According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, or AAFP, approximately 50 percent of adults aged 65 or older in North America are vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D is typically obtained from sunlight and dietary sources and plays a critical function in calcium and phosphorus metabolism as well as skeletal development, bone health and neuromuscular functioning. This change in neuromuscular functioning with vitamin D deficiency may contribute to symptoms of depression in adults.
Background
While vitamin D can be obtained from both dietary sources and sunlight, 90 percent of vitamin D in humans is obtained from sunlight. There are two forms of vitamin D, but the form of 25-hydroxyvitamin D is typically measured to evaluate for deficiency. As an adult, your 25-hydroxyvitamin D level should be above 50 ng/mL and a level below 20ng/mL is considered deficient. In older adults, the risk of deficiency increases if you are older than 65, have dark skin, obtain insufficient sunlight exposure or use certain medications.
Depression and Vitamin D Deficiency
According to a study published in the "Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism," low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels increases the risk of depression in adults over the age of 65. This effect was more pronounced in women than in men and low levels were defined as a level lower than 50ng/mL. This finding is particularly important because adults over the age of 65 are at high risk for vitamin D deficiency that may increase the overall risk for depression.
Vitamin D Supplements
While most multivitamins contain vitamin D, your physician can prescribe vitamin D supplements at a higher dosage. For adults between the ages of 50 and 70, 400 IU are required. For adults over age 70, 600 IU are needed. The dosage can be prescribed in tablet form, soft gels or capsules. If you have been diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency, a higher dosage of 50,000 IU weekly for eight weeks may be required.
Considerations
In addition to vitamin D supplements, dietary and lifestyle changes can also improve your vitamin D levels. Some foods, such as cereal, milk and orange juice, are fortified with vitamin D. Milk contains 100 IU in 8 ounces. Salmon is an excellent natural source of vitamin D with 600 IU in 3.5 ounces. While vitamin D supplementation may help with depression in adults with a vitamin D deficiency, your physician will likely prescribe other medications that are directed specifically at depression.
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