Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin D
For the health condition: Mental Illness

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Vitamin D has been studied for its potential role in supporting and treating mental illness, primarily depression and, to a lesser extent, other mood disorders such as anxiety and schizophrenia. The rationale for its use is based on several lines of evidence: Vitamin D receptors are present in areas of the brain involved in mood regulation, and vitamin D is involved in neuroimmune and neurotrophic processes. Epidemiological studies have found associations between low serum vitamin D levels and higher incidence of depression and other psychiatric conditions. However, these associations do not necessarily imply causation.

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses present mixed results. Some RCTs report that vitamin D supplementation produces modest improvements in depressive symptoms, particularly among individuals who are vitamin D deficient. For example, a 2020 meta-analysis in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition found a small but statistically significant benefit for depressive symptoms. However, other large systematic reviews and RCTs have found no significant effect, especially in non-deficient populations. Evidence for its use in other mental illnesses such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder is even weaker and largely inconclusive.

Overall, vitamin D supplementation is not considered a primary or stand-alone treatment for mental illness, but optimizing vitamin D status may be reasonable as part of a comprehensive approach, particularly in those with proven deficiency. More high-quality research is needed to clarify the relationship and therapeutic potential.

More about vitamin D
More about Mental Illness

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