Vitamin D is often associated with bone health. The link between vitamin D and strong bones, osteoporosis prevention, and brittle bone structure is widely established. People with cognitive dysfunction, depression, muscular illnesses, and some cancers have been discovered to have vitamin D deficiency or inadequacy.
In recent years, research in the field of psychology has discovered a link between Vitamin D deficiency and mild to severe depression. To develop and operate normally, our brain utilises a variety of neurosteroids.
Vitamin D has recently emerged as one of these neurosteroids, having been discovered in the spinal fluid and throughout the brain. Vitamin D receptors can also be found in key parts of the brain, such as the substantia nigra, which is where dopamine is produced. This establishes a direct link between Vitamin D and psychological illnesses, albeit more data is needed.
Vitamin D is a compound that comes in a variety of forms. 7-dehydrocholesterol is produced by the skin and transformed to D3 by the sun's UV radiation. This form travels to the liver, where it is converted to 25 hydroxyvitamin D, and then to the kidneys, where it is converted to 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D, which is the active form.
What Are Our Options For Dealing With The Deficiency?
Sunlight is the best source of Vitamin D because there are few food sources of this mineral. It just needs 15-20 minutes of sunshine daily between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to acquire your daily dose of Vitamin D, which is why it is also known as the sunshine vitamin.
Vitamin D fortified foods, such as milk, are now available and can be consumed. Milk also contains the protein Tryptophan, which aids in better sleep quality. A good night's sleep is critical in the treatment of depressive symptoms.
Salmon is high in Vitamin D and Omega-3 fatty acids, both of which have been associated to a reduction in depressive symptoms. Salmon should be consumed at least twice a week to improve mood and is also beneficial to heart health.
Vitamin D is a crucial mineral for overall health, but its involvement in depression regulation is still being studied. Its role in regulating our brain's emotion regions is undeniable, but the answers aren't so straightforward. Patients with depression have vitamin D insufficiency, however there is no solid proof that this is the reason. Vitamin D supplementation has improved some symptoms of depression, but not to the point where it can be considered a treatment.
In today's fast-paced world, depression is a reality; keeping a healthy lifestyle is just as vital for your mental health as it is for your physical health. Our jobs keep us cooped up inside, laziness hinders us from engaging in outdoor activities, and doorstep deliveries eliminate the last reason to leave the house. Eat, sleep, and exercise on a regular basis, get plenty of sunshine, and get medical treatment as soon as possible if you're feeling under the weather.
