Underlining that vitamin D is very important for our body, Pharmacist-Homeopath Ezgi Nevçehan said, “One of the most important functions of vitamin D is to strengthen the immune system. It supports bone health and enables the absorption of two minerals such as calcium and phosphorus, which are vital for bone health. It is important for mental development. In individuals with vitamin D deficiency, correcting this deficiency shows that anxiety and depression are significantly improved.”
“Vitamin D or hormone? Although it may seem surprising, this vitamin is actually a hormone. It is a steroid hormone produced from cholesterol when our skin is exposed to the sun,” said Pharmacist-Homeopath Ezgi Nevçehan. She commented, “However, today, due to the working environment in the office, the time spent at home and the lack of sun in winter, we generally get insufficient sun exposure. For this reason, I advise my clients to supplement their vitamin D intake by eating (e.g. salmon, egg yolk, purslane, sweet potato, mushrooms, etc.) or supplements in order to get sufficient amounts of this vitamin.”
Why is vitamin D important for the human body?
Regarding the importance of vitamin D for the human body, Nevçehan said, “One of its most important functions is to strengthen the immune system. It supports bone health and enables the absorption of two minerals such as calcium and phosphorus, which are vital for bone health. It is important for mental development, and correcting this deficiency in individuals with vitamin D deficiency shows that anxiety and depression are significantly improved. When using vitamin D, you should make sure that you have sufficient amounts of magnesium and vitamin K in your body. Be sure to consult your doctor and pharmacist before use.”
Vitamin D deficiency and depression
Pharmacist-Homeopath Ezgi Nevçehan noted that vitamin D deficiency is especially common in western societies and said, “It is known that vitamin D plays a role in the progression of many chronic diseases. It is stated that low serum vitamin D may be associated with depression, anxiety and stress. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, the success rate in depression treatment is 60-80%. However, less than 25% of people with depression receive treatment. The recurrence rate of depression is higher in those who stop drug treatment. Detecting and treating vitamin D deficiency in depression and other mental disorders is an easy, cheap and effective treatment approach, as well as improving the quality of life. The best way to detect vitamin D deficiency is to look at serum 25(OH)D3 level. “Vitamin D deficiency is defined as less than 20 ng/mL, and vitamin D insufficiency is defined as less than 30 ng/mL.”
What can we do?
Pointing out that it is necessary to exercise outdoors and take a 15-minute walk in a sunny hour during the day to protect against depression and other mental diseases, Nevçehan lastly gave the following information: “Consuming foods and drinks rich or fortified with vitamin D (salmon, sardine, egg yolk, sweet potato). , mushrooms, purslane, orange juice, parsley…), improving vitamin D levels with nutritional supplements is the simplest and cheapest solution to improving mental health. Sunlight is the most effective tool for maintaining normal serum vitamin D levels. Sunbathing for 5-10 minutes with arms and legs open 2-3 times a week is useful to protect against vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency. Because the formula for happiness is hidden in sunlight. Unfortunately, during the winter, we cannot benefit from sunlight sufficiently due to both staying indoors for a long time and weather conditions. Due to the possible relationship between depression and vitamin D deficiency, it may be recommended to determine serum/plasma vitamin D levels in these individuals. “It should not be forgotten that vitamin D deficiency is still a public health problem for our country.”
