Enhance Your Mood With a Daily Dose of Vitamin D

A plummeting mood can be a heavy burden to shake—and while the effects of depression on your health are more subtle than diabetes or arthritis, there’s no question that it can chip away at your well-being just as quickly as a failing heart or stiff, aching joints. If you’re one of the millions of Americans who struggle with persistent sadness, take heart—because new research shows that you may be able to beat this common problem by getting an extra daily dose of just one important nutrient.

In a recently published study of nearly 1,000 men and women aged 65 years or older, researchers examined the potential relationship between low serum levels of vitamin D3 and the development of depression. Serum levels of 25(OH)D were measured at the beginning of the study and each subject’s depressive symptoms were assessed according to the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), with a score of 16 or greater defined as depression. Mood evaluations were given before the study started, and the subjects were followed up both three years and six years later.

Results at the end of the study period showed that, in both genders, vitamin D3 levels below 50 nmol/liter were directly linked to higher CES-D scores for depression, as well as correlating with a significantly higher risk of depression over the course of six years. In fact, the risk increased by two-fold among women with the lowest levels of this critical nutrient, trailed by only a slightly lower 1.6-fold increase in risk of depression among men.

The conclusion: Low serum vitamin D3 levels are an independent risk factor for the development of depression among the older population—with aging women being particularly susceptible to the mood-altering effects of this widespread deficiency.1

The study authors acknowledged that more research is needed to identify the exact cause of this striking connection—but that doesn’t mean you should wait to start increasing your intake of vitamin D3, whether you’re seeking to enhance your mood or take advantage of vitamin D’s other benefits. With its proven ability to support the health of the breasts, colon, prostate, skeleton and heart, it’s safe to say that sooner is always better when it comes to getting more of this vital, essential nutrient.

So, how can you add higher levels of vitamin D3 to your health profile? Unfortunately, abundant dietary sources of vitamin D3 are scarce—and while extra time in the sun can help your body to generate its own rich supply, an office job and routine use of sunscreen could be limiting your access to this versatile, health-sustaining sunshine vitamin.

That’s why a high-quality D3 supplement from Vitamin Research Products may be the single most important addition to your regimen, ensuring you more vibrant health and a brighter mood for many years to come.

Reference:

1. Milaneschi Y, Shardell M, Corsi AM, Vazzana R, Bandinelli S, Guralnik JM, Ferrucci L. Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Depressive Symptoms in Older Women and Men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 May 5. Published Online Ahead of Print.