Vitamin D Lifts Mood During Cold Weather Months

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100303162854.htm

ScienceDaily (Mar. 8, 2010) — A daily dose of vitamin D may just be what people in northern climates need to get through the long winter, according to researchers at Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing (MNSON). This nutrient lifts mood during cold weather months when days are short and more time is spent indoors.

"Vitamin D deficiency continues to be a problem despite the nutrient's widely reported health benefits," said Sue Penckofer, PhD, RN, professor, MNSON. "Chicago winters compound this issue when more people spend time away from sunlight, which is a natural source of vitamin D."

Diet alone may not be sufficient to manage vitamin D levels. A combination of adequate dietary intake of vitamin D, exposure to sunlight, and treatment with vitamin D2 or D3 supplements can decrease the risk of certain health concerns. The preferred range in the body is 30 -- 60 ng/mL of 25(OH) vitamin D.

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"There is evidence to suggest that vitamin D supplementation may decrease insulin resistance," said Dr. Penckofer.

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