Weekly Health Update:
Vitamin D and Depression
"A critical weekly review of important new research findings for health-conscious readers..."
By, Robert A. Wascher, MD, FACS
Updated: 12/5/2010
The information in this column is intended for informational purposes only, and does not constitute medical advice or recommendations by the author. Please consult with your physician before making any lifestyle or medication changes, or if you have any other concerns regarding your health.
Welcome to Weekly Health Update
“A critical weekly review of important new research findings for health-conscious readers”
VITAMIN D AND DEPRESSION
Regular readers of this column already know that Vitamin D, which functions more as a hormone than a vitamin, has been linked to multiple potential health benefits. These include a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, improved strength and balance in older men and women, and a decreased risk of certain cancers. In a newly published clinical research study, which appears in the current issue of the International Archives of Internal Medicine, increased blood levels of this hormone-like vitamin also appear to be associated with a significantly decreased level of risk for depression.
This large public health study assessed 7,970 research volunteers between the ages of 15 and 39 years in the United States. All of these young study volunteers had blood Vitamin D levels measured, and this group of nearly 8,000 adolescents and young adults was also assessed for depression using a validated mental health survey. The findings of this large clinical study were impressive: After adjusting for other factors known to be linked with depression, this very large study found that people who were deficient in Vitamin D (blood levels less than or equal to 50 nmol/L) were 85 percent more likely to be clinically depressed when compared to people with normal Vitamin D blood levels (greater than or equal to 75 nmol/L).
Although this clinical research study identified a strong and significant association between the risk of depression and levels of Vitamin D in the blood, the findings of this study cannot prove that low levels of Vitamin D in the blood directly cause depression. There could be other explanations for this finding, including decreased exposure to sunlight which is, itself, linked to depression (the majority of the Vitamin D in our bodies is manufactured in our skin, following exposure to sunlight). However, recent research has also demonstrated that cellular receptors for Vitamin D are present within the brain, including those areas of the brain that regulate mood, and which are also thought to be the areas of the brain responsible for mood disorders like depression. Therefore, it is certainly possible that Vitamin D, like multiple other hormones and neurotransmitters, may also play a direct role in the modulation of our moods.
As always, I strongly recommend that readers consult with their physician prior to taking supplements of Vitamin D, as serious health side effects can occur after taking large doses of this essential nutrient, particularly in patients with kidney or parathyroid gland disorders.
For a complete discussion of the important role of Vitamin D in cancer prevention, order your copy of my new book, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race,now!
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Disclaimer: As always, my advice to readers is to seek the advice of your physician before making any significant changes in medications, diet, or level of physical activity
Dr. Wascher is an oncologic surgeon, professor of surgery, cancer researcher, oncology consultant, and a widely published author
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Robert A. Wascher, MD, FACS
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Dr. Wascher's Archives:
12-5-2010: Vitamin D and Depression
11-28-2010: Mammograms Save Lives in Women with Family History of Breast Cancer
11-14-2020: Low Dose Aspirin Reduces Colorectal Cancer Risk
11-7-2010: Coffee, Tea, Caffeine and Brain Cancer Risk
10-28-2010: Diet and Lifestyle Habits that Decrease Colorectal Cancer Risk
10-21-2010: The Silent Epidemic of Surgeon Burnout and Depression
10-14-2010: Gum Disease (Gingivitis) and Breast Cancer Risk
10-7-2010: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and Breast Cancer Risk
10-3-2010: Mammograms Between 40 and 49 Years of Age
9-26-2010: Vitamin D, Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer, and Death
9-19-2010: Fruits and Vegetables Improve Memory
9-12-2010: Low-Carb Diet and Risk of Death
9-5-2010: Non-Compliance with Hormonal Therapy for Breast Cancer and Risk of Death
8-29-2010: New Treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
8-22-2010: Lactoferrin Reduces Abdominal (Visceral) Obesity
8-15-2010: Blueberries, Obesity, Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome
8-8-2010: High LDL Cholesterol in Young Adults and Heart Disease Risk in Middle Age
8-1-2010: Physician Error
7-25-2010: Obesity and Cancer Risk
7-18-2010: Vitamin D Reduces Risk of Cognitive Decline & Dementia
7-11-2010: All Forms of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Increase Breast Cancer Risk
7-4-2010: Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Cause Discovered?
6-27-2010: Soy, Curcumin & Prostate Cancer Risk
6-20-2010: Green Tea Epicatechin Reduces Heart Damage & CHF
6-13-2010: Diacylglycerol (Diglyceride) Oil Reduces Obesity
6-6-2010: Important New Advance in the Breast Cancer Treatment: Intraoperative Radiation Therapy
5-30-2010: Medical Research Studies & “Spin”
5-23-2010: Soy & Curcumin Reduce Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)
5-16-2010: Coffee & the Risk of Death from Heart Disease & Cancer
5-9-2010: Soy Foods & Stomach Cancer Risk
5-2-2010: Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer & Memory Loss
4-25-2010: Smoking, Teenagers & Tobacco Company Advertising
4-18-2010: Coffee Improves HDL Cholesterol Levels
4-11-2010: Cruciferous Vegetables, Soy & Breast Cancer Risk
4-4-2010: Avodart (Dutasteride) & Prostate Cancer Prevention
3-28-2010: Aspirin & Breast Cancer Survival
3-21-2010: Obesity, Alcohol & Liver Disease
3-14-2010: Nuts, Diet & Obesity
3-7-2010: Walnuts, Cholesterol, LDL & Triglycerides
2-28-2010: Soy Isoflavones & Recurrent Prostate Cancer
2-21-2010: Testosterone Supplements in Frail Elderly Men
2-14-2010: Pancreatic Cancer Risk, Sodas & Juice
2-7-2010: Vitamin D, Cardiovascular Disease & Death
1-31-2010: Concord Grape Juice Improves Memory
1-24-2010: Mozart, Music, Babies & Health
1-17-2010: Breast Cancer, Physical Therapy & Lymphedema
1-10-2010: Prevention of Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) after Surgery
1-3-2010: Ginkgo Biloba, Memory & Cognitive Health
12-20-2009: CT Scans & Cancer Risk
12-13-2009: Soy Isoflavones Decrease Breast Cancer Recurrence Risk
12-6-2009: Salt (Sodium) Intake, Stroke & Cardiovascular Disease
11-29-2009: Exercise & Prostate Cancer Risk
11-22-2009: Genistein (Soy Isoflavone) & Prostate Cancer
11-15-2009: Breast Cancer Treatment & Chronic Pain
1-8-2009: Vitamin D & Breast Cancer Risk
11-1-2009: Exercise & Prostate Cancer Risk
10-25-2009: HPV Virus & Risk of Breast Cancer
10-18-2009: Post-Cholecystectomy Syndrome (Symptoms after Gallbladder Surgery)
10-11-2009: Vitamin D & Falls in the Elderly
10-4-2009: Surgery, NSQIP, Complications & Death
9-27-2009 Stress, Heart Disease, Exercise & Death
9-20-2009: Vitamin D & Colorectal Cancer Survival
9-13-2009: H1N1 Swine Flu Update
9-7-2009: Green Tea, Aging & Lifespan
8-30-2009: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Diet & Fiber
8-23-2009: Update on Prostate Cancer and Cryotherapy
8-16-2009: Exercise Improves Lymphedema Symptoms in Breast Cancer Survivors
8-9-2009: Breast Cancer Recurrence, Death & Vitamin D
8-2-2009: Honesty, Dishonesty & Brain Function
7-26-2009: Coronary Artery CT Scans & Cancer Risk
7-19-2009: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) & Ovarian Cancer
7-12-2009: Breast Cancer & Metformin (Glucophage)
7-5-2009: Prostate Cancer & Green Tea
6-28-2009: Air Pollution & the Risk of Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT)
6-21-2009: Red Yeast Rice, Statins & Cholesterol
6-14-2009: Bone Marrow Stem Cell Transplant & Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
6-7-2009: Diet, Soy & Breast Cancer Risk
5-31-2009: Diet and Prostate Cancer Risk
5-24-2009: Diabetes, Glucose Control & Death
5-17-2009: Drug Company Marketing & Physician Prescribing Bias
5-10-2009: Hemorrhoids & Surgery
5-3-2009: Statin Drugs & Blood Clots (Thromboembolism)
4-26-2009: Are We Really Losing the War on Cancer?
4-19-2009: Exercise in Middle Age & Risk of Death
4-12-2009: Can Chronic Stress Harm Your Heart?
4-5-2009: Does PSA Testing for Prostate Cancer Save Lives?
3-15-2009: Depression, Stress, Anger & Heart Disease
3-8-2009: Coronary Artery Disease: CABG vs. Stents?; Swimming Lessons & Drowning Risk in Children
3-1-2009: Aspirin & Colorectal Cancer Prevention; Fish Oil & Respiratory Infections in Children
2-22-2009: Health Differences Between Americans & Europeans; Lycopene & Prostate Cancer
2-15-2009: Statin Drugs & Death Rates; Physical Activity, Breast Cancer & Sex Hormones
2-8-2009: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) & Breast Cancer; Stool DNA Testing & Cancer of the Colon & Rectum
1-25-2009: Prostate Cancer, Fatigue & Exercise; Does your Surgeon “Warm-up” Before Surgery?
1-18-2009: Cancer and Vitamins; Teenagers, MySpace and Risky Behaviors
1-11-2009: Exercise Reverses Some Effects of Fatty Meals; Vitamin C and Blood Pressure
12-28-2008: Stress & Your Risk of Heart Attack; Vitamin D & the Prevention of Colon & Rectal Polyps
12-21-2008: Breast Cancer Incidence & Hormone Replacement Therapy; Circumcision & the Risk of HPV & HIV Infection
12-14-2008: Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Selenium Do Not Prevent Cancer; Postscript: A Possible Cure for Down’s Syndrome
12-7-2008: Generic vs. Brand-Name Drugs, Stress & Breast Cancer Survival
11-30-2008: A Possible Cure for Down’s Syndrome?; Smoking & Cognitive Decline; Calcium & Vitamin D & Breast Cancer Risk
11-23-2008: Breast Cancer & Fish Oil; Lymphedema after Breast Cancer Treatment; Vasectomy & Prostate Cancer Risk
11-9-2008: Statins Cut Heart Attack Risk Even with Normal Cholesterol Levels; Statins & PSA Level
11-2-2008: Radiation Treatment of Prostate Cancer & Second Cancers; Sexual Content on TV & Teen Pregnancy Risk
10-26-2008: Smoking & Quality of Life
10-19-2008: Agent Orange & Prostate Cancer
10-12-2008: Pomegranate Juice & Prostate Cancer
10-5-2008: Central Obesity & Dementia; Diet, Vitamin D, Calcium, & Colon Cancer
9-28-2008: Publication & Citation Bias in Favor of Industry-Funded Research?
9-21-2008: Does Tylenol® (Acetaminophen) Cause Asthma?
9-14-208: Arthroscopic Knee Surgery- No Better than Placebo?; A Healthy Lifestyle Prevents Stroke
8-23-2008: Alcohol Abuse Before & After Military Deployment; Running & Age; Running & Your Testicles
2-23-2008: Universal Healthcare Insurance Study; Glucosamine & Arthritis
2-3-2008: Vitamin D & Cardiovascular Health; Vitamin D & Breast Cancer; Green Tea & Colorectal Cancer
1-12-2008: Statins, Diabetes & Stroke and Obesity; GERD & Esophageal Cancer
12-31-2007: Minority Women, Hormone Replacement Therapy & Breast Cancer; Does Health Insurance Improve Health?
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