• Vitamin D

    Is There a Link Between Vitamin D Deficiency and Antenatal Depression?

    Several studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency is associated with depression.  A recent study has assessed the relationship between vitamin D levels and risk for antenatal depression in a cohort of African-American women.  Vitamin D deficiency is more common among African-American women than in Caucasians.  The active form of vitamin D is produced as a byproduct of natural sun exposure.  Because women with darker skin have more melanin, which blocks the sun’s rays and affects the skin’s ability to produce the active form of vitamin D, they typically have lower vitamin D levels.  

    More on Vitamin D and Depression

    We have recently written about the link between vitamin D and depression.  While several studies have indicated that low vitamin D levels may be associated with depression, we lack randomized, controlled trials assessing the benefits of vitamin D supplements for the treatment (or prevention) of depression.  A recent report from the Women's Health Initiative Calcium and Vitamin D Trial included 36,282 women (50 to 80 years of age) who were randomized to receive 400 IU vitamin D (with 1000 mg calcium) or to placebo. 

    By |2020-07-27T12:45:01-04:00September 5th, 2012|Menopausal Symptoms|0 Comments

    Depression in Women: Is There a Role for Vitamin D?

    Sources of vitamin D include sunlight (ultraviolet B, or UVB, rays), dietary intake, and supplements.  Sunlight is the main source of human vitamin D.  Vitamin D refers to different forms of a steroid hormone.   Vitamin D3 (also called 1, 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol or calcitriol) is produced by the body when ultraviolet light (in the form of UV B) interacts with 7-dehydrocholesterol .  Vitamin D3 is thought to be more potent than vitamin D2, with D3 and D2 being the two forms of vitamin D contained in supplements.

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