I didn't know I was lacking in Vitamin D until I collapsed at work

jeffrallen

'Tis the season. My family just switched to sunrise simulation alarm clock lights, and I'll start squirting vitamin D in my coffee milk soon. In Europe, winter darkness is a bitch. Don't take chances with your health.

usrnm

I thought it was common knowledge that people with darker skin living further from the Equator have a higher chance of getting vitamin D deficiency and should take supplements. Just like people with lighter skin living closer to the Equator have a higher chance of getting skin cancer and should apply additional sun protection. We have all these adaptations for a reason

fred_is_fred

Having darker skin and living in a high latitude, especially one where it's not always sunny and inviting to be outside in short sleeves/shorts can lead to this. I am outside a lot, but far enough north that soon I will not get any Vitamin D from the sun - I take a daily supplement, it's cheap insurance. Costco sells 600 for $12.50.

OvervCW

How is it possible that the football player mentioned in the article can suffer from a deficiency level that's severe enough to collapse? I would expect that regularly being outside (for practice) and a normal balanced diet would be sufficient to at least get by in a country like the UK. Some depressive/lower energy symptoms during winter time, maybe, but nothing so severe as collapsing. Shouldn't this problem show up in a much larger portion of the population? Or do very physically active individuals require more Vitamin D?

Liuser

My brother after moving to NYC from LA suffered from depression during winter each year. Turns out his Vitamin D levels were also extremely low. Once he started supplementing he felt a lot better. Something to also consider and check if you yourself are affected by seasonal depression. It’s so obvious for those used to living in places with seasons, but it came as an ignorant surprise to us living in year around sunny CA.

skyberrys

It's amazing how many different vitamins and minerals we really need to get for optimal health, compared to what we actually do get and are able to muddle along for some time with. Vitamin D is something its easier to find and still people end up deficient and don't realize it. I think it's particularly telling how the article notes the deficiency can start in the mother and immediately be passed along to a child. How do children grow with inadequate foods? Are we collectively failing to reach our potential?

pbnjeh

I started taking vitamin D (D3) because one side of my family has a lot of cancer. Within a couple of days, my mood had stabilized and overall improved. Thinking about it when I noticed this, the only thing that had changed for me was taking the vitamin D. I’ve since observed that when I run out of vitamin D or forget to take it for several days, my mood slowly declines again. Resumption of vitamin D reverses this. I did not go into this with any knowledge of such an effect. And the vitamin D influence is stronger in this regard than what I’ve experienced from any (legal) drug. That said, it’s hardly overwhelming. Just a bit more resilience and a bit of protection from feeling overwhelmed. I now take it in combination with K2 as I’ve heard/read K2 helps keep too much of your calcium from being mobilized by the vitamin D. The D3 isomer is said to be significantly more bio-available than D1 and D2. And, overdosing does have significant negative consequences over time. So, do your research — and I’m not going to suggest any specific dosages. But after largely negative experiences with what the pharmaceutical industry has to offer, D3 has been an inexpensive and valuable contribution to my well-being.

talon8635

I thought recent research concluded that supplementation doesn’t actually work, and that vitamin D may be a read hearing and it’s actually just a byproduct of the true benefit (proper) sun exposure Forgive me, I have no link, I feel like medical and nutrition advice changes 180 daily. Does this ring a bell to anyone?

dominotw

Me and all my indian friends are deficient in vitamin D . I dont know how those number were calibrated. surely not on Indian population.

waschl

As a irregular Vitamin D supplementer myself I wonder if the effect is that significant for so many people anecdotically, why didn’t have have of Europeans and Russians have severe depression historically.

trilogic

Who knows knows, how would they know!

ortusdux

Theranos being back in the news has reminded me how high the demand is for blood test data.

tagami

Eat more mushrooms! Mushrooms contain a natural compound called ergosterol that converts into vitamin D2 when exposed to UV light (similar to our skin!) Even brief exposure to direct midday sun or UV lamps works. Mushrooms are the only non-animal dietary source capable of producing vitamin D. We collaborated on a private astronaut mission to study this in microgravity called Mission MushVroom.

joelkek

I’ve seen vitamin D overdoses too so be careful. Testing is a cheap and sensible first step https://mitohealth.com/products/vitamin-d-25-hydroxy-calcidi...

franciscojs

As devs who mostly work indoors, checking our vitamin D levels is a must, especially in winter.

kccqzy

PSA that deficiency in Vitamin D also leads to cognitive decline including dementia. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6132681/ I find the risk-award very clear: if you are not deficient, taking normal* amount of Vitamin D supplement has no adverse effects; but if you are deficient, the risk is quite high. *: The normal amount is 600 IU. The recommended upper limit is 4000 IU. The gap is wide.

n8henrie

Did nobody read the article? > While her symptoms are not directly linked to vitamin D deficiency

n8henrie

Change my mind: Being active and getting outside are associated with a multitude of health benefits and is correlated with vitamin D level. The Vitamin D Council pushes vitamin D supplementation based on this research (and funds it?) but there is minimal methodologically rigorous research showing health benefits from exogenous supplementation.