The Importance of Vitamin D for Healthy Living

Experts point out how important Vitamin D is for our body. Pharmacist-Homeopath Ezgi Nevçehan states that one of the most important functions of Vitamin D is to strengthen the immune system, and it supports bone health by ensuring the absorption of two minerals vital for bone health, such as calcium and phosphorus.

Is Vitamin D a hormone?

Is it Vitamin D or a hormone? Surprisingly, this vitamin is actually a hormone. It is a steroid hormone produced from cholesterol when our skin is exposed to the sun. However, due to today’s office working environment, time spent at home and the lack of sun in winter, we usually don’t get enough sun. Therefore, to get enough of this vitamin, it may be necessary to supplement Vitamin D from foods (such as salmon, egg yolk, purslane, sweet potato, mushrooms…etc.) or supplements.

Why is Vitamin D important?

One of the most important functions of Vitamin D is to strengthen the immune system. It supports bone health and ensures the absorption of two minerals vital for bone health such as calcium and phosphorus. It’s important for mental development, and it has been shown that significant improvements in anxiety and depression occur when this deficiency is remedied in individuals with Vitamin D deficiency. When using Vitamin D, you should make sure that there are sufficient amounts of magnesium and Vitamin K in your body. You should definitely consult your doctor and pharmacist before use.

The relationship between Vitamin D deficiency and depression

Vitamin D deficiency is commonly seen especially in Western societies. It is known that Vitamin D plays a role in the progression of many chronic diseases. It has been suggested 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 are treated. The recurrence rate of depression is higher in those who stop medication. Detecting and treating Vitamin D deficiency in depression and other mental disorders is an easy, cheap, and effective treatment approach, as well as improving quality of life. The best way to detect Vitamin D deficiency is to look at serum 25(OH)D3 levels. Vitamin D deficiency is defined as less than 20 ng/mL, while Vitamin D insufficiency is defined as less than 30 ng/mL.

What can we do?

To protect against depression and other mental illnesses, it is recommended to exercise outdoors, go for a 15-minute walk during a sunny hour of the day. Consuming foods and drinks rich or fortified in Vitamin D (Salmon, sardines, egg yolk, sweet potato, mushrooms, purslane, orange juice, parsley…), improving Vitamin D levels with nutritional supplements is the simplest and cheapest solution to improve mental health. Sunlight is the most effective tool for maintaining normal serum Vitamin D levels. Sunbathing for 5-10 minutes with arms and legs exposed 2-3 times a week is beneficial for protecting against Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency. Because the formula for happiness is hidden in sunlight, unfortunately, we cannot benefit from sunlight enough due to both staying indoors for a long time during winter 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 insufficiency is still a public health problem in our country.