamdage22 on March 16, 2015, at 13:07:25
Got a feeling that might have to do with the loss of hormones at menopause and osteoporosis which is much more common in females have it myself.
Posted by LostBoyinNC46 on December 9, 2015, at 1:07:03
In reply to Low vit D most likely consequence of depression, posted by Tomatheus on March 2, 2015, at 22:42:37
I would not put much stock in that "study." These researchers are always coming out with their studies, oftentimes they conflict each other and usually its just academics arguing among each other.
Bottom line is whatever the cause, vitamin D deficiency needs to be treated by your primary care physician. There is now clear evidence that low vitamin D is directly related to two problems affecting depressives. 1) obesity...many depressives are obese from both the meds themselves and from chronic inactivity and 2) mood elevation itself...vitamin D is documented as increasing the neurotransmitters involved in depression.
I had a very good mood response to high dose vitamin D for approximately a little over a year, monitored by my primary care physician. 50,000 IU twice a week is the heavy duty prescription for formally diagnosed low vitamin D.
since then, I self supplement with OTC vitamin
D3, usually 50,000 IU once a week. Especially in the late Fall, winter and early spring.The stuff really helps, works, its OTC and cheap and why not use it.
Posted by Lamdage22 on March 23, 2016, at 8:58:16
In reply to Re: Low vit D most likely consequence of depression, posted by LostBoyinNC46 on December 9, 2015, at 1:07:03
I can say without a doubt that my seasonal affective disorder is greatly diminished if i take 5k IU of D3 during the winter.
This is the end of the thread.
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