Feeling blue? D answer could be vitamin-based says new study
New research indicates that a lack of vitamin D could be a contributing factor to feelings of unhappiness.
Individuals experiencing depression may benefit from increasing their intake of vitamin D, according to a team of global researchers investigating potential treatments for the condition.
Vitamin D can be obtained from sources such as fatty fish and fish liver oils, among other foods. It is believed to play a role in regulating the central nervous system, with disruptions potentially leading to depressive symptoms.
While previous meta-analyses on the impact of vitamin D supplementation on depression have yielded inconclusive results, a recent study aims to provide more definitive answers.
A new meta-analysis conducted by researchers from Finland, Australia, and the US explored the relationship between vitamin D supplementation and depression. This comprehensive study incorporated data from 41 research studies conducted worldwide.
These studies examined the effectiveness of vitamin D in reducing depressive symptoms in adults through randomized placebo-controlled trials across various populations, including individuals with depression in the general community and those with different physical conditions.
The results of the meta-analysis suggest that vitamin D supplementation is more effective than a placebo in alleviating depressive symptoms in individuals with depression.
While the vitamin D dosages varied significantly across the studies, the typical supplement ranged from 50 to 100 micrograms per day.
Lead author Tuomas Mikola, a Doctoral Researcher at the Institute of Clinical Medicine at the University of Eastern Finland, noted, "Despite the extensive scope of this meta-analysis, the certainty of evidence remains relatively low due to the diversity of populations studied and potential bias associated with the numerous research studies."
Mikola added, "These findings will hopefully pave the way for future high-quality clinical trials involving patients with depression to further explore the potential benefits of vitamin D supplementation in the treatment of depression."
