For example, sufferers of cardiovascular disease, falls and fractures, multiple sclerosis, Crohn disease, pain, autism (possibly), and diabetes mellitus have been shown to have benefitted from higher than recommended doses of vitamin D supplementation.

Of interest to me is the finding that above-recommendation dosage of vitamin D can also assist in the treatment and management of depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

A study in Australia apparently found that 4,000 IU per day for 2 months of vitamin D3 improved mood significantly more than 600IU per day, with no ill effects.

Even though sunlight is the most natural way to top up one's vitamin D levels, the risk of skin cancer (particularly in Australia) counters the idea of spending hours in the sun. The ingrained Aussie habit of slipping on a shirt, slapping a hat and slopping on sunscreen means that exposure to vitamin D is reduced.

Vitamin D levels can also be depleted by drugs, including barbiturates, carbamazepine, cholestyramine, cimetidine, colestipol, corticosteroids, famotidine, fosphenytoin, isoniazid, mineral oil, nizatidine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, ranitidine, and rifampin. Kauffman additionally notes that cholestyramine and colestipol also deplete cholesterol.

"Sodium valproate is one of the few [ ] drugs that lower vitamin D levels and one of the few gestational drugs that lead to autism," states Cannell [Cannell JJ, Autism and vitaminD. MedHypotheses 2008;70:750-759.]

Kaffman also suggests that there is a potential cancer link between vitamin D depletion and the use of prevastatin [Shepherd J, Blauw GJ, Murphy MB, et al. Pravastatin in elderly individuals at risk of vascular disease (PROSPER): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2002;360:1623-1630.]

Good sources of vitamin D (apart from the sun) include fish, cod liver oil, and shiitake mushrooms. A more complete list is available from Holick, MF. Vitamin D deficiency. NEngl JMed 2007;357:266-281.

But if you ARE going to bask under the sun's golden rays, apparently a mere 15 minutes of summer noonday sun on both sides of the body will generate the equivalent of 10,000 IU of D3 in most light-skinned adults. Apparently a repeat top-up once or twice a week is all that's needed to keep one's levels up. Glass, plastic and clothing will seemingly absorb nearly all UV-B from sunlight.

Even safer (for us Australians, anyway) is grabbing just 5-10 minutes of direct sun on the arms and legs; it generates around 3,000 IU. That's easy to accomplish by the simple act of driving to pick up the kids from school, walking to the shops, walking around the park for exercise, and so on.

Conclusion
We know that exercise is beneficial in the treatment and management of depression; it looks like getting some sunshine is an additional help.

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Source: Kauffman, Joel M.(2009) Benefits of Vitamin D Supplementation, Journal of American Physicians & Surgeons; Summer2009, Vol. 14 Issue 2, p38-45

Joel Kauffman, PhD., is professor of chemistry emeritus at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia and a freelance writer on medical topics.

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