Posted by KaraS on January 20, 2005, at 11:17:38
In reply to SAD and the Epidemic of Vitamin D Deficiency, posted by Mr Sandman on January 20, 2005, at 3:01:55
> My depression has again reached its crippling mid-winter depth, and I've been looking for a way up. Although I've seen the light box work miracles for others,it just gives me a headache. For me solar radiation seems essential.
>
> As I reluctantly began to shop for an ultraviolet lamp, I came across a trove of recent research on Vitamin D that has promising implications for the treatment of seasonal depression.
>
> THE CONSENSUS:
>
> Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol)is the form of D that receives the vast majority of attention from researchers.
>
> Vitamin D3 deficiency is a very hot research topic. On Pubmed you may find several hundred articles published in the last year.
>
> Vitamin D deficiency is being cited as a major
> cause of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, MS, osteoporosis,various cancers, and mental disorders including seasonal depression (SAD).
>
>
> Serum Vitamin D levels can be tested fairly inexpensively, and optimal serum levels are well-established.
>
> Serum tests reveal that 40% of Americans are Vitamin D deficient. Deficiency rates for psychiatric populations tend to be much higher.
>
>
> Vitamin D is more of a hormone than a vitamin. It is synthesized just under the skin in response to exposure to sunlight, in particular Ultraviolet-B (UVB)radiation.
>
> D3's primary function is to promote the body's absorption of calcium.
>
> D3 ultimately contributes to the elevation of melatonin and serotonin levels.
>
> At midday of a North American summer after
> 20 minutes' exposure to the sun, a light-skinned person wearing shorts and a T-shirt (but no sunscreen) will produce about 20,000 International Units of Vitamin D.
>
> The body uses 5000-8000 IU of Vitamin D3
> per day.
>
> The US RDA for Vitamin D is only 200 IU for those under 50 years of age.
>
> It is virtually impossible to get as much Vitamin D as we need from dietary sources.
>
> In controlled studies,seasonal depression patients determined to be deficient in Vitamin D3 have experienced significant reduction of depression after administration of pharmacologic doses of D3.
>
> THE CONTROVERSY:
>
> The treatment of Vitamin D deficiency presents a dilemma. One option is to increase UVB exposure either with moderate exposure to sunlight (midday sun is best)or artificial tanning lamps. Few doctors will risk this recommendation so long as total sun avoidance to prevent skin cancer is the standard recommendation of dermatologists and the government.(Dr. Michael Holick of Boston University lost his chair in The Department of Dermatology when he recently advocated greater UVB
> exposure and admitted his ties to the tanning bed industry...Holick, still a Professor of Physiology at BU, then accused the skin doctors of failing to disclose their ties to
> manufacturers of sunscreen.)
>
> The alternative is Vitamin D supplementation with a dosage that approximates the effects of sunlight--up to 25 times the established dosage ceiling of 800 IU, enough to pose a significant risk of toxicity.(Although an increasing number of researchers suspect that the osage ceiling for self-administered vitamin D3 is based on
> flawed case reports and could safely be raised
> much higher.)
>
> However, high-doss Vitamin D supplements can be
> safely prescribed by a physician if an initial serum Vitamin D3 levels are obtained before and during treatment.
>
> THE CONCLUSION:
>
> The safest course is to ask your doctor to order a blood level of Vitamin D3 and prescribe supplemental D3 if a deficiency is found.
>
There have been a lot of excellent, comprehensive posts on here lately about vitamin D. The bottom line seems to be that the old dosage recommendations are completely wrong and will probably be changed soon. Please do a search here. You'll find some great information.
>
>
>
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poster:KaraS
thread:444572
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20050101/msgs/444663.html