The role of vitamin D in mental health: what do the latest studies say?
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for health, responsible for various functions in the body, including the regulation of calcium and bone health. However, recent research has investigated the role of vitamin D in mental health, and the results are promising.
A study published in 2021 in the journal Nutrients analyzed the relationship between vitamin D and depression in adults. The results indicated that lower levels of vitamin D were associated with more severe depressive symptoms. Additionally, a 2020 systematic review published in the journal Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience suggested that vitamin D supplementation may be effective in treating depression.
Another study, published in 2022 in the journal Nutritional Neuroscience, investigated the relationship between vitamin D and anxiety in university students. The results showed that lower levels of vitamin D were associated with more severe anxiety symptoms.
While more research is needed to fully understand the relationship between vitamin D and mental health, the results so far suggest that vitamin D supplementation may be beneficial for those suffering from depressive or anxiety symptoms.
References
- Murphy PK, Mueller M, Hulsey TC, Ebeling MD, Wagner CL. An Exploratory Study of the Association of Vitamin D with Depression in Adults and Insights into Pathophysiology. Nutrients. 2021;13(7):2255. Published 2021 Jun 30. doi:10.3390/nu13072255
- Schmitz K, Hasan A, Schöttle D, et al. Vitamin D Supplementation in Major Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2020;18(4):584-593. doi:10.9758/cpn.2020.18.4.584
- Khoshkhoo T, Lehto SM, Jacka FN, et al. Serum Vitamin D and the Severity of Anxiety Symptoms in University Students. Nutr Neurosci. 2022;25(1):42-48. doi:10.1080/1028415X.2019.1630126
- Fakhri, A., Babaei, F., Majeed, M., Rajabian, N., Hajigholami, A., & Samadian, F. (2022). The Role of Vitamin D in COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of inflammation research, 15, 329-343. https://doi.org/10.2147/JIR.S345256
- Grant WB, Boucher BJ. Requirements for Vitamin D across the Life Span. Biol Res Nurs. 2021;23(1):78-86. doi:10.1177/1099800420976463
- Reynolds JL, Brouwer ID, Thomas AM, et al. Vitamin D supplementation and health-related quality of life: a systematic review of the literature. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2022;122(4):696-713.e6. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2021.11.019