Vitamin D deficiency tied to depression risk with chronic kidney disease

Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is independently associated with increased depression risk in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study.

I-Wen Chen and colleagues examined the association between VDD and the risk for depression. The analysis included 17,955 propensity-matched pairs of patients with CKD (aged 50 years and older) with VDD of ≤20 ng/mL or ≥30 ng/mL (control group), as measured within three months of CKD diagnosis.

The researchers found that VDD was associated with increased depression risk at one year (hazard ratio [HR], 1.929). This association remained at follow-up three years later. The finding was consistent across CKD stages, with similar risks in early CKD (HR, 1.977) and CKD stage 3 to 5 (HR, 1.981). Depression risk was higher among men with VDD (HR, 2.264) versus women (HR, 1.761). Higher depression risk was seen even with vitamin D insufficiency (20 to 30 ng/mL) versus normal levels (HR, 1.667).

"These findings suggest that maintaining adequate vitamin D levels might be important for mental health in patients with CKD, although randomized trials are needed to confirm whether supplementation can prevent depression in this population," the authors write.

The problem with that idea is in the northern hemisphere, including much of the USA the sun is too low on the horizon to do any good whatsoever except during the summer months. Too much atmosphere in the way for the beneficial rays to get through. Vitamin D supplements may be indicated year round, not just in the winter. The idea being to keep serum levels high.

My wife just started taking Vitamin D supplements again. She got lazy and stopped for a time. She started breaking out in hives, and the itching was driving her nuts. After her bloodwork came back, her doctor put her on high strength Vitamin D, once a week, to get her jump started, and then back to what she should have been taking, like before. I think she learned her lesson.

I don’t remember exactly what her level of D was, except that it was way below the low limit.

Johnny come lately...

The problem is not less winter sunlight / northern hemisphere etc,
you can save money and not take Vitamin D supplements ever
again, the answer may be just outside growing on a pile of
rotting wood.

Turkey tail (like a turkey tail), chagas, lions mane also
like it’s namesake. All edible mushrooms have vitamin
D and zinc and, and, and more of the stuff your immune
system needs that you might also be paying for manmade
supplements. Even white or portabella have many varied
benefits. Cordyceps, shitake, maitake, morels, etc.

If you think maybe not enough D, dry them out in the sun
and they’ll absorb even more from natural sunlight.

I like to sautee them in olive oil as soon as I get them,
then add them to my food or freeze them for some later
meal(s). Just 1 dish per day w/ these fungi will boost
the immune system and I suspect from personal experience
take care of many other vital organs from head to tail.

After covid 19, I was taking Zicam whenever I felt anything
coming on, then found D and zinc supplements even cheaper
sometime around 2021 and in the next years switched to OTC
supplements made from turkey tail. Then finally dawned on
me take whatever is available esp. within my locale since
each mushroom has unique characteristics.

Since 2019 I have not had a cold, flu, sinus infection nor
anything worse (bronchitis, pneumonia). Try them all and
you’ll find at least some that you like and optimize health!
Also these toadstools have improved my stool time which
plagued me since childhood, I’m now 63 and ideal optimized
health - can’t rule out chiropractic either (on my home page)
which I followed from 45 to 55 years old. Enjoy healthy meals!

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.