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Vitamin D and Depression (2020)

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

111–120 of 221 posts

Re: Vitamin D and Depression (2020)

#111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Aren't you concerned that your data is super subjective as you're collecting it on yourself? It sounds like there are a ton of confounding variables possible, not to mention your own personal biases in interpreting any potential causality.

It sounds like there are a ton of confounding variables possible, not to mention your own personal biases in interpreting any potential causality. Absolutely 100% this. For years I was following the scientific method, reading countless papers on PubMed, binge watching videos from micro biologists and eventually reached the conclusion that if I continued down that path my progress would be paralyzed by the scientific…

> I stand by my words that the RDA is far too low for most people today given the lack of sunlight exposure, the poor diets, the high levels of stress and inflammation from bad diets and so many more factors.

You aren't qualified to make this statement, doctor or no, especially considering it's in direct contradiction to consensus medical advice.

Re: Vitamin D and Depression (2020)

#112

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

How did you narrow down the issue to sunlight exposure? Seems plausible that, being new to NYC as you say, there could have been an adjustment period that you eventually moved past?

Not trying to dismiss your experience. I just haven’t experienced making one small change in my life and seeing significant benefits.

Re: Vitamin D and Depression (2020)

#113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sunlight’s effects on body chemistry also have a damping effect on inflammation. It’s a funny thing. Sunlight has an impact on many chemical processes in and on the body. One example: Our skin is coated with a bunch of chemicals. There’s a number of different acidic chemicals. These are known as the “acid mantle”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid_mantle One of these substances is urocanic acid . The body manufactur…

And yet lots of dermatologists will tell you to avoid sunlight. The medical community is full of contradictions.

>> The medical community is full of contradictions.

We added iodine to salt to prevent deficiency, then decades later told everyone to avoid salt. I've found iodine to be a huge piece of the puzzle - certainly not a panacea but one of several go to solutions.

Re: Vitamin D and Depression (2020)

#114

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…

I just went over 8 years without seeing the sun (jail). I wonder what the long term effects are?

Probably not good, and just one of the reasons why incarceration should be an absolute last resort.

Welcome out!

Re: Vitamin D and Depression (2020)

#115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For me sunlight and some light exercise everyday were a game changer. I had tried Vitamin D supplements (1000 IU daily) before but there was barely any noticable effect.

1000 is actually way below what you need probably, my doc put me on 2500 a day and it wasn't enough, I've moved to 5000 and been "normal" level ever since for several years for my annual checkout/blood/urine tests. If you have brown/black skin it can be even more, but better to start low and figure out what is enough under observation of a doctor.

[deleted]

Re: Vitamin D and Depression (2020)

#116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For me sunlight and some light exercise everyday were a game changer. I had tried Vitamin D supplements (1000 IU daily) before but there was barely any noticable effect.

I don’t think that’s enough, I needed 5k daily before it started working. My blood tests all come back in the correct range now.

Careful with high doses of hormones like Vitamin D -- it can have other deleterious downstream effects. https://www.devaboone.com/post/vitamin-d-part-2-shannon-s-st...

Re: Vitamin D and Depression (2020)

#117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is what I'm talking about. The idea that "going for a walk and getting sunlight is good for depression" is so universally unchallengable that I must live somewhere terrible if it doesn't work for me.

Book a two week long float down the middle fork of the Salmon river and let me know how you feel after.

Not that person, but I feel the same way they do.

You're still doing it. Depression has a cause, and effective treatment depends on what that cause is. If it is not one of the things that is made better by going outside, this will not be helpful, and the answer is not "well then go more outside".

Re: Vitamin D and Depression (2020)

#118

Off topic, but perhaps of interest to anyone dealing with depression. Twenty five years or so ago, someone recommended that I try St. John's Wort. I had a negative reaction - bad skin rash - but the Mayo Clinic mentions that some studies show it "can be effective for treating mild to moderate depression." https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-st-johns-wort/a...

It has plenty of drug interactions. Might as well just try a SSRI if you’re going that route.

Re: Vitamin D and Depression (2020)

#119
post #84

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At first I read "except Java"

Lowercase L looks like capital i in some fonts. Clearly it's Iava, the Latin word for Java. Quidquid Iava quondam scribum, omni currum, sed delenda est.

sed delenda est? sed sed editor consuetus textorum est!

Re: Vitamin D and Depression (2020)

#120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> was given 50,000 IU a week vitamin D to get it up. It should have gone up significantly. I wonder if your body has a problem with Vit D absorption. I was put on the same dose of vit d for a treatment and I felt it within 20 minutes.

Takes months to rise your vitamin D levels.

This. It is amazing how long blood pressure pills, cholesterol pills, and vitamins take to make a budge in your blood tests.
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