Yet another study showing that low levels of Vitamin D are detrimental to health. Amazingly though this research was published in a major psychiatric journal and suggesting that depression may not be caused because of a Paxil deficiency. (OK so I’m being cynical here, but suggesting that nutrition may play a role in depression is fabulous, because so often it is the cause.).
Blood Vitamin D levels were 14% lower in subjects compared with clinically ‘non-depressed’ subjects. Interestingly the difference in average levels were 19ng/ml and 22ng/ml respectively. These levels are considered insufficient by many health care practitioners and some labs.
Of course the best way to get Vitamin D is to be out in the skin – unless you have a skin disease that is effected by the sunshine. ( I’m not so sure I believe in all the SPF 70 hype for children and many practitioners believe we are creating a bunch of kids with Vitamin D deficiency because of sunscreens.)
For older adults I typically use a liquid vitamin D from Rx Vitamins. I always have their Vitamin D levels checked so that they do not overdose, but realize if you are taking a Vitamin D supplement and you then take a blood test to check for levels it will be high for sometime because of the supplementation. So to get an accurate read you need to be off Vitamin D supplementation for a period of time. I do not know how long that wash-out period is and have asked many colleagues who say anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months. If you have a clue please let me know.
In Health
George Mandler
Acupuncture Nutrition Herbal Medicine
Boston MA
Cambridge MA