Posted on 02/05/2023 4:33:47 PM PST by ConservativeMind
A new study hints that treating low vitamin D levels with supplements might have a critical benefit for certain people: a decreased risk of attempting suicide.
Researchers found that those prescribed vitamin D were nearly 50% less likely to attempt suicide over eight years, versus those who were not prescribed the supplements.
At the same time, it's known that vitamin D deficiency can cause depression-like symptoms, including mood changes and chronic fatigue, said Dr. Christine Crawford.
Crawford, who was not involved in the study, said that in her practice, she often has patients with depression symptoms tested for blood levels of vitamin D, as well as vitamin B12, folic acid and thyroid hormones. (Deficiencies in those vitamins, or thyroid hormone disturbances, can also cause depressive symptoms.)
Vitamin D supplements contain either of two forms of the vitamin: D2 (ergocalciferol) or D3 (cholecalciferol). Most of the veterans on supplements were taking vitamin D3. In that group, 0.2% were treated for attempted suicide or self-harm during the study period. That compared with 0.36% of veterans not prescribed vitamin D.
There was a similar pattern among veterans prescribed vitamin D2: The rate was 0.27% who attempted suicide or otherwise harmed themselves, versus 0.52% of veterans without vitamin D prescriptions.
When the researchers weighed other factors, like physical and mental health conditions, vitamin D supplementation was still linked to a 45% to 48% lower risk of attempting suicide.
And it turned out that the association was strongest among veterans who had low vitamin D to start (blood levels lower than 20 ng/mL), and among Black veterans.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
After that, other options should be explored.
I’m not sure how scientific this is, but I take 5000 IU of vitamin D3 daily, and I’m still here.
I read Earl Mindell's "Vitamin Bible" in the early 1980's and haven't stopped.
I was always suspicious vitamin supplements worked until they told me I was depleted of vit D and Iron. They put me on the supplements and it worked. Now I take them every day.
“I’m not sure how scientific this is, but I take 5000 IU of vitamin D3 daily, and I’m still here.”
I take a pill of 5,0000 IUs daily, plus there’s D3 in my multi and in my calcium citrate. Still here; not suicidal.
B-12 with folic acid sublingual or patch for a happy mood. Also helps for lower leg tingles.
FWLIW that’s my number.
Stopped taking my vitamins this summer to save money.
Restarted late fall and couldn’t believe how much my energy level sky-rocketed!
I take one 50,000 pill of D2 once weekly, still here, I have been reading that taking it with vitamin K helps remove calcium from veins and arteries and transfers it to the bones where it belongs.
Vitamin k helps to reduce excess vitamin d.
I think people take too much vitamin d. It would cause problems, so supplement makers sell vitamin d overdose capsules with the antidote in the same capsule.
If one assumes that all disorders arise from chemical deficiencies, then yes.
I’ve been taking a vitamin D pill for over 10 years, and I haven’t committed suicide yet. (I’ll let you know when I do)
Now, after the article above, I’m afraid to stop taking vitamin D. ;)
In the UK, this has been a marketing angle for many years - especially northern England and Scotland. Light-therapy lamps (sunlight spectrum) are sold there as a means of countering the long, dark winters and feelings of depression.
I take that much too. Far more likely to murder some stupid Dem than I am to commit suicide.
Veto!
(Female)
The food eaten by the vast majority of Americans is nutritionally deficient, and in some cases, depletes the body of vitamins and minerals.
Supplementing is required to have any chance of keeping the body working as optimal as possible.
I would posit this:
A man is suicidal and his blood showed severe deficiencies in multiple nutrients, including Vitamin D and Vitamin B12.
Do you assume he shouldn’t take those, and why?
It must work. I take 15k IUs per day and I never want to kill myself! :)
I used to take one 5000 IU every day, until I got my blood test results back showing 132.9, when the normal range 30-100. I cut back to three a week. We'll see what it looks like next time I get tested.
If you are taking 5,000 IU of Vitamin D daily you ought to have your levels of both D and calcium tested regularly, the two track together.
Vitamin D toxicity is very rare but it’s potentially serious, and taking high dose supplements is usually how it happens. High doses of D are used for treating some kidney diseases and 5,000 iu managed to put my D and calcium levels above the safe range.
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