Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin D
For the health condition: Anorexia

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Vitamin D supplementation in patients with anorexia nervosa is supported by scientific evidence, although the rationale is primarily related to the secondary health consequences of the disorder rather than a direct therapeutic effect on anorexia itself. Anorexia nervosa is associated with significant nutritional deficiencies, including vitamin D, due to restricted dietary intake and, frequently, reduced exposure to sunlight. One of the most serious complications in anorexia nervosa is decreased bone mineral density, leading to osteopenia and osteoporosis, which substantially increase the risk of fractures. Multiple studies have reported that individuals with anorexia nervosa often have low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, and guidelines recommend regular monitoring and supplementation as needed (Misra & Klibanski, 2010; Miller, 2015).

Evidence supports that vitamin D, when combined with calcium, can help preserve or improve bone density in this population, though full normalization of bone health often requires weight restoration and hormonal recovery. There is little evidence that vitamin D supplementation directly improves the psychological symptoms of anorexia nervosa, but it plays a substantial role in addressing and preventing complications related to bone health. Therefore, its use in this setting is scientifically justified and widely recommended in clinical guidelines for the management of medical complications of eating disorders.

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Other health conditions supported by vitamin D

Acne
Allergies (food)
Allergies (respiratory)
Alzheimer's Disease
Amenorrhea
Anemia
Anorexia
Apathy
Arrhythmia
Arteriosclerosis
Arthritis
Asthma
Autism
Autoimmune Disorders
Backache
Birth Defects (prevention)
Body Building
Broken Bones
Calcium Deficiency
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cancer (prevention)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Cardiovascular Disease
Celiac Disease
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder
Colds (antiviral)
Colds (general)
Colds (prevention)
Colds (with fever)
Concentration (poor)
Concussions
Confusion
Congestive Heart Failure
Contagious Diseases
Convalescence
Convulsions
Cramps (menstrual)
Cramps and Spasms
Crohn's Disease
Cystic Breast Disease
Cystic Fibrosis
Dandruff
Debility
Dementia
Depression
Dermatitis
Diabetes
Diabetic Retinopathy
Erectile Dysfunction
Estrogen (low)
Fatigue
Fibroids (uterine)
Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Fibrosis
Grave's Disease
Grief and Sadness
Hair (loss or thinning)
Hair Care (general)
Hashimoto's Disease
Headache (cluster)
Heart (weakness)
Hypertension
Hypothyroid
Infection
Infection (bacterial)
Infection (viral)
Infertility
Inflammation
Inflammatory Bowel Disorders
Influenza
Injuries
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Itching
Knees (weak)
Leaky Gut Syndrome
Leprosy
Lesions
Leukemia
Lou Gehrig's Disease
Lupus
Lymphoma
Melanoma
Memory and Brain Function
Menopause
Menstrual Irregularity
Mental Illness
Metabolic Syndrome
Migraine
Miscarriage (prevention)
Mood Swings
Multiple Sclerosis
Muscle Tone (lack of)
Muscular Dystrophy
Myasthenia Gravis
Nephritis
Nerve Damage
Nervous Exhaustion
Numbness
Nursing
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Oral Surgery
Osteoporosis
Pain (general remedies for)
Pancreatitis
Paralysis
Parkinson's Disease
Peripheral Neuropathy
PMS (general)
PMS Type D
PMS Type H
PMS Type P
PMS Type S
Pneumonia
Polyps
Post Partum Depression
Post Partum Weakness
Pregnancy (herbs and supplements for)
Progesterone (low)
Prostatitis
Psoriasis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Schizophrenia
Sciatica
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Senility
Tuberculosis