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Vitamin D and Depression (2020)

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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Re: Vitamin D and Depression (2020)

#11

Post by DoreenMichele »

carabiner wrote: post #3
throckmortra wrote: post #2

My first winter in NYC was very rough and I didn't understand why at first. I got a blood test at the doc and he said my vitamin D was very low. I committed to walking in the sun at least a half hour a day, weather permitting, and I never really had issues again. Part of the issue was I was spending a lot of time walking outside but not in sunlight due to the tall buildings. Just my anecdotal 2c

I live in Seattle and have been depressed for a while. I had my Vitamin D3 levels checked via blood test, and they were really low. Started taking 5,000 IU per day, and I feel exactly the same as before.

Seattle is extremely damp and temperate, so you see a lot of mold and allergens there year round.

If redressing your vitamin D levels doesn't fix it, look for hidden mold and/or allergies.

Re: Vitamin D and Depression (2020)

#12

Post by lordentropy »

Daily morning and afternoon exposure to bright light might actually be more important to reducing depression than direct vitamin D supplementation. Low vitamin D might just be an indicator that you are not getting enough sunlight. Sunlight also affects melatonin and serotonin levels, and synchronizes your Circadian rhythm. Not sure why that article doesn't talk about Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and how bright light therapy is considered an effective treatment for it.

Re: Vitamin D and Depression (2020)

#13

Post by __ryan__ »

olah_1 wrote: post #10
carabiner wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I live in Seattle and have been depressed for a while. I had my Vitamin D3 levels checked via blood test, and they were really low. Started taking 5,000 IU per day, and I feel exactly the same as before.

I have never felt an affect from oral vitamins in any situation. Sitting in the sun however seems to do more than just “increase vitamin d levels”. The sensation is just overwhelmingly lovely. It seems to reduce cortisol, makes you feel tired in a euphoric way. Animals love to warm their fur in shafts of sunlight too. Perhaps we should be thinking more in terms of joyful activities in general and less trying to bioha…

That narrative might work for you, but the bio-hack narrative might work for others.

Maybe the takeaway is to go into things with a positive attitude but also take a personal inventory and adapt if something that is supposed to work doesn’t work for you.

Re: Vitamin D and Depression (2020)

#14

Post by dralley »

tomatowurst wrote: post #8
carabiner wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I live in Seattle and have been depressed for a while. I had my Vitamin D3 levels checked via blood test, and they were really low. Started taking 5,000 IU per day, and I feel exactly the same as before.

5000 IU is really too much. At best 2000, 2500 IU is good.

5000 isn't too much when you're catching up from a deficiency.

Re: Vitamin D and Depression (2020)

#15

Post by Vecr »

tomatowurst wrote: post #8
carabiner wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I live in Seattle and have been depressed for a while. I had my Vitamin D3 levels checked via blood test, and they were really low. Started taking 5,000 IU per day, and I feel exactly the same as before.

5000 IU is really too much. At best 2000, 2500 IU is good.

No, 5000 IU per day is generally considered the highest non megadose. Make sure it is good quality (D3, USP in the US), and it should be fine. Some people say also to take K2 (also make sure it's USP in the US), but I'm not sure the exact supposed mechanism of protection from adverse effects from D3. Something about preventing calcium from leaching from the bones and accumulating in the blood, I think.

Re: Vitamin D and Depression (2020)

#16

Post by juve1996 »

lordentropy wrote: post #12

Daily morning and afternoon exposure to bright light might actually be more important to reducing depression than direct vitamin D supplementation. Low vitamin D might just be an indicator that you are not getting enough sunlight. Sunlight also affects melatonin and serotonin levels, and synchronizes your Circadian rhythm. Not sure why that article doesn't talk about Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and how bright…

Anecdotally agree with this. I have vitamin D deficiency, was given 50,000 IU a week vitamin D to get it up. Never worked.

Went to the beach one week and got blood tested again and my vitamin D levels climbed significantly. Now I make it a point to get outside and sunlight

Re: Vitamin D and Depression (2020)

#17

Post by Trasmatta »

carabiner wrote: post #3
throckmortra wrote: post #2

My first winter in NYC was very rough and I didn't understand why at first. I got a blood test at the doc and he said my vitamin D was very low. I committed to walking in the sun at least a half hour a day, weather permitting, and I never really had issues again. Part of the issue was I was spending a lot of time walking outside but not in sunlight due to the tall buildings. Just my anecdotal 2c

I live in Seattle and have been depressed for a while. I had my Vitamin D3 levels checked via blood test, and they were really low. Started taking 5,000 IU per day, and I feel exactly the same as before.

Since you're in Seattle, check out bright light therapy as well.

Re: Vitamin D and Depression (2020)

#18

Post by mountainriver »

tomatowurst wrote: post #8
carabiner wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I live in Seattle and have been depressed for a while. I had my Vitamin D3 levels checked via blood test, and they were really low. Started taking 5,000 IU per day, and I feel exactly the same as before.

5000 IU is really too much. At best 2000, 2500 IU is good.

It really depends on the person. You just need to monitor your blood levels

Re: Vitamin D and Depression (2020)

#19

Post by hirundo »

I'm a remote worker. After an early morning standup I go outside and do yardwork in a big yard for a half hour to an hour, whenever I can. This is a pleasure that I've come to defend fiercely. When I sit back down at the keyboard my improved attitude and energy are such that I believe I make up that time in productivity before lunch. Don't know how much of that benefit is from increased vitamin D, from the forest bath, or from the exercise oxygenating my neurons. I doubt I could replace it with a pill.

Re: Vitamin D and Depression (2020)

#20

Post by jollybean »

lordentropy wrote: post #12

Daily morning and afternoon exposure to bright light might actually be more important to reducing depression than direct vitamin D supplementation. Low vitamin D might just be an indicator that you are not getting enough sunlight. Sunlight also affects melatonin and serotonin levels, and synchronizes your Circadian rhythm. Not sure why that article doesn't talk about Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and how bright…

Came here to say this:

VD may be it, or even indirectly a measure of 'not getting outside' enough.

Even the sunlight may not be it, literally a walk in the woods might be providing the effect.

Or rather 'spending too much time in our own minds' etc..

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