Health in Action: The Importance of Vitamin D
Many Americans are at risk for vitamin D deficiency. Groups at risk include African Americans and Hispanic adults, >65 yo, smokers, obese, malabsorption syndromes and non milk drinkers. Foods high in vitamin D include fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines) milk and portabella mushrooms although supplementation if often needed to obtain optimal therapeutic levels.
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble steroid hormone synthesized in the skin upon exposure to sunlight and then metabolized in the liver and kidney to the metabolically active form called vitamin D 1,25-dihydroxy (Calcitriol). Vitamin D deficiency is considered to be blood levels < 30 ng/ml with severe deficiency < 10/12 ng/ml.
Below, we highlight the significant role Vitamin D plays in mood, blood sugar and immunity.
Vitamin D and Depression
Depression has been a topic of research for many years now. Though many studies have resulted in inconclusive findings, the use of vitamin D supplementation to help reduce levels of depression still continues to show promising results in some specific populations. Several studies have shown that Vitamin D supplementation can help reduce levels of depression especially for those who have more pronounced depression levels and or type II diabetes. To get the most out of Vitamin D supplementation it is best to take sufficient amounts for long periods of time. (1,2,3)
Vitamin D and Immunity
Vitamin D has classically shown to help Calcium homeostasis within the body thus helping promote strong bone health. However, what most don't realize is how this has a strong effect on our body's innate immune responses. Some studies have even attributed high rates of viral infection during the winter months to low Vitamin D levels. (4) When focusing on the incidence of influenza infection, one study found that Vitamin D administration resulted in a 42% decrease in infection rates. (5)
A Recent study out of Spain suggests that vitamin D reduce risk of admission to intensive care admission for COVID positive patients ALREADY hospitalized.(6,7) Highlights from this article are:
The vitamin D endocrine system have a variety of actions on cells and tissues involved in COVID-19 progression.
Early calcifediol (25-hydroxyvitamin D) treatment to hospitalized COVID-19 patients significantly reduced intensive care unit admissions-Calcifediol seems to be able to reduce severity of the COVID-19.
Calcifediol seems to be able to reduce severity of the disease
Vitamin D and Diabetes
Vitamin D deficiency is a common risk factor associated with insulin resistance and glucose intolerance leading to Type I and Type II Diabetes in some groups. Several studies suggest that taking Vitamin D supplements may improve insulin resistance and help rebuild glycemic homeostasis within the body thus playing a role in diabetes prevention. However this same protocol is not recommended for those who have already been diagnosed with diabetes. More studies are needed to improve clarity on Vitamin D's effects on those with a diabetes diagnosis. (8,9)
Resources and Research
1: Vitamin D Improves Mood In Women with Type 2 Diabetes
2. Vitamin D and Depression https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4011048/
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6970300/
4: Vitamin D and the Immune System
5: Vitamin D for Prevention of Infectious Diseases
6. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960076020302764?via%3Dihub
7 https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/covid-19/finally-confirmed-vitamin-d-nearly-abolishes-icu-risk-in-covid-19
8: Vitamin D and Diabetes
9: Vitamin D Supplementation https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6016617/