Evidence suggests that large proportions of those living in high latitudes are deficient in vitamin D. This relates to the fact that dietary source of the vitamin are not commonly consumed, and the sun in these high latitude regions is not strong enough to produce adequate vitamin D status year round. In addition, Western lifestyles now result in those living in developed countries spending less time outside in the sun. One consequence of the low vitamin D status of these individuals may be an increased risk of depression. Researchers have investigated the effects of vitamin D supplements on human subjects. Results from these studies show that vitamin D does have significant antidepressant effects in those subjects that are suffering from depressive symptoms. However, in healthy non-depressive individuals it has no significant effect on mood, as would be expected. It is very likely such individuals are already replete in vitamin D and therefore more of the vitamin is unlikely to have any physiological or pharmacological effect.
The reason that vitamin D is beneficial to mood is not fully understood. However, vitamin D is not a vitamin but a hormone, and in this regard it can cause changes in gene expression in cells. This effect may cause brain changes that results in significant alteration to neurochemistry. A vitamin D deficiency may cause negative changes in the brain that increases the risk of depressive symptoms.
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