Posted by Tomatheus on January 27, 2016, at 16:03:08
In reply to Re: ALL OK, posted by SLS on January 27, 2016, at 6:52:57
> I would think that anything that increases acetylcholine (ACh) tone would cause depression rather than prevent it.
Generally speaking, I tend to agree with you, Scott. However, as far as vitamin D is concerned, it's my understanding that the vitamin's effects on various systems in the body are far reaching and that the vitamin's effect on the choline acetyltransferase enzyme is just one of the vitamin's many effects. As far as neurotransmission is concerned, it's my understanding that vitamin D also boosts the activity of the tyrosine hydroxylase and tryptophan hydroxylase 2 enzymes, which respectively serve to synthesize dopamine, norepinephrine, adrenaline, and brain serotonin. It's also my understanding that vitamin D has been implicated in regulating oxidative stress, inflammation, nerve growth factor, and telomere length, all of which are biological factors that have been found to be abnormal in individuals with depression. Scientific review articles have found that vitamin D levels tend to be low in individuals with depressive disorders, and one review article concluded that vitamin D3 supplementation may serve as an effective treatment for depression. It's my understanding that the causality surrounding the relationship between low vitamin D levels and depression isn't entirely clear. I know that one study found evidence to support the idea that low vitamin D levels are a consequence of depression and not the other way around, but I also think I remember reading that more research needed to be done before anything more conclusive could be determined. Regardless as to how low vitamin D levels and depression are related from a causal standpoint, I think that vitamin D should, for the most part, be regarded as an exception to the idea that anything that increases acetylcholine would cause or worsen depression. Vitamin D affects enough other biological systems in ways that would, if anything, only seem to relieve depression, and since some studies have found vitamin D3 supplementation to have antidepressant properties, I don't think it's likely that vitamin D would worsen depression in most individuals. That's not to say that there can't be exceptions, though.
Tomatheus
"Maybe someday
We'll figure all this out
We'll put an end to all our doubt
Try to find a way to just feel better now"- Rob Thomas
poster:Tomatheus
thread:1085722
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20151225/msgs/1085743.html