Schmallenberg. Depressed mood and cold weather: Many are unmotivated in winter. Is this due to vitamin D deficiency? A Schmallenberger doctor clarifies.
The days in January and February are one thing above all: short, gray and wet. For many people, this can create a bad mood and an unmotivated mood. But why is that exactly? The assumption that a vitamin D deficiency could be the reason for the depressed mood during the winter months is often circulating, especially on the Internet. But is that even true? And how do you find out exactly if you have a deficiency?
Short explanation: Vitamin D is a special vitamin that is involved in many metabolic processes in the body. It also plays an important role in the formation of bones and teeth. The substance is primarily absorbed by the skin through exposure to the sun, but can also enter the body through various foods and dietary supplements via the intestinal mucosa. Over the winter, 80 to 90 percent of the vitamin D absorbed in spring to autumn is stored in the body. Almost two thirds of the population still have a vitamin D deficiency in their blood.
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So: does the lack of drive in winter really come from a lack of the vitamin? dr Martin Riffelmann is the owner of the 360-degree human family doctor’s practice in Schmallenberg and knows that the depressed mood in winter can also have many other reasons: “Several causes usually come together. The spectrum ranges from acute to chronic diseases, from a lack of nutrients and exercise, stress in everyday life, to a real depressive episode.” He adds: “In the latter case, patients naturally belong in the hands of experienced therapists.”
Pay attention to lifestyle
The general practitioner recommends paying special attention to your lifestyle in gray January and February. Since the causes are often diverse, the treatment should also include various components: “Lots of exercise in the fresh air, a healthy, Mediterranean diet with good unsaturated fatty acids, few quickly digestible carbohydrates and little stress.”
according to dr Martin Riffelmann, almost two thirds of the population have a vitamin D deficiency in their blood. The symptoms are rather unspecific.
Bone density often decreases in adults, resulting in osteomalacia. This can result in muscle weakness and pain. Growth retardation can occur in children. From a scientific point of view, it is still controversial whether fatigue, mood swings and depression are really the cause of vitamin D deficiency: “This is because the previous studies were very different and therefore difficult to compare. Some studies show no effect of vitamin D, but others do,” explains Schmallenberger.
With age, the skin can absorb less vitamin D
A study is intended to support the assumption that the deficiency has an impact on general well-being: “The treatment of depression with an antidepressant was already being investigated ten years ago. In one group, subjects diagnosed with depression only received the drug, in the other they also received vitamin D. In the group taking vitamin D, the depression improved more after four weeks than in the group taking only antidepressants,” explains Dr. Martin Riffelmann. Other studies are said to have shown that the skin’s ability to produce vitamin D itself decreases with age: “At the age of 70, our skin can only produce half as much vitamin D as at the age of 20. The absorption capacity via the intestine, on the other hand, remains good for life.”
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In general, it always makes sense to see a doctor if you suspect the disease: “A blood test and a brief medical consultation are sufficient for the diagnosis.” oral intake of vitamin D in capsules or drops is possible. dr However, Martin Riffelmann emphasizes: “The dosage should be discussed with a doctor beforehand. Even an overdose can cause damage to the salt balance and the kidneys.” After a few weeks to months of taking the serum level can then rise and, if necessary, the success can be monitored.