Medical professionals continue to remain cautious when treating people suffering from major depression.  This includes which methods of therapy are best for their patients.  These professionals are aware of growing research that does suggest that vitamin D could be an effective form of treatment for these patients.  However, they have also seen evidence that this has not been a solution for many who receive this unfortunate diagnosis.

Walter E. Stumpf is one of the pioneers in vitamin D research.  He is a professor at the University of North Carolina who made the insightful prediction that vitamin D and bright light would play a huge role in psychiatry over a decade ago.  His research confirmed that Ultra Violet B (UVB) produces vitamin D.  And further study indicated that bright light without UVB resulted in improved mood in this and countless other studies.  But there is still no clear answer to the question of whether this vitamin has an effect on the resulting mood improvement.  This is relevant because sunlight, a known resource for vitamin D, can be also considered “bright light”.

Seasonal affective disorder relates to a substantial change of mood or depression due to minimal exposure to sunlight.  This type of depression occurs in relation to the seasons. It is most commonly manifested during winter months; especially in people living in the northern areas of the country.  The symptoms include decreased concentration, sleepiness during the daytime, little or no energy and withdrawal from social activities.  Treatment consists of medication and talk therapy.  Light therapy with the use of a lamp which mimics sunlight is helpful to some patients.  Again, this may be proof to some that sunlight, although simulated, has a direct positive affect on the symptoms of depression.

Other research which seems to prove the relationship between vitamin D and depression has revealed that anxiety and depression are more common in people with this deficiency.  In addition, there is also some proof that vitamin D is helpful to brain health and increases serotonin levels.  Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that has undisputedly been shown to increase feelings of well being in humans.  This could possibly be a link to the positive effect which vitamin D would have on depression.  Some doctors have prescribed high doses of vitamin D which helped to relieve symptoms, leading to the conclusion that there is a possible relationship between vitamin D and depression.

Even so, there have been numerous challenges to these observations.  There are indications that there is no association between the symptoms of depression and vitamin D concentration in the bloodstream.  For each study conducted to prove there is a connection, there are just as many that reach conclusions that are the exact opposite.

Admittedly, researchers do state that more studies are needed to form any real conclusions.  Continual observation, reports and review emerge almost daily; with just as many opposing conclusions.  Doctors have advised patients to be evaluated based on their individual circumstances to determine whether vitamin D therapy is advisable to provide relief to their depression.