Low vitamin D levels, depression linked in young women, new study shows

Oregon State University / Science Daily ^ | March 18, 2015 | David Kerr

[ConservativeMind]

A new study from Oregon State University suggests there is a relationship between low levels of vitamin D and depression in otherwise healthy young women.

OSU researchers found that young women with lower levels of vitamin D were more likely to have clinically significant depressive symptoms over the course of a five-week study, lead author David Kerr said. The results were consistent even when researchers took into account other possible explanations, such as time of year, exercise and time spent outside.

"Depression has multiple, powerful causes and if vitamin D is part of the picture, it is just a small part," said Kerr, an associate professor in the School of Psychological Science at OSU. "But given how many people are affected by depression, any little inroad we can find could have an important impact on public health."

[kalee]

I’ve done it. I posted the ???? before I read your response to the other comment asking if this was the wrong thread. :) Actually I think it’s fun the way my mind works trying to connect the errant posts to the topic of the thread. :) Have a good night!

[Bob434]

[[Have you considered that your gi tract may be lacking enough digestive enzymes and probiotics? As people age they produce less digestive enzymes so food isn’t broken down as much and you get less energy.]]

That is a good point, however I have taken ‘super food’ that was supposed to be broken down mostly, easily absorbable, and packed with nutrients supposedly- and took them for a long time- but never noticed much if any difference- I do only have small intestines- and stomach has been sewn closed in a spot and bypassed in another due to the Crohn’s- so yeah, I’m sure the digestive tract isn’t helping things- but like I mentioned, having been on the super foods and not seeing much difference is one of the things that made me think there perhaps is a problem converting food to energy

When I was younger, right before the first Crohn’s surgeries- I was in hospital for a month and 1/2 and being fed intravenously, and still I had the burning muscle pain all the time which I’ll describe below- That was bypassing the digestive tract altogether-

The pain In the muslces is like a lactic acid burning pain- constant- never stops- even at rest- (which was another reason I felt the issue was energy conversion problem- it would seem to me that if I was converting food to energy efficiently, the muscles wouldn’t be feeling the acid burning pain- especially just sitting around resting-

I dunno- it’s been a long hard exhausting as well as exhaustive and frustrating journey not beign able to find the answers-

[[You might also be a good candidate for cold laser therapy for your muscle pain/body pain.]]

Hadn’t heard of this- I’ll check into that

[Secret Agent Man]

I didn’t realize you don’t have a large intestine. The large intestine primarily reabsorbs water and maintains the fluid balance of the body. Certain vitamins are also taken in through the large intestinal wall. Without it your fluids could be imbalanced which could mean your electrolytes are more prone to be off. If they also removed your appendix, that is an issue with your immune system and gi tract, as it is a reservoir of good bacteria that can help replenish the gut with good bacteria in cases where there’s imbalance or a die-off of good gut bacteria.

Your description of the lactic acid issue in the tissues could be linked to the hydration issue you face not having a large intestine. Less fluid gets reabsorbed from your gi tract and dehydration does make it harder for the body to rid itself of waste byproducts such as lactic acid.

Has your doctor mentioned possibly drinking more purified/filtered water?

I believe you when you say it most likely is a lactic acid elimination problem. One way to help your condition is to make your body pH more alkaline. I would suggest reading up on the benefits of alkaline water. It has a pH of about 8-9 and for me personally has been a positive change, and it even tastes better than regular tap water. My wife who isn’t really into as much health stuff as I am, compared the two - regular water filtered through our old PUR filter, and the filtered and then alkalized water, and she could tell the alakaline water tasted better and she could always tell which one it was. One thing they noticed with pets is they drank more water when it was alkaline water. Apparently it hydrates a person/animal more as well.

Upping your body pH could help deal with the lactic acid issue, and drinking more fluids in general to make up for the fact you don’t have a large intestine to recapture water from your gi tract, may help. If you get to the point where you are interested in the alkaline water, pm me and I can tell you which model I use, because I didn’t want one that cost hundreds of dollars and used electricity to produce the alkalinity. The model I found was inexpensive, not powered, and connects easily to your kitchen sink. Doesn’t take a lot of room either.

[kelly4c]

I wonder then, I feel like I constantly need a stimulant of some kind. Coffee, and used to be chain smoker but last 8 years on Nicorette gum instead. Then I need xanax many nights to wind down. I wonder if that’s related to a diagnosis I got in my 20’s which was hyperandrogenism. I just deal with the cosmetic issues the best I can and thought it was just causing superficial stuff but maybe my actual adrenal gland is malfunctioning?

Sorry, I know you’re not a doctor (well probably not anyways:)

[GailA]

Not just depression, joint pain and later in life brittle bones Osteoporosis. D 3 and FMS (Fibromyalgia very painful muscle disease)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140117090504.htm

Our IDIOT in the WH who thinks she is a nutritionist does not have a clue what the human body needs to function. It fluctuates with age.

Ladies since you are the most apt to develop OP, I suggest you start to protect your bones in your 20’s. Both available on Amazon. Reasonable prices. Treating OP is not only costly but the drugs all carry FDA Warnings, and Forteo carries an additional Black Box warning for Bone Cancer. It is a FDA restricted 2 yr treatment course that reverses itself upon completion and return to use of other OP drugs.

Your Bones: How You Can Prevent Osteoporosis and Have Strong Bones for Life - Naturally Lara Pizzorno 2013

The Whole Body Approach to OP
R. Keith McCormick

[Faith65]

bkmk

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Some important information about Vitamin D3.

To start with, whole body sun exposure for about 15 minutes will result in a large dose of about 30,000 IU, however, it will take several days to make its way to the bloodstream and change your serum Vitamin D level.

Oral Vitamin D will get into your blood much faster; however a small number of people are sensitive to as little as 300 IU, which was the old Minimum Daily Requirement, raised in 2010 to 600 IU for most people, and 800 IU for the elderly.

Another small group of people are unable to absorb oral Vitamin D.

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin so can be stored by the system, unlike water soluble vitamins.

Importantly, proper Vitamin D levels are essential to keeping a healthy immune system in several ways. First, a breakdown product of Vitamin D physically erodes pathogenic viral coats in your blood, which destroys them.

Second, third and fourth is that it opens three different immune response pathways to fight pathogens in your body. And fifth, it is a natural ACE inhibitor, that prevents your immune system from *overreacting* and harming you.

That is, most cold and flu symptoms are not from the disease, but are from the immune systems’ responses to the disease.

Some doctors are now recommending that at the onset of a cold or flu, a person could take as much as 30,000 IU of Vitamin D in a single dose, then take 10,000 IU daily until the symptoms end, and 4,000 IU maintenance dose for a month after. The *assumption* is that an average person would have to take 30,000 IU daily for at least two weeks before it might start to interfere with your calcium levels.

Oddly enough, people in some of the sunnier states have typically lower than normal Vitamin D levels.

Companies that provide “grocery store” blood tests are now regularly offering a check of your serum Vitamin D level, so it would be good to get such a test, which even if you are not in the below normal range would be useful in establishing a baseline.

[Bob434]

the problem with mucking with the PH balance is that I get lots of kidney stones, both calcium and uric acid stones- about 50-80 a year- plus lots and lots of ‘sand’ (crushed stone sediment)- (Yep. I have a lot of issues healthwise)- When I try to prevent one type, the other type becomes more prevalent - I do drink a lot of water to help keep kidneys flushed of stones- but I still get them a lot-

There could be some fluid issues, but I would think they would have showed up on tests, had there been a problem bad enough to be causing the muscle pain I’m experiencing-

[Secret Agent Man]

You might have to consider that what is normal for you may fall outside what conventional “normal” is. You may need more fluids than what is normal.

Not enough fluids is a key reason why people develop bladder sludge and kidney stones. the second is a diet too high in calcium salts.

To help with bladder sludge/stones, you need to drink more fluids to flush out these excess minerals and prevent sludge or stones forming. Cranberries/juice or lemon juice in a drink can help deal with it and also help prevent infections in the urinary tract. Aviding high calcium foods in excess - and that may mean lower portions than nomral for you, given what you’re dealing with - dairy, cheeses, milk, etc - will help intaking more calcium than you are processing and have to excrete (or turn into sludge/stones).

You have to drink more. If not alkaline water, then just more fluids.

[ConservativeMind]

The effect of Vitamin K2-MK7 (Not vitamin K1) appears to be similar to that of Forteo, and without and yearly limits or prescriptions:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_K2#Bone_density

[GailA]

Very true, it also stops the Cal from calcifying your arteries, much like a blood thinner.

Don’t forget that your body will need Collagen all of you life and it plays a role in controlling OA and OP pain.

Turmeric is a good anti inflammatory.

Strontium Citrate will also strengthen bones, just be sure not to take with the Cal. Do not take Cal pills within 4 hrs of taking Thyroid med. Do not take Cal and D3 at the same time either. Don’t forget the ratio of Cal and Mag is 2 Cal to 1 Magnesium Citrate, NO OXIDE BOUND, it does not absorb well.

Plus Vit K has no nasty side effects that Forteo has or FDA warnings or a Black Box warning for Bone Cancer. Nor does it reverse itself after you are forced to stop taking it. :-)

[GailA]

So is low B 12 Depression
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/expert-answers/vitamin-b12-and-depression/faq-20058077

It also effects fertility.
Fertility B12
http://www.livestrong.com/article/468731-male-infertility-and-the-role-of-vitamin-b-12/

Zinc and B12 taste
http://ezinearticles.com/?Taste-Loss-From-Zinc-and-B12-Deficiencies&id=6149217

zinc & Copper imbalance
http://www.drkaslow.com/html/zinc-copper_imbalances.htmli

Collagen Role in Body
http://www.oif.org/site/PageServer?pagename=BoneStruct

This is a Brand NEW study.
Cholesterol : Dietary guidelines are wrong on saturated fats, claims cardiovascular researcher
http://www.foodnavigator.com/Science-Nutrition/Dietary-guidelines-are-wrong-on-saturated-fats-claims-cardiovascular-researcher

[csmusaret]

I am convinced that if every American over the age of 16 supplemented with Magnesium and Vit D3 our healthcare costs would be cut in half.