Does the "sunshine vitamin" bring you smiles?
Vitamin D – Topical Application and Effect on Mood
It is clear that adequate amounts of vitamin D are necessary to maintain overall health. To sustain proper vitamin D levels, many people take supplements orally. Recently, questions have been raised as to whether topical vitamin D is a viable alternative. New studies are proving that topically applied vitamin D can indeed be absorbed through the skin successfully. Another area of concern is whether vitamin D has a positive effect on mood. However, research is mixed when it comes to vitamin D’s efficacy in improving depression and mood.
Vitamin D is available to take as an oral supplement. However, some people have problems swallowing pills. Additionally, many patients may be taking other medications or supplements and may not want to add more oral tablets to their routine. Fortunately, a recent study titled, “Topical Delivery of vitamin D3: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study” concluded that, “This randomized control study shows that vitamin D3 can safely be delivered through the dermal route. This route could be exploited in treating vitamin D deficiency.” This information is very exciting and opens up options as an alternative to oral supplements.
Research regarding the effect of vitamin D on patients’ moods has brought about mixed results. Some studies have found that vitamin D is able to improve mood. An article called, “Vitamin D3 Enhances Mood in Healthy Subjects During Winter”, stated that, “The PA (positive affect) scale includes adjectives such as enthusiastic, inspired, alert, active and attentive. Such adjectives would imply that subjects receiving vitamin D3 showed evidence of higher levels of arousal and being more alert.” The study went on to add that, “Vitamin D3 has been demonstrated to have a powerful effect on mood and varies significantly across the seasons implies a link between hormone and seasonal variations in mood.” Based on the information found in the article, the study concluded that vitamin D3 did, in fact, have a positive effect on the study participants’ moods.
However, another article titled, “Vitamin D and the Occurrence of Depression: Causal Association or Circumstantial Evidence”, found that, “The few epidemiological studies of vitamin D and depression have produced inconsistent results and generally have had substantial methodological limitations.” The article asserted that, “At this time, it is premature to conclude that vitamin D is related to the occurrence of depression. Additional prospective studies of this relationship are essential.” With these conflicting findings on vitamin D’s effects on mood and depression, further research will need to be done to find conclusive results.
While more research may need to prove whether vitamin D affect mood, we do know that vitamin D benefits the cardiovascular system, increases bone health, improves cognitive function, reduces the possibility for certain diseases and aids the immune system.
Since vitamin D has been proven to offer the body so much support, it is important to provide alternatives to oral supplements. Vitamin D cream can be applied topically to the skin once per day and is able to offer the recommended daily amount of vitamin D. For those that can’t or prefer not to take oral vitamin supplements, Vitamin D cream is an excellent choice.
Articles cited:
“Topical Delivery of vitamin D3: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study”, by M. Sadat-Ali, D.A. Bubshait, H.A. Al-Turki, D.A. Al-Dakheel, W.S. Al-Olayani
“Vitamin D3 Enhances Mood in Healthy Subjects During Winter”, by Allen T. G. Lansdowne and Stephen C. Provost
“Vitamin D and the Occurrence of Depression: Causal Association or Circumstantial Evidience”, by E.R. Bertone-Johnson
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