There is a correlation between vitamin D and depression, with research suggesting a causal relationship. Lack of sunlight and vitamin D deficiency may contribute to depression, but light therapy with UV filters can also improve mood. Urbanization and sunscreen use have reduced human exposure to sunlight.
The exact connection between vitamin D and depression is not fully understood. There seems to be a correlation between the two, if not direct causation. People with clinical depression have been found to be deficient in vitamin D, although both could be symptoms of a different root cause. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a condition thought to be linked to decreased exposure to bright light during the winter months, and a lack of sunlight can also create a vitamin D deficiency. Research suggests that there may be a causal relationship between vitamin D and depression, since positive effects have been achieved through the administration of the compound to people suffering from depressive conditions.
There seems to be a link of some kind between vitamin D and depression. The human body is capable of synthesizing vitamin D if sufficient sunlight is available, so a deficiency is usually related to a lack of natural light or a defect of some kind. Lack of sunlight can also cause symptoms of depression in some people, as seen in seasonal affective disorder. Lack of sunlight is believed to have a negative effect on brain chemistry, although it is also possible that low levels of vitamin D production may contribute to this disorder and other forms of depression.
The human body relies on a type of light known as ultraviolet-b (UVB) to produce vitamin D. Studies and anecdotal evidence suggest that light therapy with UV filters can improve mood, suggesting that conditions such as SAD are not completely caused by a lack of vitamin D or enhanced by its presence. However, other studies suggest that vitamin D may have a similar or complementary effect on mood. A double-blind study conducted in Australia suggested a causal relationship between vitamin D and depression. This study included the administration of vitamin D3 and found positive results one standard deviation over placebo.
Anecdotal evidence also suggests a link between vitamin D and depression. The rise in depression in recent history has coincided with a number of trends that have reduced human exposure to sunlight, particularly UVB rays needed for vitamin D production. Urbanization and time spent working indoors , particularly in closed office settings, can drastically reduce sunlight exposure. The potentially damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation have also resulted in the widespread use of sunscreens, which may have the unintended effect of reducing vitamin D production. None of this necessarily proves that low vitamin D levels cause depression, although you can see a strong relationship.
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