Vitamin D Plays a Role in Mood Balancing

According to a new study, vitamin D is important for mood stabilization in post-menopausal women. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin involved in bone health, nerve and muscle function, immune function, and regulation of cell growth and normal, healthy inflammatory responses. Older adults have an increased likelihood of insufficient vitamin D levels as the skin is less efficient at synthesizing vitamin D.

In this large prospective study, 81,189 women between 50 and 79 years of age enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) Observational Study were evaluated. The women completed questionnaires regarding vitamin D dietary and supplement intake at the beginning of the study. The women were also assessed for mood changes and medication use to support mood balancing at the beginning of the study and again after 3 years.

The study found that women with a vitamin D intake of 800 IU per day or greater had an increased likelihood of optimal mood health compared to the women with less than 100 IU vitamin D intake per day. In the women with no evidence of mood changes at the beginning of the study, the women who ingested 400 IU of vitamin D or greater per day showed a 20 percent reduction in the likelihood of mood changes after 3 years compared to the women with less than 100 IU vitamin D intake per day.

The researchers concluded that this study supports a relationship between optimal vitamin D intake and healthy mood in post menopausal women.

Reference:

Bertone-Johnson ER, Powers SI, Spangler L, Brunner RL, Michael YL, Larson JC, Millen AE, Bueche MN, Salmoirago-Blotcher E, Liu S, Wassertheil-Smoller S, Ockene JK, Ockene I, Manson JE. Vitamin D intake from foods and supplements and depressive symptoms in a diverse population of older women. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Aug 24. Published Online Ahead of Print.