I’m almost certainly deficient and I thought maybe it could improve my mood :/
Afaik, people in industrialised countries are likely to be vitamin D deficient. However, any vitamin supplements should ideally only be taken if a doctor has told you you do have a deficiency. But I get that this is hard to accomplish in some places and it’s easier to just try on your own so no judgement, just saying.
What makes you think you’re deficient? Because a generally bad mood may just be the expected reaction to the Current Global Situation™.
My doctor told me to take vitamin D supplements without even bothering to test if I was deficient. 1000 IU in the summer, 4000 IU in the winter. IIRC, it varies based on your location, time spent outdoors, diet, etc. But it is generally safe to take vitamin D supplements.
i would probably test it. im taking 5k IU on occasion but i forget too often, so it fell from last time.
only by test results. mine actually fell, so i need more. i dont think it has immediate effect as other vitamins.
Vitamin D helps if you are dealing with S.A.D (seasonal affective disorder). Basically, our brain gets to go into a state akin to hibernation. Unfortunately, modern life isn’t compatible with this. The effect is tiredness and low mood.
SAD seems to be triggered by low vitamin D, low exposure to sunlight, and the cold. The exact trigger levels vary from person to person.
If you’ve not tried it yet, a daylight lamp could help a lot, combined with the Vitamin D, it trucks the brain into thinking it’s still warm and bright outside. You want a hot in the morning, as well as one in the mid to late afternoon.
Failing that, accept your need to hibernate, and plan it in. It’s not ideal, but not fighting it will also help your mood.
If you have an underlying psychiatric condition like depression then bringing your vitamin D levels to normal might improve your mood and it might not. When I got put on a vitamin D supplement after the doctor caught how low I was my biggest improvement was my energy more than my mood, but being tired all the time will make you feel like shit too.
People have already mentioned you should make sure you’re actually deficient by going to the doctor, but it’s also important to determine why you’re deficient. If you know you just don’t ever get sunlight, well, mystery solved. But if you do then vitamin D deficiencies can also be caused by things like intestinal disorders.
If the issue is not getting enough sunlight, check out the Sunbeam app. I have it as a safety thing because the UV here is godawful, but it also gives you a timer based on the current UV strength for how long you need to stay outside to get your daily vitamin D. Because it’s winter it’s like 40 minutes where I am today, but in the summer it can be as low as 5-10.
Here in the dark North I take - during winter only - 50µg daily. I never take it before going to sleep, but tbh I have no idea if it would even make a difference. Sometimes I feel a bit of an effect - like eating something rich in Vitamin C after a day without vitamins. But all in all, I don’t think this alone will improve your mood.
Same. My old doctor recommended daily vit D supplements in months that end with R. Regular store bought dosage is strong enough to actually do something if taken daily, but weak enough that it won’t harm you if you’re not deficient.
Source: 65 degrees latitude.
September October November December Januaryr Februaryr Marchr?
Yes, but in Norwegian. -March.
