We have been talking about the importance of vitamin D in our immunity since the pandemic entered our lives. So, could there be a benefit of vitamin D that you didn't know before? And about depression?
Vitamin D is one of the fat-soluble vitamins. It helps keep bones healthy and strong, and is involved in cell growth and immune function. Therefore, adequate vitamin D levels can help us to get over the disease mildly in our fight against Covid-19. It may also protect against cancer, high blood pressure, and other diseases.
It may even help relieve symptoms of depression. If you have symptoms of depression or if you feel trapped in a cycle such as constantly getting depressed and getting out of depression, it would be beneficial to have your vitamin levels checked. Because studies have shown that there is a link between vitamin D deficiency and depression. A 2005 study identified vitamin D receptors in areas of the brain associated with depression.
Before we get into the details of the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and depression, let's talk a little bit about vitamin D.
Vitamin D Deficiency What are the Causes?
Vitamin D deficiency is quite common. It is estimated that approximately 1 billion people worldwide have low levels of the vitamin. Therefore, we should make use of the sunlight as much as possible in the summer months in order not to encounter deficiencies. However, vitamin D deficiency can also be seen in individuals due to common risk factors:
- Being dark-skinned.
- Being old.
- Being overweight or obese.
- Limited sun exposure.
- Living away from the equator, where the sun is low all year.
- Always use sunscreen when going outside.
Many people are unaware of their deficiencies, as the symptoms are often vague. Since vitamin D functions like a hormone in our body, even if it has a significant negative impact on our quality of life, we may not easily notice its deficiency.
What are the Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency?
D If you have a vitamin deficiency, you may be experiencing the following symptoms:
- Aching bones
- Fatigue or lethargy
- Weakness and pain of muscles and joints
Getting sick or being infected often (especially with a cold or flu, you can get sick often, low vitamin D levels can be a contributing factor.)
Depressed mood can also be a sign of vitamin D deficiency. Some controlled studies have shown that giving this vitamin to people who are deficient helps improve depression, including winter depression. You may experience symptoms of depression, including:
- feelings of overwhelming sadness, hopelessness, and helplessness
- insomnia or excessive sleepiness, known as hypersomnia
- once a pleasure loss of interest in activities you do
- excessive weight loss or weight gain
- loss of appetite
- forgetfulness
- loss of sexual interest
- anxiety
- thoughts of death or suicide
Blood test is required to determine vitamin D deficiency, and a doctor's evaluation is required to diagnose depression. In addition, other tests may be ordered to identify other possible underlying problems and to see if your depression symptoms are due to your deficiency of this vitamin.
Vitamin D Deficiency May Cause Depression!
Vitamin D deficiency symptoms I mentioned that there is a depressive mood among them. Although the reason is not fully explained, one of the most revealing findings on this subject is the presence of vitamin D receptors in the depression-related region of the brain (1). This has been one of the important pieces of evidence showing that vitamin D is highly correlated with depression.
When you take a look at the studies, It is stated that this relationship is getting stronger especially in the elderly and adults. Systematic analyzes in 2013 showed that most of the studies supported the hypothesis that low vitamin D levels are associated with depression. Also, most studies supplement It does not provide long-term results to observe the effect of its use on mood.
There are some studies here that have also revealed results about an important problem in our life that we are not aware of; winter depression. Even if you haven't heard of it before, you must have noticed that you feel depressed and more depressed as you enter the winter months, and that you even associate winter with drinking something warm under a blanket in your brain. This is actually called seasonal depression, winter depression. Of course, not every person who feels unhappy in the winter falls into winter depression, but it is certain that a general depressed mood has taken hold of most of us. We are under the influence of the Internet, although we have become a little more normal in June, the number of companies that have switched to online work has increased recently. In addition, it is a fact that we all go through difficult times when the current unemployment is added to the worsening of the economy.
As you know, the weather has started to cool down, winter has come. But since last winter, the course of the pandemic has not improved, in fact it is getting worse. Even though there are promising news from vaccine studies, everything remains unclear.
Due to the summer months we spent in the pandemic, our vitamin D stores are empty, and vitamin D deficiency is a problem that most of us can encounter with the decrease in sun exposure in the winter months. Vitamin D is also very important for our immunity. Because vitamin D's functions in the body include "Modulation of the Immune System", that is, "Regulation/Support of Immunity." The arrival of winter months may worsen depression, and the decrease in our immunity may worsen the course of Covid-19 in our country. Worsening of this course may cause depression and stress levels to double again.
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