Low levels of vitamin D have already been attached to many health problems, like neurological and cardiovascular sickness, but a recently released study shows not having enough Vitamin D can cause depression.

Researchers at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, working with the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study, conducted the largest investigation of this kind, and the findings were published in the medical journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings. The research began in order to clear up conflicting data with past studies.

Dr. E. Sherwood Brown, professor of psychiatry and senior author of the study said, “Our findings suggest that screening for depression in people with low vitamin D levels-might be useful, but we don’t have enough information yet to recommend going out and taking supplements.”

The study consisted of 12,600 participants from late 2006 to late 2010. It was found that higher vitamin D levels were associated with significantly decreased risk of current depression, specifically among people with a prior history of depression. Low levels of vitamin D were attached to depressive symptoms, especially those with a history of depression.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 10 adults suffer from depression in the United States.

The study confirmed that vitamin D affects neurotransmitters, inflammatory markers and other factors, which could further explain the link between vitamin D and depression, the authors of the study.

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